_Letter From Birmingham Jail_
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Diablo Valley College *
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Course
105
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
4
Uploaded by MasterClover9924
1.Who is King trying to get a message to in this work? Please identify both the specific and
general audiences. This question is worth 3 points.
Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to get his message to both a specific and general audience. The
specific audience he was addressing were the eight clergymen who had criticized his activities in
Birmingham. He was also addressing a general audience of Americans and people around the
world who were interested in the civil rights movement
2.How does King answer the criticism that he is an outsider in Birmingham? (Give at least 3 of
his responses). This question is worth 3 points.
King acknowledges that he is an outsider, but he argues that the civil rights movement is an
interrelated network of communities and that he is a part of that network. He writes, "Injustice
anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of
mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all
indirectly."
King argues that he has a moral obligation to be in Birmingham and to fight against injustice
there, just as he has a moral obligation to fight against injustice anywhere. He writes, "I am in
Birmingham because injustice is here …. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
King points out that many of the leaders of the Birmingham campaign, including himself, have
roots in Birmingham and that the struggle for civil rights is a national issue, not just a local one.
He writes, "I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in
Birmingham … Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider
anywhere within its bounds."
3.Explain each of the four steps used in a nonviolent campaign in detail. This question is worth 4
points.
Collection of the facts: The first step in a nonviolent campaign is to gather and verify all the
relevant facts related to the injustice or oppression that is being protested against. This step
involves conducting research, talking to witnesses, and gathering evidence to build a strong case
against the unjust system.
Negotiation: The second step is to attempt to negotiate with the authorities or power holders in
order to resolve the issue without resorting to direct action. This step involves identifying the key
decision-makers and attempting to engage them in a dialogue to discuss the issue and find a
mutually acceptable solution. Negotiation can take many forms, including public meetings,
private discussions, and mediated talks.
Self-purification: The third step in a nonviolent campaign is self-purification. This step involves
preparing oneself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the challenges of the struggle.
Self-purification involves developing a deep sense of personal integrity and commitment to the
cause, as well as a willingness to accept suffering and endure hardship in the pursuit of justice.
Direct action: The final step in a nonviolent campaign is direct action. This step involves the use
of nonviolent tactics such as protests, boycotts, sit-ins, and other forms of civil disobedience to
apply pressure on the power holders to change the unjust system or policies. Direct action is a
strategic and calculated move that is designed to create a crisis or disruption that forces the
power holders to address the issue and negotiate a resolution. The goal of it is to create a tension
that is so great that it forces the power holders to confront the issue and take action to it.
4.What is involved in “civil disobedience”? In other words, according to King, what three things
occur in order for an act to be classified as “civil disobedience”? This question is worth 3 points.
The act is nonviolent: The first element of civil disobedience is that the act must be nonviolent.
This means that the protesters should not physically harm anyone or damage property in the
course of their protest. The purpose of civil disobedience is to respectfully challenge unjust laws
or policies, not to create violence or chaos.
The act is public: The second element of civil disobedience is that the act must be public. This
means that the protesters should not engage in secret or covert actions, but rather publicly defy
the unjust laws or policies they are protesting against. Publicity is essential in civil disobedience
because it helps to raise awareness of the issue and generate support for the cause.
The act is done with the willingness to accept the penalty: The third element of civil
disobedience is that the protesters must be willing to accept the penalty for breaking the law.
This means that they should not resist arrest or evade punishment, but rather willingly submit to
the legal consequences of their actions. By accepting the penalty, civil disobedience protesters
demonstrate their commitment to the cause and their willingness to suffer for what they believe
in.
5.Using your own words, give two examples where King makes direct references to Socrates in
his letter. This question is worth 2 points.
In one section of the letter, King describes his disappointment with the moderate white clergy
who have criticized his direct action campaign. He argues that their criticism reflects a lack of
understanding of the urgency and gravity of the civil rights struggle. To make his point, he
invokes the example of Socrates, who was also criticized by his contemporaries for his
unconventional ideas and actions. King writes, "Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to
create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and
half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the
need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from
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the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and
brotherhood."
In another section of the letter, King addresses the criticism that he is an outsider who has no
right to come to Birmingham and interfere in the local affairs. He argues that as a human being
and a citizen of the United States, he has a moral obligation to fight against injustice wherever it
exists. To support his argument, he again invokes the example of Socrates, who was also
criticized for his supposed interference in the affairs of Athens. King writes, "Just as Socrates felt
that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the
bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective
appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society
that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of
understanding and brotherhood."