Martin Luther King Jr.

Why was Martin Luther King Jr. disappointed in the white churches?

Martin Luther King Jr. was disappointed in the churches for what seemed to be valid reasons. He wrote in his letter that is now known as “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, the injustices he and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference underwent while in Birmingham. With race and segregation being the issues at large he looked to his religion to guide him through and keep his heart pure.
Martin Luther King Jr. was surprised by the extremely high numbers of those that resisted change in Birmingham. He assumed that the ones he could count on to back him and spread their purpose would be the churches. He believed that even if they had differences in race and thoughts on segregation, the church is the one united place that he could seek solitude in. It’s a language that they all speak and have in common. His assumptions were wrong as the white churches did not use their voice to help get the SCLC’s message across. Instead, they remained silent. He knew that the churches power is strong and if they welcomed the issue and spoke on it, this would reach a larger number of people.
Martin Luther King Jr. explains his disappointment in the white church for not helping in the cause. He explains that over the years the church has undergone the same types of criticisms and injustices but fought it and won their voice and independence. He poses the question that what was the point of fighting to gain a voice if they aren’t going to use it to help fight other injustices.
He points out how the church is similar to what he is fighting for in a few lines within this letter. “There was a time when the church was very powerful-in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed.” This is similar to his quest by considering himself and all of humanity to fight for their worthiness and place in society. Also, they are similar in the suffering they endure during this fight, such as being thrown in jail for peacefully assembling. He continues to explain that Christians, when first entering a town were considered to be disturbing the peace but they continued on while keeping their goal in sight.
His disappointment is evident in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. He explains exactly what he was hoping the church would do and also explains exactly why he expected it. Martin Luther King Jr. clearly stated this was obviously not what he found when he came to Birmingham which made him sad. He thought that the church would be the one thing he could count on being “faithful” but he was wrong.


King, Martin Luther Jr. "Letter from Birmingham Jail." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Trans. Stephen Mitchell. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. pp171-192.