Letter from Birmingham Jail

Definition

The "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is an open letter written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 while he was imprisoned for participating in nonviolent demonstrations against segregation. In the letter, King defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism.

Analogy

Think of the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" as a powerful speech delivered not on a stage, but through pen and paper. It's like a viral social media post today that sparks conversation and change around important issues.

Related terms

Civil Disobedience: A form of political protest where individuals deliberately break certain laws considered unjust to bring about legal or societal change.

Nonviolent Resistance: A practice of achieving goals such as social change through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation without using violence.

Segregation: The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.