Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis

Connections between Lincoln and King through their Writings

Lincoln and King One was our 16th President and the other was a civil rights leader amongst other things, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther had many things in common. Both men fought long and hard for what they believed in, they both were leaders and they both believed in God. Just from Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Speech and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail you can see the similarities these two men shared. I will also discuss at least one thing that separates them, what stands out most in mind between the two writings mentioned above, and explain how the story Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell adds to my perspective of
We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned we may be, our destiny is tied up with America’s destiny” writes Martin Luther King Jr. in Letter from Birmingham Jail (p. 829). “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations” said Abraham Lincoln in his Second Inaugural Speech (p. 815). So as you can understand, both men wanted best for their country. MLK and Lincoln wanted to heal the pain and suffering that our country has sustained. Though it took many years for their dream to become reality it eventually did. Their hard work and dedication made an impact on our
was an activist, preacher and a civil rights leader. Though, during his time in the Birmingham jail he was being categorized as an extremist. He quotes Abraham Lincoln in his letter by writing “And Abraham Lincoln: This nation cannot survive half slave and half free” (p.826). He is trying to explain that isn’t Abraham Lincoln amongst others “extremist” because they are fighting for something they believe in whether it is love, Christian gospel, or equality. Lincoln was our 16th President had led our country through the Civil War. Lincoln also wanted equal rights for African Americans. So King fought hard for African American rights even though he was persecuted and Lincoln led us through a war and abolished slavery. Lincoln states his Second Inaugural Speech “Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease” (p. 814). Lincoln wanted to build a strong nation after that. In both Lincoln’s address and King’s letter they mention God a lot so it seems to me that they both believed in God’s will and power. In King’s letter he writes “We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal God are embodied in our echoing demand” (p. 829). Lincoln says in his address”…as was said three thousand years ago, so still must be said the judgment of the Lord are true