In our history there has been many individuals who has influenced our nation by their beliefs and actions. As their thoughts were remembered as beneficial, their works have also succeeded many years some of which remain in our society and is an important aspect to many cultures today. A great example of this is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. This astounding piece of work exemplifies Dr. King as a man of faith as it highlights not only his intellectual background but his characteristics of humbleness, a strong essence of standing for what he believes in, and an inner yearning that others will understand and gracefully accept his purpose according to this human response. These three aspects are important when trying to illustrate Faith. In order to better grasp this idea that Dr. King is a man of faith through his letter, it is important that one retains knowledge about the letter itself. Written April 16, 1963 it was a response to the writings of eight clergyman which described Dr. King's activities as "unwise and untimely," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.1). It is significant to identify the fact that this letter wasn't simply one that stated the negatives of segregation to a general public, it was one that intuitively highlighted Dr. King's purpose to a religious group of clergyman. This idea highlights a first glimpse of the faith that Dr. King portrays because he takes an initiative to carefully and precisely respond to a statement that was not threatening and vile, even though it did contradict with Dr. King's beliefs, but simply a statement in which he was able to thoughtfully respond to and distribute his explanation. He "feels that [they] are men of genuine good will," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.1)rather than off the top racists because of the statement made, highlighting the way in which Dr. King focuses on the positive humane character. He states that their "criticisms are sincerely set forth," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.1)also highlighting Dr. King's humility, which includes faith because he doesn't verbally degrade the clergyman though they criticise him, instead he attempts to "answer [their] statements in what [he] hopes will be patient and reasonable terms," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.1). This aspect of his character alone is evidence of faith due to the fact that individuals belive faith is essentially "reasonable" (FRR p.93), an essence that he recognizes in his statement. In Dr. King's letter he makes many references to various philosophers and other individuals, incorporating their historical statements into his viewpoint within the letter. These pieces of evidence assist in an important aspect that is a part of Dr. King's personality, which is his view on an unjust law and how he believes one should encounter it. An unjust law in his eyes is a "code that is out of harmony with the moral law," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.4) which is similar to Saint Thomas Aquinas' belief that "an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.4). This aspect supports the idea made before that Dr. King utilizes other philosophers to further clarify his belief. His belief that an individual who "breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a wllingness to accept a penalty," (Letter from a Birmingham Jail p.4) exemplifies faith because he maintains a loving trust, that what he does is morally right under God. Though he may face consequences he stands strong to his beliefs which is similar to many inividuals in our history, both religiously and socially. While the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," illustrates the ways in which Dr. King was a man of faith, I feel that is important to see how his letter has effected various individual's opinions on the quality and sincerity Dr. King's letter illustrated. Individuals such as Edward I. Berry a journalist who wrote the article Doing Time: King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and Martha Watson who published The Issue Is Justice: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Response to the Birmingham Clergy are some of many individuals who felt it important to analyze Dr. King's letter. Through Mr. Edwards personal examination, which focused primarily on the three aspects of time illustrated in Dr. King's letter; "sacred," "personal," and "patriotic" (Berry, Edward I.) his overall view was to emphasize the effort that Dr. King put forth to "challenge his audience/achiev(ing) a new understanding of time/" (Berry, Edward I.). Though Mrs. Watson commented on the same piece of work her analysis was somewhat different. She focuses on the way in which the letter highlights this idea of the "tension in values between King and his clergy peers" (Watson, Martha). From this she feels that "King's letter endures because it speaks deep chords in the American psyche," (Watson, Martha). From these overviews it is appropriate to say that King's action portray acts of faith because he has not only expanded knowledgge to individuals of his time period, but he has also captured the interests of other individuals leading to their personal acceptance of the writings of Dr. King. For this, he is indeed a man of faith due to the fact that he takes "risks" (FRR p.93) while obtaining a "loving trust" (FRR p.89) which endures through "periods of darkness" (FRR p.89).
1."Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King,Jr.]. University of Pennsylavania-African Studies Center,27 Feb. 1994: pgs.1-8 Internet Available www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
2. Berry, Edward I. Rhetoric and Public Affairs: Vol 8, Doing Time:King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail" Spring 2005,pp.1-31
3. Watson, Martha. Rhetric and Public Affairs: Vol 7,The Issue is Justice: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Response to the Birmingham Clergy Spring 2004,pp.1-22.