Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

Questions for Further Study

• 1. King argues that a person is justified in breaking unjust laws, but how does one distinguish between just and unjust laws? What are some examples of unjust laws in contemporary society?
• 2. In Birmingham nonviolent demonstrators repeatedly confronted the police, who eventually responded with police dogs and fire hoses. In this case, were the demonstrators guilty of provoking the police? To what extent, if any, were the demonstrators responsible for this violence?
• 3. King's critics often said that he pushed too hard for change and that he should have allowed his opponents more time to adjust to the social changes he advocated. Why did King reject these arguments? In his opinion, who should determine the timetable for social change? Why?
• 4. King often was accused of being an “extremist.” Is this charge accurate? Explain why or why not. Why did King both reject and embrace this label?
• 5. In his letter, King takes white churches to task for not openly denouncing the evil of segregation, yet many ministers maintain that religious organizations should not take sides in partisan political issues. What is the proper role of the church in social issues? Should churches become involved in movements for social change? Why or why not?