According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws? Understanding this questions is the most important part of this module, and I will ask it again during our second exam.

You can tell the difference between just and unjust laws by one has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws versus one who has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. One does not use harmony within the moral of law versus one uses a code within the moral law.

In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?

I do believe there is an important distinction between just and unjust laws and it does make a different in how someone lives their lives. As just and unjust laws are ruled over making that moral responsibility in obeying the laws, these do affect people and societies as it divides people into groups. I do feel as this is also based upon social classes and how upon individuals are raised.

Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each, of an unjust and just law, in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust and just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).

An example of a unjust law would be cash bails that cannot be afforded by an individual, especially for a low crime. An example of just law would be laws passing by the United States government.

1. According​​ to MLK he explains that just laws are those that align with moral principles, uphold fairness, and treat every individual with dignity and respect. These laws are consistent with human rights and apply equally to all people, regardless of race or background. In contrast, unjust laws are those that violate basic human rights, target specific groups, and often maintain systems of inequality and oppression. An unjust law would be a code that a numerical or weak minority group is forced to obey but does not have a part in making. King reiterates that any law that degrades human personality or denies the right of a person, such as segregation laws, is morally wrong and must be opposed. In other words, just laws uphold equality and justice, whereas unjust laws perpetuate discrimination and inequality.
2. The difference between just and unjust laws is important to individual and social life. In making a distinction, individuals know how to act and decide on moral issues. This is what Martin Luther King Jr. did during the Civil Rights Movement, showing that “an unjust law is no law at all.” Such understanding incites resistance against tyranny and urges change in action,thus cultivating responsibility for rightfulness. Tosociety, this is the yardstick of progress in morals. The unjust laws are symptoms of a more serious thing, such as racism or discrimination, and in challenging these, it nudges the society to equality. If one does not have this awareness, then one runs the risk of accepting unjust laws that keep inequality alive. In politics, an ability to differentiate between just and unjust laws leads to reform and a change in policies for justice and dignity in humanity. Movements for civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice all rely on the ability to identify and change unjust laws, reshaping political structures and furthering equality. In a nutshell, understanding this distinction shapes individual actions, drives social progress, and fosters a legal system serving humanity’s highest ideals.
3. An example of a just law in the U.S. today is the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations, employment, and federally funded programs. This is a just law as perMartin Luther King Jr.’s explanation, as it coincides with morality, equality, keeping human dignity, and ensuring that everybody gets treated as a human being without looking at his background. On the other hand, a stark example of an unjust law would be voter ID laws, which some states put into practice, where the identification they ask for is really difficult to obtain, especially by the poorest classes, people of color, or older members of society. That kind of legislation clearly ends up disenfranchising those groups of citizens of their political rights to vote and act with equal value in a democracy. He said that is unfair because such laws target specific groups without their consent and perpetuate inequality, degrading human dignity. In the same way that the Civil Rights Act was to advance fairness and equality, voter ID laws restrict basic democratic rights and contribute to systemic injustice.

1. According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws? Understanding this questions is the most important part of this module, and I will ask it again during our second exam.
2. In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?
3. Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each, of an unjust and just law, in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust or just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).

Answers …

1)Just laws that doesn’t destroy an individual’s personality. Are morally right. Unjust laws are laws that destroy someone’s personality. And not moral at all and are unGodly.

2) Yes there is a distinction. If people are following unjust laws there’s going to be more suffering in society. Unjust laws are hurting people and as Martin Luther King states it’s not of God. So if a society would decide to want to live by unjust laws it’s not a right way to live. There definitely is a distinction. Just laws is being fair no matter race ,gender or religion everyone should be treated the same.

3)An unjust law today I would say is “stand your Ground law ” self defense . It was use as defense for Zimmerman with the Trayvon Martin case . Zimmerman was able to walk because he claimed it was self-defense and he was able to use deadly force if he felt threatened. Treyvon Martin did not have any weapon and was actually walking away from Zimmerman to avoid him. It was completely unjust. A just law is the rights we have , the right for due process .

