Letter from Birmingham Jail by MLK jr.

Question 1

Where and why was this letter written?

Answer 1

King wrote this letter in his prison cell in response to local religious leaders criticisms of the campaign

Question 2

What is the purpose of this letter?

Answer 2

The letter calls out white America and how POC have been always told to wait yet they have waited and nothing has ever come (ties into what we are seeing today)

Question 3

What are the 4 basic steps of a nonviolent campaign?

Answer 3

1. collection of the facts to determine wether injustice exists
2. Negotiation (who is oppressed and who are the oppressors then to reason with them)
3. Self Purification (preparing yourself for action)
4. Direct Action

Question 4

Positive Peace vs Negative Peace

Answer 4

Positive Peace- the presence of justice
Negative Peace- the absence of tension

Question 5

How was MLK similar to Socrates?

Answer 5

1. MLK refers to Socrates many times in the letter specifically stating that he is not afraid of tension in society or even tension in the mind
2. MLK was also seen as a gadfly attached to the city- later to go on and say that we need more nonviolent gadflies to understand the reality that we are in