Letter from Birmingham Jail Questions:

Briefly describe the situation preceding Dr. King's arrest and what prompted him to write the letter.

For whom does Dr. King initially write the letter? Who do you think eventually becomes his audience after being released from prison?

According to the letter, why did Dr. King go to Birmingham?

Discuss the four steps in nonviolent campaign.

Why is there a need to create nonviolent tension?

According to Dr. King, why can the Negro community no longer wait for action?

What is the difference between a just law and an unjust law?

What does Dr. King say about Adolph Hitler?

What is an extremist and whom does Dr. King label as extremists for love or justice?

Why does Dr. King refuse to praise the Birmingham police department?

1. Prior to his arrest, he did protests to end racial segragation. What prompted him to write the letter was to show everyone that he was there. He wants to write every detail as to why he was there.

2. The letter was eventually intended for the African-Americans. His audience were those who were discriminated.

3. Dr. King went to Birmingham to end racial segragation.

4. The first step in a nonviolent campaign is the collection of facts to determine if injustice exists. Next is negotiation. The third step is self-purification. And the last step is direct action.

5. It would show that African-Americans are civilized. Dr. King also wants everyone to step-up from racism and oppression.

6. Dr. King believes that now is the time to act. He stated that the Negro community must be motivated to fight for change and for equality.

7. According to him, "a just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law." In other words, a just law is the rightful law while an unjust law is the chaotic one.

8. He thinks that everything that Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal and what Hungarian freedom fighters did to Jews was illegal.

9. An extremist is someone who extremely acts upon belief. He fights for what she thinks is right. King labeled Jesus as the extremist for love and justice.

10. The Birmingham police unfairly treated the blacks, women and children. The police was abusive and did not give them food whenever they ask. They slap and kick them whenever they want.