Thoreau and King: Prisoned for Morality

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the law he was sentenced to jail for his direct action against the U.S. government for his protest against segregation. As a reverend, U.S. citizen, and an African-American, Dr. King writes this letter in an attempt at defending himself from any further accusations as well as to criticize white moderates and the church. Thoreau’s forceful, and logical tone considerately evokes the notion that the government restrains a majority of people from making decisions and realizing their own morals and ethics. King’s emotional tone passionately contends to the injustice and unfair treatment towards those who are of colored skin. Thoreau’s effectiveness in persuasion directly parallels and provides a practical application in King’s letter. Both men committed treason against the government for their strong beliefs of justice, morality, corruption and an overall better governing force.
The need for change was an idea both Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. shared. Thoreau ...

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of Texas from Mexico to use the land for slavery. He also goes on to say that the American soldiers supporting the war and fighting against Mexico are morally corrupt because they remain loyal to an unprincipled government: “This people must cease to hold slaves, and to make war on Mexico, though it cost them their existence as a people” (Thoreau, part 1, part. 9). As long as one remains under the unjust umbrella of the government, he or she can be referred to as a slave for it. One must leap through the immorality and injustice and to a conscience, moral being. Sacrifices must be made to retain our true self with a moral innate conscience from which we were born with. Dr. King ...

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