Letter from A Birmingham Jail

Is Civil Disobedience Ever Justified as a Method of Political Change? 

Vocabulary: Convictions, Forbearance, Restraint, Demonstrations, Direct Action, Prodded , Oppressor and Oppressed, Paradoxical, Advocate, Moral Law, Degrades, Distorts, Distinction, Evading, Anarchy Conscience

Text 1:

“An Open Letter to Dr. King from Birmingham Clergy” (April 1963)

1. What are two charges the Birmingham clergy make against Martin Luther King?

2. What suggestions do the clergy offer for resolving racial problems in Birmingham? List at least three.

Text 2:

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King

1. Why did King disagree with the Clergy? (See your answer to 1 above)

2. In your own words, explain King’s justification for sometimes needing to break the law.

Critical Thinking: Answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What words does Martin Luther King use to describe a just law? 

2. How would you define an unjust law? 

3. What laws from our chart would be examples of unjust law?