Letter from a Birmingham Jail

[Kat Kanning]

http://www.soulawakenings.com/underground/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=Letter%20from%20a%20Birmingham%20Jail

I put Martin Luther King Jr's famous letter up.  I like this part.

You speak of our activity in Birmingham as extreme. At fist I was rather disappointed that fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist. I began thinking about the fact that stand in the middle of two opposing forces in the Negro community. One is a force of complacency, made up in part of Negroes who, as a result of long years of oppression, are so drained of self-respect and a sense of "somebodiness" that they have adjusted to segregation; and in part of a few middle class Negroes who, because of a degree of academic and economic security and because in some ways they profit by segregation, have become insensitive to the problems of the masses. The other force is one of bitterness and hatred, and it comes perilously close to advocating violence. It is expressed in the various black nationalist groups that are springing up across the nation, the largest and best-known being Elijah Muhammad's Muslim movement. Nourished by the Negro's frustration over the continued existence of racial discrimination, this movement is made up of people who have lost faith in America, who have absolutely repudiated Christianity, and who have concluded that the white man is an incorrigible "devil."

I have tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need emulate neither the "do-nothingism" of the complacent nor the hatred and despair of the black nationalist. For there is the more excellent way of love and nonviolent protest. I am grateful to God that, through the influence of the Negro church, the way of nonviolence became an integral part of our struggle.

If this philosophy had not emerged, by now many streets of the South would, I am convinced, be flowing with blood. And I am further convinced that if our white brothers dismiss as "rabble-rousers" and "outside agitators" those of us who employ nonviolent direct action, and if they refuse to support our nonviolent efforts, millions of Negroes will, out of frustration and despair, seek solace and security in black-nationalist ideologies a development that would inevitably lead to a frightening racial nightmare.

Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving with a sense of great urgency toward the promised land of racial justice. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides-and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. So I have not said to my people: "Get rid of your discontent." Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action. And now this approach is being termed extremist.

[David]

It has been a while since I have read the whole letter, but it is one of the things that turned me on as to the possibility of the nonviolent approach. 
His concept of justice, and the morallity of breaking unjust law, though not libertarian, is a rare gold nugget of thought. 
Dr. King was a believer in social 'justice' and entitlements, but he articulated ideas that others had, but in a more clear way.  He was a leader in his ability to inspire and encouraging others to join. 
He wasn't perfect, people have tried to discredit him because of plaigarisms ect..  But he spoke to peoples sence of justice, and people responded. 
I must confess, while Gandi was the father of nonviolent resistance, I am more inspired by Dr. King as a example of what works in this country.  And of course there is more video and literature of Him than Gandi. 

[Russell Kanning]

I think what separates King from others ... is that he was also ... doing something ... with direct action.

[aries]

A great American civil disobeyer

Unfortunately he fought for equal rights to be forced on employers and private business with the law.

[Russell Kanning]

and he got it .... this civil dis is powerful

[David]

I encourage anyone who has a desire for justice, to re-read Dr. Kings letter. 
The delay in Laurens' trial demands thought, and patience.  The priciples stated are beautifull.