Letter from Birmingham Jail Questions
Read “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and answer the following questions as you read. The letter is posted
on PILOT or available by following this link.
Section I: True or False? Are these statements about the letter true or false?
1. King addresses the letter to his “fellow clergymen.”
True
False
2. King is in Birmingham because it is the headquarters of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference.
True
False
3. King points out that Atlanta has an ugly record of police brutality,
injustice in the courts, and unsolved bombings.
True
False
4. Despite making promises to the Alabama Christian Movement for
Human Rights, businesses in Birmingham left up humiliating racial
signs in their stores.
True
False
5. King’s preferred method of protest is nonviolent direct action.
True
False
6. King believes that legal and nonviolent pressure leads to immediate
results.
True
False
7. King believes that with enough time, oppressors usually give
freedom and power back to the oppressed.
True
False
8. King argues that only those who have not experienced segregation
can be comfortable with telling others to simply ‘wait.’
True
False
9. King is most disappointed with the white radical.
True
False
10. King criticizes the white moderate for being more committed to order
than to justice.
True
False
11. King describes two types of groups in the Black community: those
who are complacent and defeated and those who are becoming
radicalized to the point of being open to violence.
True
False
12. King implores leaders to shut down marches and demonstrations to
prevent violence.
True
False
13. King has been impressed with the commitment to justice and
courage of the white churches in Birmingham.
True
False
14. King remains hopeful that racial reconciliation can still occur in
Birmingham and in the rest of the nation.
True
False
Section II: Answer the following essay questions.
1. Write a summary (3-5 sentences) of the Letter from Birmingham Jail.
2. What paragraph from King’s letter left the greatest impression on you and why? (You can identify
the paragraph by quoting the opening sentence).
3. Are there any clarifying questions that you have about this letter or additional context that you
wish you had?