Letter from Birmingham Jail

Reason for Being in Birmingham

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. (King argues against the 'outsider' label and supports national action for civil rights).

The 4 Steps of a Nonviolent Campaign

1. Collection of Facts (Injustice exists) 2. Negotiation 3. Self-Purification (Training for nonviolence) 4. Direct Action

Purpose of Direct Action

Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such creative tension that a community… is forced to confront the issue. (It is not chaos; it is a strategic tool to force negotiation).

Just Law Definition

A man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. It uplifts human personality.

Unjust Law Definition

A code that is out of harmony with the moral law. It degrades human personality. (Quoting St. Augustine: 'An unjust law is no law at all.')

Segregation as Unjust Law

Segregation gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. It substitutes an 'I-It' relationship for an 'I-Thou' relationship.

Example of Unjust Application

A law requiring a parade permit is just on its face, but becomes unjust when it is used to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest.

Historical Civil Disobedience

King references Socrates, Early Christians, and Shadrach/Meshach/Abednego to show that breaking unjust law has a long, respected history.

The White Moderate

The great stumbling block toward freedom. One who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice and constantly advises to 'wait.'

'Wait'

'Justice too long delayed is justice denied.' 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never.'

The Myth of Time

Time is neutral. It can be used destructively or constructively. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. (We cannot just wait for racism to fix itself).

The 'Two Opposing Forces' in the Black Community

1. Complacency: Those so drained of self-respect they adjust to segregation. 2. Bitterness/Hatred: The Black Nationalist movement (e.g., Nation of Islam). King positions nonviolence as the middle ground between these two extremes.

Definition of an 'Extremist'

King embraces the label, asking: 'Was not Jesus an extremist for love?' and 'Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist?'

Morality of Means and Ends

It is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends (he rejects violent revolution). It is even more wrong to use moral means to preserve immoral ends (he criticizes police who are nonviolent only to preserve segregation).

The Church as Thermometer vs. Thermostat

A Thermometer only records popular opinion. A Thermostat transforms the mores of society. King argues the modern church acts like a weak thermometer.

Direct Quote: Injustice anywhere…

…is a threat to justice everywhere.

Direct Quote: Justice too long delayed…

…is justice denied.

Direct Quote: Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor…

…it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Direct Quote: A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law…

…An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.

Direct Quote: (On the White Moderate) Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating…

…than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.