Letters from a Birmingham Jail Analysis

Martin Luther King’s syllogism in “Letters from a Birmingham Jail” is deceptively simple. King’s first premise is that people have a moral responsibility to obey just laws and disobey unjust ones. His second premise is that Jim Crow laws are unjust. Thus, his conclusion is that disobedience of Jim Crow laws is a moral responsibility. Why is this syllogism “deceptively” simple? Well, although the conclusion of this application of King’s syllogism may seem obvious to many modern readers, its underlying logic often fails to permeate societal consciousness, which places an emphasis on “law and order” at the expense of true justice.

King’s syllogism certainly applies to the present day, and it does not have to just apply to laws but rather to any societal institution which is unjust. For example, protesters in the Black Lives Matter movement have been labeled as anti-law because their demonstrations criticize the frequent police shootings of African-Americans. However, those who make these criticisms seldom consider whether this racial disparity in shootings makes the police force as an institution unjust, and an institution that should be defied (within reason). Overpolicing in general does constitute a strong injustice against many minority communities, increasing incarceration rates and tearing apart families. Although these situations are not the same because racial discrimination today is not legalized like that in the 1960s, the core of King’s argument still applies — fighting for justice supersedes laws or institutions.

In addition, King’s syllogism can apply to my own life. Although my problems at school pale in comparison to those faced by Dr. King, his logic can still be applied. Many times, I have been told not to argue against an answer on a test that is obviously incorrect because of the belief in the infallibility of the teacher. However, since said teachers are being unjust in their grading due to the incorrectness of their answer keys, I know that it is my responsibility to disobey them, and to argue for the correctness of my answer. This example may seem petty or comical, but that only adds to its illustrative power. That King’s syllogism can be used in both minuscule and societal situations shows its universality, both across time and situations. Fighting against injustice never gets old.