Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Disobedience

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."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. What is the author's purpose for including this sentence? to establish the suffering experienced under segregation to define the concept of a direct action campaign to criticize the public officials who endorse segregation to explain his unwillingness to postpone his efforts

to explain his unwillingness to postpone his efforts

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative. How does King support this claim? by providing the names of corrupt public figures by explaining Birmingham's segregationists laws by quoting the racist sentiments of city leaders by describing Birmingham's record of injustice

by describing Birmingham's record of injustice

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. How does King support this claim? by describing his own experience with waiting for civil rights by providing quotes from militant civil rights demonstrators by explaining the racist attitudes of white politicians by recalling a dream of his in which all people were equal

by describing his own experience with waiting for civil rights

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.How does King support this claim? by describing his own experience with waiting for civil rights by providing quotes from militant civil rights demonstrators by explaining the racist attitudes of white politicians by recalling a dream of his in which all people were equal

by describing his own experience with waiting for civil rights

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."I have tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need emulate neither the "do nothingism" of the complacent nor the hatred and despair of the black nationalist. How does King support this claim? by listing churches who support his nonviolent stand by describing nonviolent direct action as a peaceful middle ground by urging church leaders to abandon their "do nothing" approaches by insisting that complacency is preferable to hatred and violence

by describing nonviolent direct action as a peaceful middle ground

by listing churches who support his nonviolent stand by describing nonviolent direct action as a peaceful middle ground by urging church leaders to abandon their "do nothing" approaches by insisting that complacency is preferable to hatred and violence

by describing nonviolent direct action as a peaceful middle ground

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern.How does King rebut his critics' claim? by citing the US Constitution in a counterclaim by questioning the fairness of the laws in a counterclaim by praising the concept of social anarchy in a counterclaim by admitting mistakes made by his group in a counterclaim

by questioning the fairness of the laws in a counterclaim

Read the excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail."We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. King includes this sentence to draw attention to the interrelationship of events. illustrate the connectivity of his professional network. challenge the concept of predetermined destiny. explain his plan for a peaceful demonstration.

draw attention to the interrelationship of events.

Read the excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail."We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.King includes this sentence to draw attention to the interrelationship of events. illustrate the connectivity of his professional network. challenge the concept of predetermined destiny. explain his plan for a peaceful demonstration.

draw attention to the interrelationship of events.

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake.King uses this allusion to retell an important historical tale. describe a governmental struggle in a foreign land. explain the reason for his peaceful approach. forge a connection with familiar figures of faith.

forge a connection with familiar figures of faith.

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."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. Why does King use this allusion? to appeal to his critics' intellect to define democratic principles to commemorate a famous leader to decry the bondage of ancient Greece

to appeal to his critics' intellect

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. What is the author's purpose for including this sentence? to condemn the insincerity of his critics' advice to contrast the motivations of people in power to explain the need for mutual understanding to criticize people who treat others cruelly

to condemn the insincerity of his critics' advice

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."You suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children.What is the author's purpose for including this sentence? to illustrate the cruelty and violence of a segregated South to emphasize his personal connection to segregation to describe the daily struggles of black children to explain the disparity of segregated parks

to emphasize his personal connection to segregation

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."Just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town.Why does King use this allusion? to share historical precedent to emphasize the morality of his cause to define the purpose of his travel to compare the goals of famous leaders

to emphasize the morality of his cause

to share historical precedent to emphasize the morality of his cause to define the purpose of his travel to compare the goals of famous leaders

to emphasize the morality of his cause

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Why does King use this allusion? to appeal to his critics' sense of duty to describe an historical precedent to commemorate a famous leader to encourage a consideration of ethics

to encourage a consideration of ethics

Read the excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail."In our own nation, the Boston Tea Party represented a massive act of civil disobedience.Why does King use this allusion? to establish historical precedent for his actions to commemorate a beloved American leader to appeal to his critics' sense of moral justice to forge a connection with modern political figures

to establish historical precedent for his actions

Read the excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail."In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime—the crime of extremism. Why does King use this allusion? to establish historical precedent for racial tension to commemorate men who have been forgotten to suggest the moral significance of his cause to forge a connection with foreign countries

to suggest the moral significance of his cause

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest.Why does King use this allusion? to compare two historic documents to urge patriotic responsibility to issue a call for action to state a moral dilemma

to urge patriotic responsibility