donbosco
Inconceivable Member
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Among the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, Selections from The Federalist Papers, The Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address, The Letter from Birmingham Jail has been designated as a Foundation of American Democracy document.
Have you read it? It is longish but at this link: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
Some key excerpts:
"We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." And, "Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim..."
"We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was 'illegal.'"
"And I am further convinced that if our white brothers dismiss as "rabble rousers" and "outside agitators" those of us who employ nonviolent direct action, and if they refuse to support our nonviolent efforts, millions of Negroes will, out of frustration and despair, seek solace and security in black nationalist ideologies--a development that would inevitably lead to a frightening racial nightmare."
”Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty."
Have you read it? It is longish but at this link: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
Some key excerpts:
"We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." And, "Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim..."
"We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was 'illegal.'"
"And I am further convinced that if our white brothers dismiss as "rabble rousers" and "outside agitators" those of us who employ nonviolent direct action, and if they refuse to support our nonviolent efforts, millions of Negroes will, out of frustration and despair, seek solace and security in black nationalist ideologies--a development that would inevitably lead to a frightening racial nightmare."
”Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty."
