231
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. • Letter from Birmingham Jail
22
Letter from Birmingham Jail
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
My Dear Fellow Clergymen:
While confined here in the Birmingham city
my present activities "unwise and untimely.” Sel-
dom do I pause to answer criticism of my work
and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms
that cross my desk, my secretaries would have lit-
tle time for anything other than such correspon-
dence in the course of the day, and I would
have no time for constructive work. But since I
April 16, 1963 boundaries of their home towns, and just as the
Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried
the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the
Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry
the gospel of freedom beyond my own home
town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to
the Macedonian call for aid.
Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelated-
ness of all communities and states. I cannot sit
idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about
what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere
feel that you are men of genuine good will and
is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in
that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I
an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a sin-
want to try to answer your statement in what I
gle garment of destiny. Whatever affects one
hope will be patient and reasonable terms. directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can
I think I should indicate why I am here in we afford to live with the narrow, provincial
Birmingham, since you have been influenced by
"outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside
the view which argues against “outsiders coming the United States can never be considered an out-
in.” I have the honor of serving as president of sider anywhere within its bounds.
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, You deplore the demonstrations taking place
an organization operating in every southern in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to
state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We say, fails to express a similar concern for the con-
have some eighty-five affiliated organizations ditions that brought about the demonstrations.
across the South, and one of them is the Alabama I am sure that none of you would want to rest
Christian Movement for Human Rights. Fre- content with the superficial kind of social analysis
quently we share staff, educational and financial that deals merely with effects and does not grap-
resources with our affiliates. Several months ago ple with underlying causes. It is unfortunate that
the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be
on call to engage in a nonviolent direct-action
demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham,
but it is even more unfortunate that the city's
program if such were deemed necessary. We
readily consented, and when the hour came we
white power structure left the Negro community
with no alternative.
lived up to our promise. So I, along with several
members of my staff, am here because I was
In any nonviolent campaign there are four
invited here. I am here because I have organiza-
basic steps: collection of the facts to deter-
because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of
the eighth century B.C. left their villages and car-
ried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the
mine whether injustices exist; negotiation, self-
purification; and direct action. We have gone
tional ties here.
But more basically, I am in Birmingham through all these steps in Birmingham. There
can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice
engulfs this community. Birmingham is probably
the most thoroughly segregated city in the United
Reprinted by arrangement with the heirs to the estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., c/o Writer's House as
agent for the proprietor (New York, NY ). Copyright 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., copyright
renewed 1991 Coretta Scott King.
• Is There a Moral Obligation to Obey the Law
Mush
resistance to
LOHIY hum
tension that a
longer be
than individuals.
may sound
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
• Letter from Birmingham Jail 233
232 CHAPTER 7
Birmingham. While Mr. Boutwell is a much more
Funtown is closed to colored children, and see
until the day after the run-off so that the demon-
run-off, we decided again to postpone action
gentle person than Mr. Connor, they are both seg.
ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form
States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known.
strations could not be used to cloud the issues.
regationists, dedicated to maintenance of the sta-
in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to
Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treat-
Like many others, we waited to see Mr. Connor
tus quo. I have hope that Mr. Boutwell will be
distort her personality by developing an uncon-
ment in the courts. There have been more
reasonable enough to see the futility of massive
defeated, and to this end we endured postpone.
scious bitterness toward white people; when you
unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches
ment after postponement. Having aided in this
desegregation. But he will not see have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son
in Birmingham than in any other city in the
community need, we felt that our direct-action
this without pressure from devotees of civil rights.
who is asking: “Daddy, why do white people
nation. These are the hard, brutal facts of the
program could be delayed no longer.
