Question

complete the following items after you finish your first read. 1. what circumstance or event is dr. martin luther king, jr., responding to in this letter? notebook 2. according to dr. king, what are the four basic steps that a nonviolent campaign must follow? notebook 3. according to dr. king, what are the two types of laws?

Explanation:

To answer these questions, we assume the text in question is "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Here are the answers to each sub - question:

Sub - question 1

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in response to a public statement by eight white clergymen who criticized the non - violent direct action protests he and other civil rights activists were leading in Birmingham, Alabama. These clergymen called the protests "unwise and untimely" and urged African - American leaders to pursue change through the courts rather than through direct action.

In the context of the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and his broader philosophy of non - violent resistance, Dr. King outlined the four basic steps of a non - violent campaign as: (1) Collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; (2) Negotiation; (3) Self - purification (where participants in the campaign prepare themselves morally and spiritually for the struggle, including being ready to accept suffering without retaliating); (4) Direct action (such as sit - ins, marches, etc., which are designed to create a situation so crisis - packed that it will open the door to negotiation).

Dr. King, in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail", differentiated between two types of laws. Just laws are those that are in harmony with the moral law or the law of God. They uplift human personality, are rooted in justice and morality, and are applicable to all people equally. Unjust laws are those that are out of harmony with the moral law. They degrade human personality, are imposed on a minority group without their consent, and do not conform to the principles of justice and equality.

Answer:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was responding to a public statement by eight white clergymen who criticized his non - violent direct action protests in Birmingham, Alabama, and urged civil rights leaders to seek change through the courts instead of direct action.

Sub - question 2