SOL List | List of Resources for VUS.13

VUS.13b.1

Letter from a Birmingham Jail (16 April 1963)
(Stanford University: "Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project")

Description
"For years now I have heard the 'Wait!' It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This 'Wait!' has almost always meant 'Never.' We must come to see --- that 'justice too long delayed is justice denied.'"
This resource is a PDF-formatted version of the iconic Civil Rights letter from Martin Luther King, Jr. to the white Christian ministers of Birmingham, written at the height of the non-violent protest movement led by Dr. King and the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Convention). This letter is a passionate exposition of the events and beliefs that propelled him to the forefront of the non-violent civil disobedience movement. With this resource, students have the chance to ponder and discuss what makes a charismatic leader, as well gain insights into the historical trajectory of the Civil Rights movement. Dr. King's letter should also be evaluated in light of the Supreme Court decision known as Brown II (1955) which allowed Southern schools to desegregate at their own pace.
Teaching Tips

"Do Now" Suggestions

  1. The teacher can play the audio clip from the letter (link located on the page) and ask the students to respond to the following prompt:

    What is MLK urging people to do? Can you relate to his sense of urgency with anything happening in your life?

Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

  1. The students can read the letter and create a Collaborative Summarizing Worksheet to respond to the following questions:

    What does this letter reveal about Dr. King's leadership during the Civil Rights Movement? What types of activities does he mention leading? How would you describe his values? What motivated him to participate in the Movement?

    In a Collaborative Summarizing Worksheet, the students read the document individually, and then meet in pairs to discuss their ideas, and then two pairs share ideas and compose a summary of their main points. The worksheet looks like this: