Letter From A Birmingham Jail

Ekklesia

A Greek word defined as "a called-out assembly or congregation."

Complacency

A feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

Gadflies

A fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly.

Moratorium

A temporary prohibition of an activity.

Summary 2 (p 4-6)

Birmingham was addressed to have so many violent protests because of the fact that it is the most segregated city in the nation. MLK addresses that if there is no social justice in that city, there won't be social justice in any city.

Pious

Devoutly religious.

Summary 1 (p 1-3)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. seems not to enjoy the fact that the clergymen are ridiculing him, but MLK decided to answer the questions of the clergymen, anyways. He addressed the fact as to why he was Birmingham and what he believed he was doing was right.

Summary 7 (p 19-21)

It was said that a person who chooses to not act is worse than a person who chooses to act negatively. MLK explained that it is not time that will cure segregation, but the people itself.

Laxity

Lack of strictness or care.

Clarion

Loud and clear.

Summary 3 (p 7-9)

MLK describes how the demonstrations were postponed for a while in order to not interfere with the daily lives of others. At one point, the segregation and lying just became unbearable, though. MLK said that a negotiation would be reasonable, but in this situation, direct action needs to be put into place so that people are aware of the needs of the black community.

Summary 6 (p 16-18)

MLK follows up on more scenarios of when the law wasn't considered right. In addition, he also says that person who openly breaks an unjust law and submits to the punishment is one who is most knowledgeable about the law.

Summary 10 (p 28-30)

MLK points out that he has never heard a white man from church point out how segregation was not morally correct and this goes back on the beliefs of Christianity.

Summary 11 (p 31-33)

MLK points out that he loves the church, but the body of Jesus Christ has been scarred. He says that the church was once a powerful tool for Christians and now it's not. If it keeps ignoring the injustice among the black communities, the church will have no more power.

Summary 12 (p 34-36)

MLK points out that the church may not be the full answer to the problem of segregation and he points out the disappointment in the police. He is angry that the police were appraised for taking out the protesters, but the protesters are ashamed because they protested for what they believed in.

Summary 4 (p 10-12)

MLK says that pressure had to be applied to the situation. The black community could no longer "wait" for their freedom. Then, he goes into details different scenarios that he could no longer "wait" on. MLK believes one should choose to follow just laws and disobey unjust laws as part of their morality.

Summary 9 (p 25-27)

MLK thanks the white people who have helped out the black community. Then, he points out his disappointment towards the churches.

Summary 8 (p 22-24)

MLK was, at first, unsatisfied with the "extremist" label. He mentioned people who have brought all sorts of violence on the streets and he mentioned that all he did was encourage nonviolence. After a while, MLK changed his mind and said extremists are people who make change happen and everyone is an extremist in some manner or fashion.

End

MLK wishes good faith and farewell to the clergymen.

Futility

Pointlessness or uselessness.

Summary 5 (p 13-15)

The audience receives a figurative and a literal definition of a "just" law and an "unjust" law, followed by scenarios.