The Relationship Between MLK, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and Locke’s Natural Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Human right is a continuous subject that seeks to elevate the wellbeing and dignity of human beings. However, not all governments observe human rights, thus, leading to social rebellion as a means of protecting human rights. This phenomenon forms the basis of the letter that Martin Luther King Jr. wrote while in jail in Birmingham in which he differentiates a just law from an unjust law. In this backdrop, Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from Birmingham jail relates to the natural law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because it emphasizes the protection of human rights.
According to Martin Luther King Jr., a just legislation refers to a man-made regulation that is in line with the moral law or God’s law. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizes that a just law promotes the human personality (King 3). This aspect is in tandem with both the natural law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that focus on uplifting and protecting human dignity and respect. The natural law theory stipulates that moral laws are found in nature and are identified through the application of reason (MacKinnon and Fiala 82). John Locke’s natural law stems from this theory and holds that humans have the right to life, liberty, and own property (MacKinnon and Fiala 80). In the same vein, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights emphasizes that all persons have inherent dignity and inalienable rights. This all-encompassing agreement on human rights supports Martin Luther King Jr.’s proposition of a just law by claiming that no state, group, or individual has the right to engage in activities that interfere with other people’s rights and freedoms. In this line, Martin Luther King Jr. uses the precepts of both the natural law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to define a just law.
On the other hand, an unjust regulation is a code of conduct that contravenes the moral law. One primary factor that differentiates unjust legislation from a just law is the fact that it does not originate from the natural law (King 3). Therefore, the basis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s description of an unjust code is that it does not follow the precepts of both the natural law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To this end, Martin Luther King Jr. argues that all segregation laws are unjust because as they damage one’s soul and personality. In addition, segregation laws violate the aspect of equality among members of the human family as captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (n.p). Segregation infringes these rights in that it elevates one group of individuals, while at the same time, degrades another segment of individuals based on race and colour. Therefore, the upgrading of one group of persons at the expense of the other is not sinful, but also unlawful because the act infringes the guidelines adopted by the United Nations.
In summation, Martin Luther King Jr.’s correspondence from Birmingham jail corroborates with the natural law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because it emphasizes the protection of human rights. The letter is a call for Georgia’s leadership and society to recognize that any code that violates the natural law is unlawful and unfair. For this reason, the letter is instrumental in protecting the rights of minorities who are often marginalized by the majority. In addition, the letter motivates individuals and social groups to fight for equality in society.
Works Cited
MacKinnon, Barbara and Andrew Fiala. Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, Concise Edition. Cengage Learning, 2015.
Martin Luther King, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The Negro is Your Brother, vol. 212, no. 2, 1963, pp. 78-88.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. n.d.