I.
Four Reasons Rieder Gives for Reading MLK’s “Letter from
Birmingham Jail” Today




D. Closing: A Plea for Understanding
II. An Outline of the Letter from Birmingham Jail
A. Opening: A “Patient and Reasonable” Response
B. MLK “the Statesman”
Why he was in Birmingham
a.
b.
2.
He was invited
Injustice was present
The Nature of a Nonviolent Campaign
a.
Four Steps
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
b.
3.
Gathering facts
Negotiation
Self-purification
Direct action
Objections by Clergymen
The Distinction between Just and Unjust Laws
C. MLK “the Prophet”
1.
III. Five Examples of Moral Arguments made by MLK in the “Letter from
Birmingham Jail”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Injustice exists in Birmingham, Alabama.
Therefore, justice is threatened throughout the United States.
All persons have a right to challenge threats to justice in the United States.
Therefore, MLK has a right to challenge the injustice in Birmingham.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A just law is one that uplifts human personality.
But segregation laws damage human personality.
Therefore, segregation laws are unjust.
Unjust laws may be challenged and broken.
Therefore, segregation laws may be challenged and broken.
1.
The Birmingham desegregation campaign uses forms of direct action to
“create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has
constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.”
Creative tension and crisis are morally justifiable.
Therefore, the Birmingham desegregation campaign is morally justifiable.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
Two Confessions
a.
b.
The “Bottomless Vitality” of Black Self-Sufficiency as the Basis for
Self-Emancipation
3. A Final Objection: The Police Maintain Order and Prevent
Violence
Historical
Philosophical/Moral
Literary/Rhetorical
Biographical
1.
2.
Disappointment with White Moderates
1.
2.
(1) Indirect violence
(2) Time and freedom
(3) Accusation of extremism
3.
Disappointment with the White Church and Its Leadership
4.
5.
Moderate critics of the Birmingham desegregation campaign urge delay and
waiting for the right time.
But “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Therefore, moderate critics who urge that the Birmingham campaign delay by
waiting for the right time to engage in protest against injustice are, in effect,
denying the possibility of social justice.
“Before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here.”
“Before the pen of Jefferson etched the majestic words of the Declaration of
Independence across the pages of history, we were here.”
Therefore, the “bottomless vitality” of the black struggle for freedom has
existed from the very beginning of the United States.
The goal of the United States is freedom.
Therefore, “we will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the
nation.”