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What does MLK think of those who tell him to “wait!”?

What does MLK think of those who tell him to “wait!”?

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What does MLK think of those who tell him to “wait!”?
While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise an untimely." Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas... But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to tr to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. ...I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere... Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case. On the basis of these conditions Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers. But th latter consistently refused to engage in good faith negotiation ...You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue... But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessar for growth... The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation... We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by th, oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."
Transcribed Image Text:While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise an untimely." Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas... But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to tr to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. ...I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere... Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case. On the basis of these conditions Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers. But th latter consistently refused to engage in good faith negotiation ...You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue... But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessar for growth... The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation... We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by th, oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."
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