My friends, I must say to you that we have not
case. On the basis of these conditions, Negro lead-
treat colored people so mean?”, when you take a
You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why
made a single gain in civil rights without deter-
cross-country drive and find it necessary to sleep
sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a
the latter consistently refused to engage in good-
mined legal and nonviolent pressure. Lamentably, night after night in the uncomfortable corners of
faith negotiation.
better path?" You are quite right in calling for
negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of
it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom your automobile because no motel will accept
Then, last September, came the opportunity
may
direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to cre-
give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals
you; when you are humiliated day in and day out
to talk with leaders of Birmingham's economic
see the moral light and voluntarily give up their
by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored";
community. In the course of the negotiations,
ate such a crisis and foster such a
unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has
when your first name becomes "nigger," your
certain promises were made by the merchants
tiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to
reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral
for example, to remove the stores' humiliating
middle name becomes “boy” (however old you
are), and your last name becomes “John," and
racial signs. On the basis of these promises, the
We know through painful experience that
Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and the leaders of dramatize the issue that it can no
ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part
your wife and mother are never given the
freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppres-
the Alabama Christian Movement for Human
of the work of the nonviolent-resister
respected title “Mrs."; when you are harried by
sor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
Rights agreed to a moratorium on all demonstra-
rather shocking. But I must confess that I am
day and haunted by night by the fact that you
Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action
tions. As the weeks and months went by, we real-
not afraid of the word tension. I have earnestly
are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance,
campaign that was "well timed” in the view of
ized that we were the victims of a broken
opposed violent tension, but there is a type of con-
never quite knowing what to expect next, and
those who have not suffered unduly from the dis-
structive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for
are plagued with inner fears and outer resent-
the others remained.
ease of segregation. For years now I have heard
As in so many past experiences, our hopes growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to
the word "Wait!” It rings in the ear of every
ments; when you are forever fighting a degenerat-
had been blasted, and the shadow of deep disap-
create a tension in the mind so that individuals
ing sense of “nobodiness”-then you will
Negro with piercing familiarity. This “Wait" has
could rise from the bondage of myths and half-
pointment settled upon us. We had no alternative
almost always meant “Never.” We must come
understand why we find it difficult to wait.
truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis
except to prepare for direct action, whereby we
to see, with one of our distinguished jurists,
There comes a time when the cup of endurance
would present our very bodies as a means of lay- and objective appraisal, so must we see the need
that "justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
runs over, and men are no longer willing to be
ing our case before the conscience of the local for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension
We have waited for more than 340 years for
plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs,
and the national community. Mindful of the dif- in society that will help men rise from the dark
our constitutional and God-given rights. The
you can understand our legitimate and unavoid-
ficulties involved, we decided to undertake a pro- depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic
nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike
able impatience.
cess of self-purification. We began a series of heights of understanding and brotherhood.
speed toward gaining political independence, but
You express a great deal of anxiety over our
workshops on nonviolence, and we repeatedly The purpose of our direct-action program is
we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward
willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legit-
asked ourselves: "Are you able to accept blows to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will
gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps
imate concern. Since we so diligently urge people
without retaliating?” “Are you able to endure inevitably open the door to negotiation. I there-
easy for those who have never felt the stinging
to obey the Supreme Court's decision of 1954
the ordeal of jail?” We decided to schedule our fore concur with you in your call for negotiation.
darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you
outlawing segregation in the public schools, at
direct-action program for the Easter season, real- Too long has our beloved Southland been
have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and
first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us
izing that except for Christmas, this is the main bogged down in a tragic effort to live in mono
fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers
consciously to break laws. One may well ask:
shopping period of the year. Knowing that a logue rather than dialogue.
at whim; when you have seen hate-filled police-
“How can you advocate breaking some laws
strong economic-withdrawal program would be One of the basic points in your statement is
the by-product of direct action, we felt that this
men curse, kick, and even kill your black brothers
and obeying others?” The answer lies in the fact
would be the best time to bring pressure to
that the action that I and my associates have
and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your
bear on the merchants for the needed change.
taken in Birmingham is untimely. Some have
twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an
asked: "Why didn't you give the new city admin-
airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an afluent
Then it occurred to us that Birmingham's istration time to act?” The only answer that I
mayoral election was coming up in March, and
society; when you suddenly find your tongue
a
can give to this query is that the new Birmingham
twisted and your speech stammering as you seek
after election day. When we discovered that the
administration must be prodded about as much as
to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she
Commissioner of Public Safety, Eugene "Bull”
the outgoing one, before it will act. We are sadly
Connor, had piled up enough votes to be in the
mistaken if we feel that the election of Albert
just been advertised on television, and see tears
Boutwell as mayor will bring the millennium to
welling up in her eyes when she is told that
it is
that there are two types of laws: just and unjust.
