Question

Read the excerpts from Dr. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and answer the question.

[4] I was arrested Friday on a charge of parading without a permit. Now there is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, then it becomes unjust.


[5] I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law.


[6] We can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." It was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. But I am sure that, if I had lived in Germany during that time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers even though it was illegal. If I lived in a communist country today where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I believe I would openly advocate disobeying these anti-religious laws.


In 3–5 complete sentences, thoroughly explain Dr. King's central idea in this section and what specific details develop it. Provide at least two specific examples from the text to support your analysis of the central idea and how it's developed.

Answer 1

As you can clearly see in these paragraphs Dr. King is stating no matter the legality of the situation he will stand for justice. For example, in paragraph 6 he states, “I am sure that, if I had lived in Germany during that time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers even though it was illegal.” This shows that he is willing to break the law for what he believes is right, no matter how much trouble it may bring him. Also in the aforementioned paragraph he exclaims that if certain principles important to Christian faith were suppressed he would become an open advocate for disobeying those anti-religious laws. Just as what's happened in Germany and what is happening in America still today we continue to fight for what we believe, whether it be freedom of religious practice or even the right to exist. We are fighting and continuing to do so. Explanation: You might want to change a few things in this because this is the answer I'm going to be turning in but I hope this helps you anyway.