Letter from Birmingham Jail

Why was Dr. Martin Luther King in jail when he wrote this letter? (introduction)

• He killed someone in a protest against segregation.

• He refused to give his seat up on the bus.

• He participated in a nonviolent protest against segregation.

• He was arrested for taking Claudette's side of the bus protest.

Why does Dr. King thing it is okay to argue the laws of segregation? (paragraph 12, 13)

• Because "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

• Because "wait" most often means "never"

• Because "an unjust law is no law at all"

• Because he would "rarely have time to answer anything else"

Why does Dr. King say that African Americans in Birmingham have no choice but to protest against segregation?

• Because Rosa Parks said that they must fight against the bus laws.

• Because the whites hold the power and have kept them from having a voice.

• Because he wants to protect Claudette Colvin.

• Because white people are racist toward African Americans.

According to the text, Why does Dr. King say that nonviolent protest is the best path to take? (paragraph 9)

• Because it leads to a tension that makes change unavoidable.

• Because violent protest causes too much harm.

• Because no one will listen to any other form of resistance.

• Because they are sick of living lives where they are treated poorly.

What is Dr. King's argument in this letter?

• African Americans have the right to nonviolently protest because should not wait anymore.

• African Americans have the right to nonviolently protest because segregation laws are unjust.

• African Americans should fight against segregation in any way possible, violent or nonviolent.

• African Americans should keep quiet to protect the community from getting further segregated.

Why does Dr. King say that African Americans should not wait to protest? (paragraph 11)

• "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor"

• "It must be demanded by the oppressed"

• "You will understand why we find it difficult to wait"

• "We have waited more than three hundred forty years for our God-given constitutional rights"