Within the "Letter"
The people Dr. King is addressing his statement to in "Letter From Birmingham Jail"
several clergymen from Alabama.
What is the reason Dr. King uses biblical allegories throughout the letter?
The People he is writing to are Christian leaders
This religious figure said "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"?
Who is Jesus?
"had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers"
What is pathos?
Why does King respond to the clergymen?
"Since I feel you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth"
To emphasize his belief of obeying just laws and disobeying unjust laws, Dr. King referred to this leader and all the immoral things he did that were "legal" because he approved it.
Who is Adolf Hitler?
The group of people that Dr. King is most frustrated with in his letter
Who are white moderates/the church?
"I see you are men of good will"
DOUBLE POINTS
What is ethos?
Identify the two kinds of laws that Dr. King speaks about.
What are are "just" and "unjust" laws
This is the landmark case that outlawed segregation in public schools.
What is Brown vs Board of Education 1954 or the Supreme Court's decision of 1954?
Who is the oppressed group that Dr. King references throughout his letter
DOUBLE POINTS
The Early Christians
"One may well ask: "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
What is logos?
According to King, those who engage in nonviolent direct action merely bring this to the surface.
What is "the hidden tension that is already alive"?
Dr. King quotes these two former presidents and the documents that they are famous for indoctrinating to support the notion that African Americans deserve all of the rights of all other U.S citizens.
What is Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of Independence and Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation?
King says, "segregation is not only politically, economically and sociologically unsound, it is _________ and ________."
What is morally wrong and sinful?
"Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality."
What is pathos?
Why is Dr. King satisfied with the label of "extremist"?
Like other extremists in history, King is creative and courageous enough to push issues of morality to make change for equality during times of oppression.
The President when Dr. King wrote "Letter From Birmingham Jail"
DOUBLE POINTS
Who is JFK?
What do these quotes explain? "I was invited here", "I have organizational ties here", and "I am in Birmingham because injustice is here"
Why is King in Birmingham?
"Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured?"
What is logos?
If you are going to intentionally break an unjust law, what is the requirement?
FINAL JEOPARDY
You must be willing to pay the PRICE!