"Who are you?" I am sure this is a question we all must deal with quite a bit. Often it is not so bluntly asked of us in words but in looks or tangential questions. Everytime we meet someone new they inherently wonder...what is your deal? What's your story? What role will you play in MY life? In King's response to the clergymen of Birmingham, the Reverend starts with this most basic question before anything else. It is a bit odd considering just how famous Dr. King was at the time. The man was undoubtedly the most famous African American in the country, but then again, being famous and being KNOWN or not necessarily the same thing. Famous figures have a persona, a persona that is usually placed upon them. They play a role in the narrative of our lives and our culture, even if they are unnatural fits. King realizes that these men know OF him but they do not necessarily know him. So he will take the beginning of the letter to explain who he is and more importantly what he is doing. Let's read on... I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against "outsiders coming in." I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates. Several months ago the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here.
King is explaining his legitimacy here. While he may not be a resident of Birmingham, he is the President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and therefore has authority and stake on this issue. He realizes that these clergymen worry that King is simply exploiting their town to gain notoriety and fame. They feel like they are being used more than helped. King explains that the decision to come was made because of a call for help. It was the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights that wanted King's participation, not the whims of a glory-seeking man. "I am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here." These two sentences are very logical and conciliatory. They fit perfectly into the realm of acceptability. If you showed up to a wedding reception and the other guests did not recognize you at the table, one would simply say: "I was invited by the bride and groom". This is a perfect response and yet it is a bit disingenuous for two reasons. 1. King realizes that people could doubt this. Yeah right, you WANTED to come here and be a celebrity with a cult-like following. You are using this unnamed source as a fall guy. How do we know this was not entirely orchestrated by you? 2. King is not really interested in re-enforcing the logic of acceptability, he means to challenge it. That is why I love this letter, it goes beyond the "practical" and straight-forward". While he may begin his letter with the common sense answer, I do not believe that is his REAL answer. That answer comes in the following paragraph: But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here Oh man, here we go. Now we are going from a superficial, straight forward answer to a much deeper if not more difficult response. Let's go back to the wedding reception scenario. Scenario 1: Person A: Why are you here? Person B: I was invited. Person A: Cool. Scenario 2: Person A: Why are you here? Person B: I am here because love is here and I believe in love more than anything else. Person A:....Call the cops, now. Notice how different those responses are. King knows that some will scoff at such a sentence and yet he will defend it with every essence of his being. For that justification though...you'll have to wait until next time.
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