I would be the first to advocate obeying just
laws. One has not only a legal but a moral respon
sibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a
moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I
would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust
law is no law at all."
Now, what is the difference between the
two? How does one determine whether a law is
just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code
can't go to the public amusement park that has
without
a
per-
assembly and protest.
ality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust
because segregation distorts the soul and dam-
ages the personality. It gives the segregator a
I hope you are able to see the distinction I am
trying to point out. In no sense do I advocate
false sense of superiority and the segregated a
terminology of the Jewish philosopher Martin
Buber, substitutes an “I-it” relationship for an
a
right rejection.
est respect for law.
alaw Belf is Just
agrees that the
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. • Letter from Birmingham Jail 235
but the application
gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I
condemning Socrates because his unswerving
Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust
234 CHAPTER 7. Is There a Moral Obligation to Obey the Law?
commitment to truth and his philosophical inqui-
in its application. For instance, I have been
have almost reached the regrettable conclusion
ries precipitated the act by the misguided populace
that the Negro's great stumbling block in his
that squares with the moral law or the law of
stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's
arrested on a charge of parading
in which they made him drink hemlock? Isn't this
God. An unjust law is a code that is out of har-
Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white
like condemning Jesus because his unique God-
ordinance which requires a permit for a parade.
mony with the moral law. To put it in the
terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is mit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an
But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it
moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than
consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to
a human law that is not rooted in eternal and
is used to maintain segregation and to deny citi-
to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is
God's will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion?
natural law. Any law that uplifts human personal-
the absence of tension to a positive peace which
zens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful
We must come to see that, as the federal courts
ity is just. Any law that degrades human person-
have consistently affirmed, it is wrong to urge an
is the presence of justice; who constantly says:
"I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can-
individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic con-
not agree with your methods of direct action"; stitutional rights because the quest may precipitate
who paternalistically believes he can set the time-
violence. Society must protect the robbed and
false sense of inferiority. Segregation, to use the evading or defying the law, as would the rabid
segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One
table for another man's freedom; who lives by a
punish the robber.
who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lov-
mythical concept of time and who constantly
I had also hoped that the white moderate
advises the Negro to wait for a more convenient
would reject the myth concerning time in relation
“I thou" relationship and ends up relegating ingly, and with a willingness to accept the pen-
to the struggle for freedom. I have just received a
season." Shallow understanding from people of
persons to the status of things. Hence segrega - alty. I submit that an individual who breaks
law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who
good will is more frustrating than absolute mis- letter from a white brother in Texas. He writes:
tion is not only politically, economically, and
understanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm “All Christians know that the colored people
sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in
order to arouse the conscience of the community acceptance is much more bewildering than out-
will receive equal rights eventually, but it is possi-
sinful. Paul Tillich has said that sin is separation.
over its injustice, is in reality expressing the high-
Is not segregation an existential expression of
ble that you are in too great a religious hurry. It
I had hoped that the white moderate would
man's tragic separation, his awful estrangement,
has taken Christianity almost two thousand years
Of
course, there is nothing new about this
understand that law and order exist for the pur-
his terrible sinfulness? Thus it is that I can urge
to accomplish what it has. The teachings of Christ
pose of establishing justice and that when they
men to obey the 1954 decision of the Supreme kind of civil disobedience. It was evidenced sub-
limely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and
take time to come to earth.” Such an attitude
fail in this purpose they become the dangerously
Court, for it is morally right; and I can urge
structured dams that block the flow of social
stems from a tragic misconception of time, from
them to disobey segregation ordinances, for Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar
,
on the ground that a higher moral law was at
they are morally wrong.
