Martin Luther King Jr.
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
What is a baptist minister and non-violent activist?
What was happening in Birmingham at the time that led Dr. King to participate in protests there?
Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities in the U.S., with widespread racial discrimination and violent resistance against civil rights activists.
Steps of Nonviolent Protest
What is The four basic steps are: collecting the facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action?
What does Dr. King mean when he refers to himself as the “President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference” (SCLC)?
He is identifying his leadership role in a civil rights organization that promotes nonviolent protests across the South.
Why is Dr. King writing this letter?
He is responding to criticism from white clergy members who called his actions "unwise and untimely," explaining the necessity of civil rights protests.
What day did Dr. King end up in Jail in Birmingham
What is April 12 1963?
Why did Dr. King and other activists delay their demonstrations in Birmingham?
They initially postponed their protests to avoid interfering with local elections and to ensure their actions would be more effective.
What claims does King make about the city and community of Birmingham?
King claims that “racial injustice engulfs [the] community” and that “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States” (par. 6).
Dr. King uses the phrase “engaged in a nonviolent direct-action program.” What does "direct-action" mean in this context?
It refers to organized protests, such as sit-ins and marches, designed to confront and challenge racial injustice directly.
What does Dr. King say about being an “outsider” in Birmingham?
He argues that he is not an outsider because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and he was invited by local leaders to assist in the movement.
MLK wrote the letter on
What is April 16, 1963?
Dr. King refers to “constructive, nonviolent tension.” What does he mean by this?
He believes that peaceful protests create a necessary discomfort that forces society to confront and address racial injustice.
How does Dr. King justify direct action?
He argues that nonviolent direct action creates tension, which forces negotiation and brings hidden injustices to light.
What is the meaning of “self-purification,” as mentioned by Dr. King?
It is the process of mentally and spiritually preparing oneself for nonviolent protest, including being ready to endure suffering without retaliating.
What is the purpose of Dr. King’s mention of his organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)?
He establishes his credibility and explains his presence in Birmingham as part of a larger civil rights movement.
The reason why MLK is in jail.
What is participating in a demonstration?
What role does Dr. King believe negotiation plays in the fight for civil rights?
He argues that negotiation is only effective when direct action brings attention to issues and creates pressure for change.
What is Dr. King’s response to being told to "wait"?
He states that African Americans have waited for over 340 years for their constitutional rights, and “justice too long delayed is justice denied.
What does "monologue" mean in the letter?
a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, especially one dominating or monopolizing a conversation.
What criticism is Dr. King addressing from the clergymen in the opening of his letter?
They accused him of being an outsider who should not be involved in Birmingham’s civil rights struggles and that his protests were poorly timed.
How does King use the description of the “city fathers” to support his claims about Birmingham?
King uses the description of the city fathers “consistently” refusing to negotiate to support his claims that “racial injustice engulfs” Birmingham and to demonstrate the urgent need for direct action (par. 6).
"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius." (Ralph Waldo Emerson in Self-Reliance)
Stylistic Device?
What is an periodic sentence structure?
Who are the “city fathers”?
“City fathers” are Birmingham’s political leaders based on the evidence that “Negro leaders sought to negotiate with them” (par. 6).
What does "moratorium" mean in the context of the letter?
A temporary pause or suspension, used by King when discussing delaying protests.
How did the African American leaders attempt to work with Birmingham’s political leaders? How did the political leaders respond?
The African American leaders tried to negotiate, but “the political leaders consistently refused to engage in good-faith negotiation” (par. 6).