Marthin Luther King JR

1. The way we think and interpretate laws can 100% make a difference within our society. We have already learned or seen the factors of just laws and unjust laws. The most important thing our nation can do to determine just/unjust laws is to consider the outcome of our society if that law was to be put in place, or to weigh the possibilities of loss, and gain. For example, The Jim crow law was a heavily unjust law to make African American people feel inferior to white people, this affected Blacks within society in the sense that it created an authoritarian position for them.
2. According to MLK, we can tell the difference between just laws and unjust laws. “A just law is a man code that squares with the moral or the law of God” and “an Unjust Law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law”.
3. An example of a unjust law in this society would be money bail, the possibility of freedom Soley based on wealth status. A wealthy person can but pre-trial freedom, while a poor person must stay in jail for however long until their case resolves. An example of a Just law would be the American Disabilities Act of 1990, it gives those with disabilities equal access to employment and public services. The act protects their rights and engages equal rights.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. asserted that moral alignment and the effect on human dignity distinguish just laws from unjust ones. A just law is one that respects human dignity, treats everyone equally, and is based on moral principles. These laws are inclusive, upholding everyone’s rights and promoting equality and fairness in society. Laws guaranteeing equal access to education and the ability to vote, for instance, are a reflection of moral principles of equality and justice. Mr. King highlights that just laws are administered universally, without prejudice or discrimination, and they also adhere to moral principles.

Unjust laws, on the other hand, violate moral standards, diminish human dignity, and frequently serve the interests of the majority while persecuting minority. Despite their seeming neutral ways, these rules are unfair if they are applied discriminatorily or without the affected parties’ permission. For example, the United States’ segregation laws were unfair because they violated the human equality principle and perpetuated racial inequality. He argues that as a kind of nonviolent resistance, people have a moral duty to defy unjust laws. By doing this, they force society to face and address systematic injustices and reveal the fundamental injustice of such laws. For evaluating the morality of legislation and the distinction between just and unjust laws, Martin Luther King Jr.  framework is still an essential tool.

2. The distinction between just and unjust laws is important because it influences how individuals and societies view morality, justice, and their obligations to authority.  Human dignity, equality, and fairness are upheld by just laws, which promote a society in which everyone feels respected and safe. On the other hand, unjust laws cause oppression and division, which breeds distrust, conflicts, and a decline in public confidence in their government. Instead of simply tolerating injustice, people are empowered to critically assess laws and fight for justice when they are aware of this discrepancy. For society as a whole, this understanding is essential in building institutions that support accountability and equality.

This distinction also has significant political implications. From the Civil Rights Movement to the abolition of slavery, revolutionary social movements have always been built on the recognition of unjust laws. Politically, it pushes leaders to enact and uphold laws that are consistent with moral standards rather than abusing their position of authority to benefit certain interests. As citizens call for policies that reflect fairness, it also affects activism and participation in elections. For instance, the fairness and justice of current laws are frequently at the heart of discussions on topics like immigration reform and systemic racism. People and societies can effect significant change by comprehending and acting upon the difference between just and unjust laws, guaranteeing that politics promotes the common good rather than sustaining inequality.

3. The money bail system is one well-known instance of an unjust law in the United States of America. Under this system, those who are accused of crimes must pay a specific sum of money in order to be released from custody prior to their trial. Because it essentially diminishes human dignity by letting riches dictate freedom, King would view this law as unjust. Low-income people are disproportionately affected by the money bail system, which forces them to stay behind bars because they are unable to pay it. This frequently results in job loss, unstable housing, and other social and economic suffering. This supports King’s view that a law is just if it enhances human personality and unjust if it diminishes self-worth. In this instance, the money bail system fails to respect the ideals of equality and justice for all by establishing a two-tiered legal system in which wealth determines who is free and who is not.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968, on the other hand, is an example of a just law that aligns with King’s principles of equality and justice. Discrimination in housing on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin is illegal under this statute. According to King, a just law enhances people’s personalities and enables them to fully engage in society. The goal of the Fair Housing Act is to remove obstacles that have historically prevented people from obtaining safe and decent housing. It aims to guarantee that all citizens have equal access to housing possibilities, which is essential to achieving one’s potential and establishing one’s place in society, by outlawing discriminatory activities in housing markets. According to King, legislation such as the Fair Housing Act works to uphold the equality and dignity of every person, fostering a society in which no one has to worry about prejudice or discrimination.

The difference between simple and unjust legal guidelines is essential as it allows people and societies to assess legal guidelines via an ethical lens, selling justice, equality, and human dignity. It, without delay, impacts how human beings stay and interact with their societies, pushing for lively engagement in shaping an honest and straightforward political system. By rigid, unjust legal guidelines, we will paint a society that aligns extra carefully with moral requirements and human rights, as Martin Luther King Jr. recommended at some stage in his life.