the strangely irrational notion that there is some-
progress. I had hoped that the white moderate
thing in the very flow of time that will inevitably
would understand that the present tension in
Let us consider a more concrete example of stake. It was practiced superbly by the early Chris-
just and unjust laws. An unjust law is
cure all ills. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can
code tians, who were willing to face hungry lions and
the South is a necessary phase of the transition
that a numerical or power majority group com-
the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather
be used either destructively or constructively.
from an obnoxious negative peace, in which the
pels a minority group to obey but does not than submit to certain unjust laws of the
Negro passively accepted his unjust plight, to a
More and more I feel that the people of ill will
make binding on itself. This is difference made Roman Empire. To a degree, academic freedom
substantive and positive peace, in which all men
have used time much more effectively than have
legal. By the same token, a just law is a code is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil
will respect the dignity and worth of human per-
the people of good will. We will have to repent
that a majority compels a minority to follow disobedience. In our own nation, the Boston
sonality. Actually, we who engage in nonviolent
in this generation not merely for the hateful
and that it is willing to follow itself. This is same- Tea Party represented a massive act of civil
direct action are not the creators of tension. We
words and actions of the bad people but for the
ness made legal.
disobedience.
merely bring to the surface the hidden tension
appalling silence of the good people. Human
Let me give another explanation. A law is We should never forget that everything Adolf
that is already alive. We bring it out in the open,
progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability:
unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a Hitler did in Germany was "legal” and everything
where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil
it comes through the tireless efforts of men will-
result of being denied the right to vote, had no the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary
that can never be cured so long as it is covered
ing to be co-workers with God, and without this
part in enacting or devising the law. Who can
was “illegal.” It was “illegal” to aid and comfort
but must be opened with all its ugliness to
hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the
say that the legislature of Alabama which set up
that state's segregation laws was democratically that, had I lived in Germany at the time,
a Jew in Hitler's Germany. Even so, I am sure
forces of social stagnation. We must use time cre-
elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious
atively, in the knowledge that the time is always
methods are used to prevent Negroes from
would have aided and comforted my Jewish
creates, to the light of human conscience and the
ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real
brothers. If today I lived in a Communist country
becoming registered voters, and there are some
counties in which, even though Negroes consti-
where certain principles dear to the Christian
In your statement you assert that our actions,
tute a majority of the population, not a single obeying that country's anti religious laws.
faith are suppressed, I would openly advocate dis-
even though peaceful, must be condemned
Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under
because they precipitate violence. But is this a
such circumstances be considered democratically
I must make two honest confessions to you,
logical assertion? Isn't this like condemning a
robbed man because his possession of money pre-
structured
my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must
confess that over the past few years I have been
cipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn't this like
up
the natural medicines of air and light, injustice
must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure
air of national opinion before it can be cured.
the promise of democracy and transform our
pending national elegy into a creative psalm of
brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national
policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the
solid rock of human dignity.
You speak of our activity in Birmingham as
extreme. At first I was rather disappointed that
fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts
236 CHAPTER
* Is There a Moral Obligation to Obey the Law?
237
can be gained. Consciously or
prom
recognizes this
of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill
three men were crucified. We must never forget
that all three were crucified for the same
crime--the crime of extremism. Two were
extremists for immorality, and thus fell below
their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was
an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and
thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps
the South, the nation, and the world are in dire
need of creative extremists.
I had hoped that the white moderate would
see this need. Perhaps I was too optimistic; per-
haps I expected too much. I suppose I should
have realized that few members of the oppressor
race can understand the deep groans and passion-
ate yearnings of the oppressed race, and still fewer
>
something without has reminded him that it
as those of an extremist. I began thinking about
the fact that I stand in the middle of two oppos
has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with
ing forces in the Negro community. One is a
his black brothers of Africa and his brown and
force of complacency, made up in part of Negroes
yellow brothers of Asia, South America, and the
who, as a result of long years of oppression, are so
Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving
drained of self respect and sense of "somebod
with a sense of great urgency toward the
iness" that they have adjusted to segregation, and
ised land of racial justice. If one
in part of a few middle-class Negroes who,
vital urge that has engulfed the Negro commu.
