Letter From Birmingham Jail

Reading Check

1. “‘unwise and untimely’” (Paragraph 1)

2. collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action (Paragraph 6)

3. negotiation (Paragraph 10)

4. “outlawing segregation in public schools” (Paragraph 15)

5. “openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty” (Paragraph 21)

6. because most of them have been directly opposed to his work (Paragraph 35-36)

Short Answer

1. King notes that the “white power structure” in Birmingham has left little choice for the Black community other than nonviolently campaigning for change. They were largely ignored by leaders in the community and were given false promises by business owners to improve the situation. As a result, they decided to prepare to take direct action. (Paragraph 5-8)

2. For King, groups are harder to convince to give up unjust acts, while individuals may do so voluntarily. (Paragraph 12)

3. A just law supports human personalities, while an unjust law “degrades” it. (Paragraph 17)

Negative peace is the “absence of tension,” while positive peace is the “presence of justice.” King is disappointed in white moderates because they prefer negative peace, and continually tell Black voters to “wait” for a better time to make their case heard. (Paragraph 24)