Martin Luther King Thought Flashcards
What happened in December 1955?
Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat
What were facilities used by black people like?
Always poorer quality
What did British traders do from the 1500s?
They enslaved people from African countries and shipped them to tobacco plantations in America
When was slavery abolished?
1865
What did southern states impose?
‘Jim Crow’ laws to ensure continuing segregation - supposedly, ‘separate but equal’
What were his types of equality?
Both political (equal rights for all) and theological (place of peace, love, and justice).
What did he state in his letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)?
- We’re all created in the image of God (imago dei), so all should be treated with respect
- Laws which prohibit justice should be met with protest
- No such thing as a good or bad time when it comes to implementing justice
When did MLK believe that is was right to break a human law?
If it fails to conform to God’s biblical hope for justice for all; if it fails to uphold human dignity.
What did MLK believe in a situation of gross injustice?
Non-violent direct action (boycotts, marches) are the only alternative and should be used even if they result in violence. He called his position ‘realistic pacifism’.
What did he rely on in his “I have a Dream” speech?
Relies heavily on metaphors and imagery, ends with vision of black and white people holding hands - “Free at last”
Who did MLK compare himself to in his “I have a dream” speech?
He compares himself to prophet Isaiah and his description of all being treated equally - “Every valley shall be raised up and mountain and hill made low”.
What did MLK want honouring of in his “I have a dream” speech?
He wants honouring of the promise in American Constitution that ‘all men are created equal’.
What did he achieve?
1965 Voting Rights Act (black Americans same as white)
What were the consequences of MLK’s success?
Many black activists were injured and badly treated; he still needed to change hearts and minds - and equality in housing, healthcare, and education.