because of a degree of academic and economic
security and because in some ways they profit nity, one should readily understand why public
demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has
by segregation, have become insensitive to the
many pent up resentments and latent frustrations,
problems of the masses. The other force is one
and he must release them. So let him march; let
of bitterness and hatred, and it comes perilously
him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall, let
close to advocating violence. It is expressed in
the various black nationalist groups that are
him go on freedom rides and try to understand
springing up across the nation, the largest and why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are
not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek
best-known being Elijah Muhammad's Muslim
expression through violence; this is not a threat
movement. Nourished by the Negro's frustration
but a fact of history. So I have not said to my peo
over the continued existence of racial discrimina-
tion, this movement is made up of people who ple: "Get rid of your discontent. Rather, I have
have lost faith in America, who have absolutely
tried to say that this normal and healthy discon-
repudiated Christianity, and who have concluded tent can be channeled into the creative outlet of
that the white man is an incorrigible "devil."
nonviolent direct action. And now this approach
I have tried to stand between these two is being termed extremist,
forces, saying that we need emulate neither the
But though I was initially disappointed at
“do-nothingism” of the complacent nor the
being categorized as an extremist, as I continued
hatred and despair of the black nationalist. For
to think about the matter I gradually gained a
there is the more excellent way of love and non- measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not
violent protest. I am grateful to God that,
Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies,
through the influence of the Negro church, the
bless them that curse you, do good to them
way of nonviolence became an integral part of
that hate you, and pray for them which despite
our struggle.
fully use you, and persecute you.” Was not
If this philosophy had not emerged, by now Amos an extremist for justice: “Let justice roll
many streets of the South would, I am con- down like waters and righteousness like an ever-
vinced, be flowing with blood. And I am further flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for
convinced that if our white brothers dismiss as the Christian gospel: “I bear in my body the
"rabble-rousers" and "outside agitators" those marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther
of us who employ nonviolent direct action, and an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do other-
if they refuse to support our nonviolent efforts, wise, so help me God.” And John Bunyan: "I
millions of Negroes will, out of frustration will stay in jail to the end of my days before I
and despair, seek solace and security in black-
nationalist ideologies--a development that
make a butchery of my conscience." And Abra-
would inevitably lead to a frightening racial slave and half free.” And Thomas Jefferson
ham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half
nightmare.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed
all men are created equal....” So the question
forever. The yearning for freedom eventually
is not whether we will be extremists, but what
manifests itself, and that is what has happened kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extrem
ists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for
cminded him of his birthright of freedom, and
the preservation of injustice or for the extension
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. • Letter from Birmingham Jail
with the church. I do not say this as one of those
negative critics who can always find something
wrong with the church. I say this as a minister of
the gospel, who loves the church; who was nur-
tured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its
spiritual blessings, and who will remain true to it
as long as the cord of life shall lengthen.
When I was suddenly catapulted into the lead-
ership of the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama,
a few years ago, I felt we would be supported by
the white church. I felt that the white ministers,
priests, and rabbis of the South would be among
our strongest allies. Instead, some have been out-
right opponents, refusing to understand the free-
dom movement and misrepresenting its leaders;
all too many others have been more cautious
have the vision to see that injustice must be
than courageous and have remained silent behind
rooted out by strong, persistent, and determined
the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows.
action. I am thankful, however, that some of our
In spite of my shattered dreams, I came to
white brothers in the South have grasped the Birmingham with the hope that the white reli-
meaning of this social revolution and committed
gious leadership of this community would see
themselves to it. They are still all too few in quan- the justice of our cause and, with deep moral con-
tity, but they are big in quality. Some-such as
cern, would serve as the channel through which
Ralph McGill, Lillian Smith, Harry Golden, our just grievances could reach the power struc-
James McBride Dabbs, Ann Braden, and Sarah
ture. I had hoped that each of you would under-
Patton Boyle-have written about our struggle stand. But again I have been disappointed.
in eloquent and prophetic terms. Others have I have heard numerous southern religious
marched with us down nameless streets of the leaders admonish their worshippers to comply
South. They have languished in filthy, roach- with a desegregation decision because it is the
infested jails, suffering the abuse and brutality law, but I have longed to hear white ministers
of policemen who view them as "dirty nigger-lov- declare: "Follow this decree because integration
ers.” Unlike so many of their moderate brothers is morally right and because the Negro is your
and sisters, they have recognized the urgency of brother.” In the midst of blatant injustices
the moment and sensed the need for powerful inflicted upon the Negro, I have watched white
"action" antidotes to combat the disease of churchmen stand on the sidelines and mouth
segregation
pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities.
