Perspectives

Historical perspective

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” during the civil rights movement in the context of the Birmingham campaign and of criticism coming from white moderates and clergymen against protests and demonstrations. In your analysis, you might want to consider how the situation evolved in Birmingham and across the US. The Birmingham campaign continued until 10th of May, 1963 but ended with open confrontations between young protesters and local authorities. However, the campaign did succeed in changing discriminatory laws in the city.

The civil rights movement continued across the US until King’s assassination in 1968. From 1963 to 1968, civil rights activists succeeded in getting the government to negotiate segregation laws, culminating with the 1964 legislation which formally ended segregation across the US. However, in practice, the African-American population continued to face discrimination on the job market and in social interactions. Following King’s death, the 1970s were marked by an increase in the popularity of black nationalism, the ideology King fought against and which advocated for black pride and enco...