new wave feminism

deliciouskaek:

This.

The letter is not only so relevant to everything I tend to blog about, it also provides much-needed and oft-ignored context to one of his most famously overused quotes, and provides an insight to the man and to what he was about.

Yes, he did say, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” He also said, “…justice too long delayed is justice denied.” He also said “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.” 

Read it. It’s worth it.

The context of this letter also makes it great & greatly written. and i’m going to explain it [from what i recall] just in case there are people out there who told the story. If i’m missing anything lmk

Its a response to a letter written by a group of white religious leaders of that area who were unhappy with King going to birmingham and bringing attention to the racial tensions in that area. The white clergymen wrote this letter to those demonstrating against racism that they need to slow their demonstrations down, how they are rushing things, how forcing racial change was a bad idea etc…

King responded with his amazing letter as a rebuttal. Seriously, compare the two letters and you’ll see that its a great line-by-line deconstruction of the racism in their letter. Go back and read the clergy letter - they said in the beginning “We recognize the natural impatience of people who feel that their hopes are slow in being realized. But we are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely”  AND ended the letter with “When rights are consistently denied, a cause should be pressed in the courts and in negotiations among local leaders, and not in the streets. We appeal to both our white and Negro citizenry to observe the principles of law and order and common sense.”

I feel like this sentiment sounds all too familiar these days…