Letter from Birmingham Jail

To whom is the Letter from Birmingham Jail addressed?

• ministers who criticized King's efforts

• whites who arrested King for no reason

• his coworkers in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

• his wife and his lawyer

Why was King in Birmingham?

• he was invited to help fight the segregation there

• he lived there

• he gave a speech there but drove over the speed limit on his way out of town

• he picked Birmingham as the next place to hold a non-violent protest

King challenges other ministers to see the struggle for equality as...

• a moral concern.

• a political concern.

• a personal concern.

• not their concern.

King believes that resentment and frustration over racism should be channeled into...

• non-violent direct action.

• violent protest.

• religious belief.

• political discussions.

What does King mean when he says in lines 37-38, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”?

• All citizens are equally threatened by justice.

• All laws are unfair and should be ignored.

• All laws are unfair and should be ignored.

• Everyone is affected when one person is hurt.

   

What statement best describes Dr. King’s purpose in writing the letter?

• Dr. King hoped to explain why the discrimination of African Americans is immoral

• Dr. King criticized white Americans who were supportive of his cause but were fearful of the Klan’s terrorism

• Dr. King attempts to encourage all Americans to end racism by joining the cause

• Dr. King responded to the criticism he received from people by addressing each of their claims.

What is the basis for King’s argument against the idea that he is an outsider who came to Birmingham?

• He was born in Birmingham.

• He has many relatives in Birmingham.

• He has organizational ties in Birmingham.

• He went to college in Birmingham.

Why does King compare himself to early Christian prophets?

• Because they died fighting for their cause?

• Because they believed in civil disobedience.

• Because they did not submit to unjust laws.

• Because they did not negotiate with enemies.

According to King, the purpose of direct nonviolent action is to

• End the bombings of homes and churches.

• Halt the activities of both merchants and consumers.

• Create tension so that people must confront an issue.

• Draw the sympathy of the religious community and moderate whites.

King states that there are two types of laws: Just and unjust.  Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a “just” law?

• man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God

• a majority compels a minority to follow and that is willing to follow itself.

• uplifts human personality.

• is out of harmony with the moral law.