Let me take note of my other major disap- In the midst of a mighty struggle to rid our
pointment. I have been so greatly disappointed nation of racial and economic injustice, I have
with the white church and its leadership. Of heard many ministers say: "Those are social
course, there are some notable exceptions. I am issues, with which the gospel has no real con-
not unmindful of the fact that each of you has cern.” And I have watched many churches com-
taken some significant stands on this issue. I com- mit themselves to a completely otherworldly
mend you, Reverend Stallings, for your Christian religion which makes a strange, un Biblical dis-
stand on this past Sunday, in welcoming Negroes tinction between body and soul, between the
sacred and the secular.
I have traveled the length and breadth of Ala-
bama, Mississippi, and all the other southern
states. On sweltering summer days and crisp
autumn mornings I have looked at the South's
to your worship service on a nonsegregated basis.
I commend the Catholic leaders of this state for
integrating Spring Hill College several years ago.
But despite these notable exceptions, I must
honestly reiterate that I have been disappointed
OUR
echoing demands.
238 CHAPTER 7 . Is There a Moral Obligation to Obey the Law?
of the average community is consoled by the
beautiful churches with their lofty spires pointing
church's silent--and often even vocal-sanction
heavenward. I have beheld the impressive outlines
But the judgment of God is upon the church
of her massive religious education buildings. Over of things as they are.
and over I have found myself asking: "What
kind
as never before. If today's church does not recap-
of people worship here? Who is their God?
ture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will
Where were their voices when the lips of Governor
lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions,
Barnett dripped with words of interposition and
and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with
nullification: Where were they when Governor
no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day
Wallace gave a clarion call for defiance and hatred?
I meet young people whose disappointment with
Where were their voices of support when bruised
the church has turned into outright disgust.
and weary Negro men and women decided to
Perhaps I have once again been too optimistic.
rise from the dark dungeons of complacency to
Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the
the bright hills of creative protest?”
status quo to save our nation and the world: Per-
Yes, these questions are still in my mind. In
deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity haps I must turn my faith to the inner spiritual
church, the church within the church, as the true
of the church. But be assured that my tears
ekklesia and the hope of the world. But again I
have been tears of love. There can be no deep dis-
appointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I
am thankful to God that some noble souls from
love the church. How could I do otherwise? I am
the ranks of organized religion have broken loose
in the rather unique position of being the son,
from the paralyzing chains of conformity and
the grandson, and the great-grandson of preach-
joined us as active partners in the struggle for free
ers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ.
dom. They have left their secure congregations and
But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred
walked the streets of Albany, Georgia, with us.
that body through social neglect and through They have gone down the highways of the South
fear of being nonconformists.
on tortuous rides for freedom. Yes, they have
There was a time when the church was very gone to jail with us. Some have been dismissed
powerful-in the time when the early Christians
from their churches, have lost the support of
rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for their bishops and fellow ministers. But they have
what they believed. In those days the church was
acted in the faith that right defeated is stronger
not merely a thermometer that recorded the than evil triumphant. Their witness has been the
ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a spiritual salt that has preserved the true meaning
thermostat that transformed the mores of society. of the gospel in these troubled times. They have
Whenever the early Christians entered a town, carved a tunnel of hope through the dark moun-
the people in power became disturbed and imme- tain of disappointment.
diately sought to convict the Christians for being
"disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."
