Essay contest sponsored
Feb. 26, 2004
The Diversity Team recently sponsored a writing contest for all students.
Students could submit any form of writing about Dr. Martin Luther King.
More than 20 entries were received.
The first-place entry won $100 and had a book donated to the library with his name inscribed on it.
The second-place winner won a $75 prize while the third-place winners received a $50 prize.
Winners were Andrew Haines, first; Debbie Crask, second; and Chris Thompson, Curtis Parsons and Amy Naas, third.
The entries were judged by a three-member panel made up of IVCC staff.
King letter ranks as defining Civil Rights document
By Andrew Haines
Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written on April 16, 1963, was written in response to a statement published by eight clergymen from Alabama who called his work "unwise" and "untimely."
He wrote the letter on newspaper margins and scraps of paper while confined in the Birmingham city jail. In his letter he used much Biblical, academic and experiential knowledge in order to defend his cause and persuade the clergymen by exposing the church's complacent attitude toward the injustices of the Negroes.
King, who received honorary degrees from several colleges and universities throughout the world, demonstrated his knowledge in his letter. He made several references to the Bible, historical events and Greek philosophy.
For example, when discussing extremism, he said: "Was not Jesus an extremist . . . Was not Amos an extremist for justice: 'Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel . . . Was not Martin Luther an extremist: 'Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.' Was not John Bunyan . . . and Abraham Lincoln: 'This nation cannot survive half slave and half free.' And Thomas Jefferson . . ."
Also earlier in his letter, he used ideas from philosophers like Socrates, St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. These references gave his letter much support and convincing evidence.
King wrote this letter to defend his cause before the clergymen, who, of all people should have been concerned about racism, but instead they "remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows."
He hoped to open the eyes of the white church that not only ignored this issue, but also took part in the crime to some extent. By comparing the existing church in his day to the early Christian church, he pointed the weakness and laxity of the contemporary church.
Consequently, King said that "the judgment of God (was) on the church as never before." He reminded the clergymen about the persecution of his people. He told stories of their daily struggles.
He told how the policemen brutally treated the Negroes with many beatings and dog attacks, despite the fact they were unarmed and non-violent.
He told of children inquiring of their parents the reason for the "colored" signs and the name-calling. King advocated peaceful direct action.
However, people accused him of breaking laws, and because of this, he discussed the fact that if a law is unjust, one does no wrong to ignore it.
After clearly stating his cause, position and hopes for the future, he humbly concluded the letter. This letter ranks as one of the most important documents in American history.
The concerns that he skillfully and passionately unveiled became the backbone of the Civil Rights movement.