Question

What does the Letter from a Birmingham Jail tell us about MLK and his view of unjust laws? How do you fight against unjust laws, and who should be held responsible? Do you agree with King and his methods?

Answer 1

One of the most important points in King’s letter is that unjust laws are made by men to segregate and dominate people which should be fought through civil disobedience which he terms as patriotic response. When the laws are unjust it’s the responsibility of the people to fight against it by not obeying to it. He also criticizes the non-cooperation from the white church by telling that Christianity was a religion of transformation and Jesus fought injustice, inequality and slavery but today its clergy members remain silent thus contributing to the injustice. He suggests that the by being moderate, the clergy members are as equally contributing to the injustice as the radical white who belong to the Ku Klux Klan. I agree with King’s methods because when normal ways of conveying the message to the government do not reach the government, one needs to engage in civil disobedience which would catch the attention of the government immediately. When the group of people who engage in civil disobedience gain momentum, the government would have no other option but to heed to the needs of people.

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