Letter from

Birmingham Jail
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

April 16, 1963

 Martin Luther King Jr.

● 1929-1968
● A Baptist minister and a leader of the civil rights movement in USA
● King was heavily influenced by the views of Gandhi and preached
non-violence and non-cooperation
● Helped organize the March on Washington where he delivered his
historic “I Have a Dream” speech
● His leadership was crucial in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
● King received the Nobel Peace Prize
● He was assassinated in 1968
Context for the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
 Context for the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
● MLK was arrested on April 12, 1963 for
violating Alabama’s law against mass
public demonstrations. It was a peaceful
march protesting lunch counter
segregation.
● 8 Birmingham clergymen published a
criticism of his campaign for civil rights,
calling its direct action strategy “unwise
and untimely” and appealing “to both our
white and Negro citizenry to observe the
principles of law and order and common
sense”.
 Conte
xt for
from
Birmi the “Lette
ngha r
m Ja
il”
Context for the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
● The 8 clergymen basically argued
that it was too soon for African-
Americans to be allowed equal
rights. Their equality would bring
violence.
● MLK’s letter, written from the
Birmingham jail, is both a
response to and a rebuttal of the
arguments of these other
clergymen.
Context for the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
More background information…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIpfCVt2eb4
 Letter from
Birmingham Jail
is on (319-338) in
your textbook.
 A reading of the
Letter from
Birmingham Jail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__cT397uOak