Martin Luther King Jr.‘s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” addresses criticism from white clergymen regarding his involvement in Birmingham’s civil rights demonstrations. King justifies his presence by highlighting the pervasive injustice in Birmingham and his role as a leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He explains the four steps of a nonviolent campaign, emphasizing the necessity of direct action to force negotiation when dialogue fails. King contrasts just and unjust laws, arguing for the moral obligation to disobey unjust laws while upholding the importance of nonviolent resistance. Finally, he expresses disappointment in the white moderate’s complacency and the white church’s lack of support for the movement.