I hope the church as a whole will meet the
But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction
challenge of this decisive hour. But even if the
that they were “a colony of heaven," called to
church does not come to the aid of justice, I
obey God rather than man. Small in number, about the outcome of our struggle in Birming-
have no despair about the future. I have no fear
they were big in commitment. They were too
God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimi-
ham, even if our motives are at present misunder-
dated.” By their effort and example they brought Birmingham and all over the nation, because
stood. We will reach the goal of freedom in
an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and glad-
iatorial contests.
the goal of America is freedom. Abused and
Things are different now. So often the con-
scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied
temporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice
up with America's destiny. Before the pilgrims
with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archde-
landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the
fender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed
pen of Jefferson etched the majestic words of
by the presence of the church, the power structure
the Declaration of Independence across the
pages of history, we were here. For more than
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. • Letter from Birmingham Jail 239
two centuries our forebears labored in this coun-
I wish you had commended the Negro sit-
try without wages; they made cotton king; they
inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for
their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer,
built the homes of their masters while suffering
and their amazing discipline in the midst of
gross injustice and shameful humiliation--and
great provocation. One day the South will recog-
Fet out of a bottomless vitality they continued
o thrive and develop. If the inexpressible cruel-
nize its real heroes. They will be the James Mere
ties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition
diths, with the noble sense of purpose that enables
them to face jeering and hostile mobs, and
dom because the sacred heritage of our nation
with the agonizing loneliness that characterizes
and the eternal will of God are embodied in our
the life of the pioneer. They will be old, oppressed,
battered Negro women, symbolized in a seventy-
Before closing I feel impelled to mention one
two-year-old woman in Montgomery, Alabama,
other point in your statement that has troubled
who rose up with a sense of dignity and with
me profoundly. You warmly commended the Bir- her people decided not to ride segregated buses,
mingham police force for keeping "order" and
and who responded with ungrammatical profun-
"preventing violence.” I doubt you would have
dity to one who inquired about her weariness:
so warmly commended the police force if you
“My feets is tired, but my soul is at rest." They
had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into
will be the young high school and college stu-
unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you
dents, the young ministers of the gospel, and a
would so quickly commend the policemen if
host of their elders, courageously and nonvio-
you were to observe their ugly and inhumane
treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you
lently sitting in at lunch counters and willingly
going to jail for conscience's sake. One day the
were to watch them push and curse old Negro South will know that when these disinherited
women and young Negro girls; if you were to children of God sat down at lunch counters,
see them slap and kick old Negro men and they were in reality standing up for what is best
young boys; if you were to observe them, as in the American dream and for the most sacred
they did on two occasions, refuse to give us
food because we wanted to sing our grace
values in our Judaeo-Christian heritage, thereby
together. I cannot join you in your praise of the
bringing our nation back to those great wells of
Birmingham police department.
democracy which were dug deep by the founding
fathers in their formulation of the Constitution
It is true that the police have exercised a and the Declaration of Independence.
degree of discipline in handling the demonstrators.
In this sense they have conducted themselves
Never before have I written so long a letter.
I'm afraid it is much too long to take your pre-
rather "nonviolently” in public. But for what pur-
pose? To preserve the evil system of segregation.
cious time. I can assure you that it would have
Over the past few years I have consistently
been much shorter if I had been writing from a
preached that nonviolence demands that the
comfortable desk, but what else can one do
means we use must be as pure as the ends we
when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than
seek. I have tried to make clear that it is wrong
write long letters, think long thoughts, and pray
to use immoral means to attain moral ends. But
long prayers?
now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or per-
even more so, to use moral means to preserve
immoral ends. Perhaps Mr. Connor and his police-
haps
men have been rather nonviolent in public, as was
Chief Pritchett in Albany, Georgia, but they have
used the moral means of nonviolence to maintain
the immoral end of racial injustice. As T. S. Eliot
has said: "The last temptation is the greatest trea-
Son: To do the right deed for the wrong reason."
If I have said anything in this letter that over-
states the truth and indicates an unreasonable
impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have
said anything that understates the truth and indi-
cates my having a patience that allows me to settle
for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to
forgive me
I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith.
I also hope that circumstances will soon make it
possible for me to meet each of you, not as an
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