Letter from Birmingham Jail Argument

Letter from Birmingham jail argument essay In Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s essay “Letter From Birmingham Jail” he makes the claim that; “It is a historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give who their unjust posture, but…groups tend to be more immoral than individuals,” (paragraph 12). This means that those who come from privileged groups tend not to give up their privileges. Which is completely true, hence is why I qualify with his statement.
King lived in the 1960s and was a anti-segregationist activists. Also he was a member of the clergy and a very influential member in our American history. In the 60s blacks and whites were separated in everything they did, from schooling all the way down to restrooms and water fountains. It was a unfair and unjust time period for the oppressed blacks. Which is why King was in jail to begin with, and also why he wrote his letter in response to the clergyman. King’s statement about how the privileged are not quick to give up their privileges is evident throughout our history.
When the slaves in America were enslaved the white slaveholders who were clearly privileged were not quick to give up their ownership over theses people, in fact they even went to war over this issue. The Germans, in Nazi Germany were not quick to revolt against the Nazi’s because their power allowed them even greater privileges. In fact, I would argue that those who are a part of a privileged group will even advocate towards immoral actions to greater their privileges. Personally speaking as a competitive dancer I have seen an example of this first hand. The more money you put into the sport it is evident that you get out more.

And the dancers’ parents who put in more money expect more, even if their child is completely un-talented. These dancers whom are clearly privileged when asked if they will trade a front line in a dance for the back because little Susie never gets to be in the front will simple scoff at even the idea. People who are privileged do not even know what it is like to work hard to earn your blessings, and that is what us wrong with our world today. King’s argument about those who are privileged is evident throughout world history and continues onto modern day. Those who are given more will not hand over what has been granted to them.