Martin Luther King Jr. is able to give distinct comparisons between just laws and unjust laws. From his explanation, his description of just laws are laws that are able to uphold human equality and dignity. For just laws, he sees them as laws that can align with moral laws or the law of god. These moral laws are meant to distinguish the actions of another from right and wrong. With unjust laws, MLK explains how these laws degrade human personality, reinforces inequality, and doesn’t uphold principles of morality. From his letter, he goes further about the description of a law stating that a law is just if the applications of said law can be applied to every individual. In the same way, a law is unjust if said law is enforcing burdens on groups while excluding other groups of the same treatment. These unjust laws create imbalanced relationships resulting in hierarchies displaying groups to be superior and inferior. This was shown through examples of segregation laws that discriminate and dehumanize certain minority groups. 

The reasoning behind why these distinctions between just laws and unjust laws is so important is that they shape an individual’s responsibility to their morals. Having this difference of laws is able to show the individual the importance of fighting against oppression and analyze the laws that are a part of their society. Being able to recognize the differences between just laws and unjust laws helps to build confidence in confronting any injustice. It encourages a deeper scrutiny of legal systems to prove that they promote fairness and equality across any group. 

An example of a just law in the U.S. today could be the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which had prohibited discrimination regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This just law is able to directly connect with MLK’s definition of just laws through it’s support of equality and protecting human dignity. An example of an unjust law could be through the targeting and criminalization of homelessness. These laws punish individuals that sleep in public places when they have no other options for proper housing. This is an unjust law by MLK’s definition due to it punishing the problem of individuals’ poverty rather than trying to treat the root cause creating these problems. It doesn’t match moral or natural law as it intensifies the suffering of others with it’s criminalization of basic human survival. It contradicts what MLK stood for by promoting human dignity and fairness.

1. We can tell the difference between just and unjust laws by a just law is legal and falls under moral laws as well it inspires human personality. While unjust laws are out of line with moral laws and devalues human personality. 
2. In my view yes this is an important distinction. Yes I believe it makes a difference in the way someone lives their life. It can affect politics because other people might get influenced and start to follow in their footsteps. It could be a good thing but it can also influence people to do mischief.
3. An just law example is laws mandating accessible options for people with disabilities to vote. This is a just law by making sure everyone can equally participate no matter the circumstances of the person wanting to vote. An example of an unjust law is cash bail that requires people to pay large amounts of money to be released. This is unjust because it can make people not do the time if they’ve committed a very serious crime, they’ll just pay the money to get out.

In the justly famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. elaborates a compelling schema for distinguishing just laws from unjust ones. According to King, a just law is a man-made code that conforms to moral or divine law. He says that any law that uplifts and respects human persons is just. In contrast, an unjust law represents a code that is discordant with the moral law and diminishes human dignity. King additionally posits that an unjust law is characterized by a majority imposing it upon a minority while exempting itself from its obligations. Furthermore, a law to which a minority group did not contribute in its creation or formulation, yet is required to adhere, is deemed unjust. For example, King points out that a law is just if it applies to all people equally and is unjust if it applies to one group but exempts another, often marginalizing and discriminating against minority groups. In this framework, King underscores the ethical obligation to also resist unjust laws non-violently since they are in fundamental contradiction with principles of justice and equality.

The distinction between just and unjust laws is undeniably important and has a significant impact on individuals and the greater societal structure. By knowing and respecting that distinction, individuals can critically evaluate the laws by which they are governed, thereby encouraging active and informed citizenship. Such knowledge acts as a moral compass for individuals to know when to follow and when to challenge the statutory laws in place, fostering a society that continually moves toward justice and equity.

A modern example of an unjust law in America would be certain voter identification laws that unjustly prejudice minority groups, low-income individuals, and elderly citizens. Martin Luther King Jr. explained that an unjust law is a code inflicted by a majority upon a minority that itself the majority is not bound by. In this context, voter ID legislation places significant obstacles on particular demographics, thereby undermining their rights to vote and contravening the fundamental principle of equal participation within a democratic framework. Such regulations contribute to disparities and perpetuate an imbalance of power by marginalizing the perspectives of certain segments of society.