George Stinney, the Scottsboro Boys, James Hanover Thompson and David Simpson; These are just the names of some black kids ages 6 to preteen who were incarcerated and even murdered because of the color of their skin. Black communities were treated as criminals and inferior to human beings due to discrimination from whites. Black children were excluded from students who had white children, excluded from food markets, excluded from restaurants; the black community faced inequality every single day. Tired of being treated as if they were not human, the black community created the civil rights movement, while racist whites did not take their protest very well. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” the author Martin Luther King Jr. responds to his critics by stating that he will not back down from his protests because it is right to break the laws when they are unjust. To support his position, he uses the recurring themes of racism and justice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayMartin Luther King Jr. addresses his critic's concerns that he was only traveling to Birmingham to cause trouble while he was fulfilling a promise made to a local affiliate of his organization; that he was to go to Birmingham and engage in a program of non-violent direct action if necessary. However, although his presence was based on a promise, he also provides a moral reason for his visit. Dr. King denounces his critics' ignorance of the racism and discrimination that caused their protest, claiming that he is obligated to fight injustice wherever it is found, so his moral justification is to fight the injustice practiced in Birmingham . It sets a rational tone to refute the image of protesters as thugs. King goes on to highlight the justification for the protests as necessary to combat injustice and racism, calling the critics on themselves; his critics say they express concern about Dr. King's behavior, but they so openly agree with the widespread systemic racism in Birmingham. Addressing what the black community has faced in Birmingham's community segregation, he highlights the effect it can have on his community, deeming it "humiliating". According to him the effect has a psychological impact on black individuals as white merchants add the "no blacks" sign to remove it but then put it back. Therefore, the psychological effect of discrimination is a justification for taking direct action. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayDr. King makes clear the goal of his protests; that he had to force a situation that would make the whites uncomfortable since only until then will they be willing to negotiate. And in this case, with its critics protesting, it seems to be working.