Letter From Birmingham Jail
In April 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama for protesting against racial segregation. While in jail, he wrote a letter to eight white clergymen who had criticized his actions. In the letter, King defends his actions and explains why civil disobedience is necessary in the fight for civil rights. He argues that the civil rights movement is a moral issue, not a legal one, and that it is the responsibility of all people to stand up against injustice. He also explains why direct action is necessary, and why it is important to break unjust laws. He concludes by expressing his hope that the clergymen will join him in the struggle for civil rights.
By Martin Luther King Jr. · First published 1963 · Genre: Non-Fiction, Essay, Civil Rights · 7,759 words
First lines
Martin Luther King, Jr. / Birmingham City Jail / April 16, 1963
My Dear Fellow Clergymen:
What this Textopian page supports
Letter From Birmingham Jail is listed on Textopian as an essay by Martin Luther King Jr., dated 1963 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Martin Luther King Jr.
- Date: 1963 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-Fiction, Essay, Civil Rights, Philosophy, History
- Length: 7,759 words
- Structure: 1 section, 53 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- Down At The Cross by James Baldwin
- The Menace Of Prohibition by Lulu Wightman
- Memoirs Of Arthur Hamilton by A. C. Benson
- My Dungeon Shook by James Baldwin
- Morals In Trade And Commerce by Frank B. Anderson
- At Large by A. C. Benson
Genres
- Non-Fiction — Letter From Birmingham Jail is a non-fiction work written by Martin Luther King Jr. in response to a public statement issued by eight white Alabama clergymen in 1963.
- Essay — Letter From Birmingham Jail is an essay written by Martin Luther King Jr. in response to a public statement issued by eight white Alabama clergymen in 1963.
- Civil Rights — Letter From Birmingham Jail is a civil rights document written by Martin Luther King Jr. in response to a public statement issued by eight white Alabama clergymen in 1963.
- Philosophy — Letter From Birmingham Jail is a philosophical work written by Martin Luther King Jr. in response to a public statement issued by eight white Alabama clergymen in 1963. It contains philosophical arguments about civil disobedience, justice, and racial inequality.
Tags
civil rights · nonviolent protest · justice · equality · segregation · activism · morality · law · freedom · disobedience · social change · human rights