Martin Luther King, Jr. Character Analysis in Letter from Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister, a leader of the Civil Rights movement, and the author of “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Responding to an open letter known as “A Call for Unity,” written by eight white clergymen, King answers their criticism of his racial activism and defends civil disobedience as necessary in the face of the injustice African Americans experienced at the time. In the letter, King refers to himself as “the son, the grandson, and the greatgrandson of preachers,” and contextualizes his protest within the history of Christianity, noting that the early Christians practiced civil disobedience as well and were “willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire.” King’s vast biblical knowledge and rhetorical skills are clear in this letter: despite being written in the margins of a newspaper in a Birmingham jail cell, King’s letter is one of the most important works of the Civil Rights Era.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes in Letter from Birmingham Jail

The Letter from Birmingham Jail quotes below are all either spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. or refer to Martin Luther King, Jr. . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Related Symbols: Apostle Paul

Page Number and Citation: 5

Explanation and Analysis:

King makes this statement—one of his most famous and quoted—in response to being deemed an “outsider” by his critics, because he and other members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference have traveled to Birmingham, Alabama to protest segregation in the city. In response to this criticism, King notes that like the early Christians, he and his fellow activists must travel to spread their gospel of racial equality and integration. Like the Apostle Paul, he must answer the call for aid—in this case, support for a city-wide protest against segregation in local shops. This statement establishes King’s sense of community and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Op

We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 10

Explanation and Analysis:

King continues to respond to criticism of the protesters, especially in relation to the tension that they are bringing to the city of Birmingham. He states that the goal of their protests is to create discomfort and tension among whites in the city, so that they feel enough pressure to engage in sincere dialogue about racial equality. King’s experience as a civil rights leader has taught him something that his white critics do not recognize: discomfort and pressure is the only way to create change. Only when the white authorities believe there is something to lose, or can no longer Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut v

The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: there are just laws, and there are unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that “An unjust law is no law at all.”

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 13

Explanation and Analysis:

King uses the words of St. Augustine, an early Christian philosopher, to defend the protests against segregation laws. The protesters were criticized for breaking the law, but King defends their actions by arguing that choosing not to obey an unjust law is equally as important as obeying a just one. King’s use of Christian references further reminds his readers that he is not just a protester, or an African American, but also a religious scholar and a Baptist minister. King uses this opportunity to focus the conversation not on the illegality of his actions, but on the validity of the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati

We can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.”

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 17

Explanation and Analysis:

King continues to question the moral basis for the laws of segregation, having established that the laws are unjust and therefore that he has no moral obligation to obey them. Now he brings up an example from very recent history to give further context to his argument, and to emphasize to his readers that just because something is legal, that does not mean it is morally right. His reference to Hitler is strategic, as the horrors of WWII and the Holocaust would still be very fresh in the minds of his readers at the time of writing. After the destruction Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Com

…the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice…

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 17

Explanation and Analysis:

After responding to criticism of his actions for much of the letter, King now offers his own criticism, directed at white moderates. This is one of the strongest points in his letter, pointing out that passivity and empty promises are as detrimental to the cause of racial equality as outright opposition. While the Ku Klux Klan are very public enemies to African Americans, and have committed heinous acts against protesters, their tactics are known. The white moderate, on the other hand, often claims to be on the side of racial equality but is unwilling to make any sacrifices or give Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident e

We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability.

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

King discusses a letter he received from a white man in Texas, who pleaded with him to be more patient and not to rush the cause of racial equality, which, the man argued, would come in its own time. This man referenced the extended timeline for nearly all of the changes within the Christian church and suggested that racial equality would take time as well. This anonymous letter writer serves as King’s first example of the white moderate, who paternalistically sets a timeline and agenda for African Americans to gain their civil rights. King responds to the letter writer—and, by Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliq

So let him march sometime; let him have his prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; understand why he must have sit ins and freedom rides.

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 23

Explanation and Analysis:

King returns to the criticisms of the eight white clergymen, focusing now on their use of the word “extremist” to describe the protesters. King calls into question the term, explaining that he and his fellow nonviolent protesters actually fall between two extremes. They are neither resigned to the suffering of segregation, a feeling held by many African Americans due to a lifetime of frustration and disappointment; nor are they filled with the anger, violence, and hatred of whites that King attributes to black nationalist groups. King then cautions his critics: if African Americans are not given the opportunity to participate Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesc

Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice, or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Related Symbols: Apostle Paul

Page Number and Citation: 25

Explanation and Analysis:

King now changes his mind about the term “extremist,” and decides to embrace a redefined version of the word. While his critics have meant it to have negative connotations, King sees the value in extreme actions, especially those that are morally right despite conflicting with man-made laws. He returns to the idea that the laws of segregation are unjust, and that he and his fellow protesters are obligated to break those laws to bring attention to their injustice. If fighting for the cause of racial justice is extreme, King will embrace that term publicly. King also places himself within a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta.

