Equality for the Good Life

Letter from Birmingham Jail and The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses have a common
theme from the good life. As we discover what the good life is, we begin to see overlapping
themes that exist throughout the gateways and pillars of the good life. These two readings
represent one of the themes from the good life. In both Letter from Birmingham Jail and The
Prisoner Who Wore Glasses, the authors address the fight for equality in which all can have
their rights. This theme of equality represents the fight for the good life.
In Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr, discusses the need for nonviolent direct action. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leading civil rights advocate in America. In
the 1960s, he led demonstrations throughout America to advocate against racism. Dr. King wrote
the letter as a response from an article called A Call for Unity. In A Call for Unity, Alabama
clergymen made statement against Dr. Kings methods. As a result, he wrote Letter from
Birmingham Jail. One of the points Dr. King makes is the use of nonviolent action. He states
that nonviolent action will foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused
to negotiate is forced to confront the issue (Letter from Birmingham Jail). What he means is
that the tension will open the eyes of others to show them the wrongs of racial segregation He
says that nonviolent direct-action will lead to a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably
open the door to negotiation (Letter from Birmingham Jail). Just as Dr. King states, he has no
other choice to use direct action; his demonstrations and sit-ins will force others to create a
compromise between the blacks and the whites. Another point that Dr. King makes the difference
between a just law and an unjust law. In the view of Dr. King, a just law is a man-made code
(Letter from Birmingham Jail) that understands the rights and wrong of man as well agrees
with the law of God (Letter from Birmingham Jail). On the other hand, an unjust law is a

law that degrades human personality (Letter from Birmingham Jail). Dr. King quotes St.
Augustine in the idea that an unjust law is no law at all (Letter from Birmingham Jail). He
believes that a law is unjust, then one has the right to break the law in order to fight that unjust
law and create a just law. One final point that Dr. King makes is his extremist personality.
Although he is initially offended that he was called an extremists, he eventually embraces the
idea and states he was an extremist of love. Martin Luther King, Jr. points out that great figures
like Martin Luther, Thomas Jefferson, and Jesus Christ were all extremists of love that lead to
great things. These three points that Dr. King makes allows him and his followers to fight for
equality among African Americans.
In The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses, author Bessie Head has a different take on
equality. In her story, the protagonist Brille and his group, Span One, are political prisoners. In
prison, they are put under the care of the cruel Hannetije. The first two weeks, Hannetije spends
beating them and taking away all their privileges. However, Brille catches Hannetije trying to
steal fertilizer. Brille then uses blackmail to convince Hannetije to return their rights. Eventually,
Hannetije falls to the hands of Span One and he begins to work with Span One. Span One gains
the the reputation of being the best work detail in the camp (Head, 176) and they help
Hannetije get the fertilizer he needs. In her short story, Head subtly shows the fight for equality
between Brille and Hannetije. As mentioned, Span One are African political prisoners who can
handle any white warder. Bessie is demonstrating the power of cooperation and the use of action
to gain rights. She lived in Africa, which during the time, the continent was under apartheid laws.
These laws separated white from black. Being the child of a white mother and black father, Head
felt conflicted. However, she still felt that all Africans should be equal. Through The Prisoner

Who Wore Glasses, she demonstrates the black man, represented by Span One, gaining equality
with the white man, represented by Hannetije.
In both readings, both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bessie Head are demonstrating the
theme of equality. Martin Luther King, Jr. states in order to be equal, direct action is needed.
Bessie Head demonstrates action through Brille. Martin Luther King, Jr. uses action to allow
other Americans to see the struggle that African-Americans were going through. Brille uses
action to gain rights from Hannetije. Dr. King wanted the black man to be equal to the white
man. Brille wants the prisoners of Span One to be equal to their warder. This idea of equality
relates to the good life because, one cannot be happy or have a good life without having the same
rights as others. It relates to the idea of fighting for the good life. In each case, Dr. King and
Brille are fighting for their lives to be better. Martin Luther King, Jr. is fighting for equal rights
for all African-Americans to live normal lives in America without segregation or discrimination.
Brille is fighting for Span One to have an enjoyable life in prison.
In both Letter from Birmingham Jail and The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses, the theme
of equality is present. Each reading discusses the struggle for equality and what is necessary for
equality. Martin Luther King, Jr. states that direct action will open the eyes of others of the
tensions that exist between African-Americans and white Americans. He also states that others
have the right to break the law if the law is an unjust law. Brille, the protagonist in The Prisoner
Who Wore Glasses, uses blackmail to make Hannetije grant him and Span One rights. Through
her short story, Bessie Head is demonstrating the equality between the black and the white
population in Africa. Both Martin, Luther King, Jr. and Bessie Head fought for equality to create
a good life. Thus, in order to have the good life, equality is necessary.

Sources
King, Jr., Martin. "Letter From Birmingham Jail." Letter From Birmingham Jail. The Martin
Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, 16 Apr. 1963. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http://mlkkpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/resources/article/annotated_letter_from_birmingham/>.

Head, Bessie. "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses." Under African Skies: Modern African Stories.
New York City: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997. 169-176. Print.