Why We Can’t Wait

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr published Why We Can’t Wait in 1964, shortly after the momentous events in Birmingham, Alabama had helped garner national attention on the movement for civil rights in the South. In Why We Can’t Wait King writes to explain the events of 1963, he articulates why it is so urgent for the Civil Rights Movement. In King’s first chapter he writes that many African American leaders are frustrated with the limited equality and how little progress has been made. King believed that John F. Kennedy was insufficient in committing to civil rights, King brought up Africa as an example where their decolonization movements led to freedom for the people of Africa. After Why We Can’t Wait was published in 1964 Martin Luther King, Jr had won over significant support. President John F. Kennedy, someone who was originally non-supportive towards the Civil Rights movement even showed his support towards a civil rights bill and the March on Washington Kennedy was also in support of it. Throughout Why We Can’t Wait the reader will come across many examples of discrimination, double standards, and social injustice. King was resilient with his beliefs and never stopped pushing for fair treatment, King organized countless protests where he had thousands of loyal and committed supporters with him. King had many people on his side pushing for equality but with strong support also came harsh criticism for their efforts with some observers charging that they expected too much, while more passionate activists even declared that they asked for too little. This line stuck out to me because it made me think, how much is too little? Is it rightfully fair for Martin Luther King’s supporters to want more than equal? I understand where his supporters are coming from, after hundreds of years of unfair treatment they are valid in feeling and wanting better treatment but as a country, we should have always strived for equality in all aspects, throughout the years, of course, America has evolved into something new and more accepting. Back in 1963 the most dangerous place a person of color could live or even go to was Birmingham Alabama, formerly known as the largest and most segregated city in Alabama. In Birmingham, it was practically impossible for a person of color to get access to all types of basic necessities. Jim Crow laws eventually got put into place and things around Birmingham started to look up, Martin Luther King and his associates planned, developed, and implemented nonviolent resistance which led Birmingham to become a model city of integration. Martin Luther King changed America, he and his supporters formed equality as we know it today but their work didn’t stop with simple equality, they have set the way for future growth.