We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom.

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 32

Explanation and Analysis:

As King nears the end of his letter, he focuses on the overall righteousness of his goal, racial equality. King is relentlessly optimistic about the long-term outcomes of the civil rights campaigns, in large part because he knows that what he is doing is morally correct. Despite writing his letter from a jail cell, King maintains a moral high ground and does not apologize for the protests in any way; in fact, he uses this space to promote the work of the protesters and show his belief in them. He places them in the context of all American freedom fighters, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit.

One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters they were in reality standing up for the best in the American dream and the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage.

Related Characters: Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 35

Explanation and Analysis:

King concludes his praise of the protesters by reminding his readers that history will be on their side, and that while his critics may call them outsiders and extremists, in retrospect they will be considered heroes. He describes the protesters as children of God, emphasizing their lack of malice in the fight for civil rights; he uses the word “disinherited” to remind his readers of the struggles African Americans have endured throughout history. He strips the entire civil rights movement down to a simple act—sitting down at lunch counters—to emphasize that these protesters must fight and risk their lives to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas de

Martin Luther King, Jr. Character Timeline in Letter from Birmingham Jail

The timeline below shows where the character Martin Luther King, Jr. appears in Letter from Birmingham Jail. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Martin Luther King, Jr. directs his letter to the eight white clergymen who publicly condemned his actions in... (full context)

King begins his response by addressing his critics’ concerns about the presence of “outsiders,” referring indirectly... (full context)

In addition, King is also in Birmingham because he feels compelled to respond to injustice wherever he finds... (full context)

According to King, the systemic racism in Birmingham has left the African American community with no alternative to... (full context)

...American community has attempted to negotiate with Birmingham community leaders, but had their hopes dashed. King cites the local merchants’ promise to remove their “humiliating racial signs” that established and supported... (full context)

King clarifies that the goal of the protests was to force the situation, and “to create... (full context)

...untimely, and suggested that the protesters wait for desegregation to happen on its own schedule. King replies that they have waited 340 years for their “constitutional and God-given rights,” and that... (full context)

To give his readers an idea of the racial injustice African Americans have experienced, King offers a list of injustices. He presents examples of lynchings and extreme police brutality, the... (full context)

King moves on to discuss the fact that he and the other protesters are breaking laws,... (full context)

King establishes the grounds for deeming a law unjust, focusing specifically on whether or not the... (full context)

Most importantly, King notes that he and his fellow protesters are willing to accept the punishment for breaking... (full context)

King then offers his own criticisms, condemning the white moderate for his passive acceptance of racial... (full context)

To illustrate the white moderate perspective, King refers to a letter he received from a white man from Texas, who claimed that... (full context)

King then addresses the description of the protests as extreme, arguing that he and the SCLC... (full context)

...African Americans do not have the opportunity to take action and participate in nonviolent protest, King argues, they will find refuge in the more extreme groups. He asks his critics to... (full context)

King then changes his mind about the term extremist, embracing the idea within the context of... (full context)

King returns to his condemnation of white moderates, lamenting the fact that they have not been... (full context)

With these notable exceptions, King comments, he is disappointed with the white church. He believed that as Christians, they would... (full context)

...contemporary church, which he calls “an archdefender of the status quo.” If this continues, warns King, the church will lose the loyalty of millions and lose its relevance in the lives... (full context)

King again praises those who have taken the risk and joined the cause of racial equality,... (full context)

In a final point before closing his letter, King notes that white leaders have commended the police for their work maintaining order and preventing... (full context)

Yet even when the police have conducted themselves nonviolently in public, King argues that this is not worthy of praise, either. Regardless of their conduct, the police... (full context)

King expresses his wish that these same leaders had commended the protesters in Birmingham for their... (full context)

King finishes his letter with a few final notes. First, he apologizes for the length of... (full context)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Character Analysis

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes in Letter from Birmingham Jail

Letter from Birmingham Jail Quotes

Martin Luther King, Jr. Character Timeline in Letter from Birmingham Jail