Letter from Birmingham Jail

A beautiful commemorative edition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s essay “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” part of Dr. King’s archives published exclusively by HarperCollins.

With an afterword by Reginald Dwayne Betts

On April 16, 1923, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., responded to an open letter written and published by eight white clergyman admonishing the civil rights demonstrations happening in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. King drafted his seminal response, a foundational text of the Civil Rights Movement, on scraps of paper smuggled into jail. King criticizes his detractors for caring more about order than justice, defends nonviolent protests, and argues for the moral responsibility to obey just laws while disobeying unjust ones.

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” proclaims a message - confronting any injustice is an acceptable and righteous reason for civil disobedience.

This beautifully designed edition presents Dr. King’s speech in its entirety, paying tribute to this extraordinary leader and his immeasurable contribution, and inspiring a new generation of activists dedicated to carrying on the fight for social justice and equality.

Why is this letter, born from a jail cell, a timeless and essential call for justice?

• Critique of the White Moderate: A powerful examination of why Dr. King considered the “white moderate,” more devoted to order than to justice, a greater obstacle to freedom than overt opposition.
• Nonviolent Direct Action: Dr. King masterfully defends the strategy of nonviolent protest, explaining why creating “creative tension” is necessary to force negotiation and drive social change.
• Civil Disobedience: Explore the moral argument for breaking unjust laws while maintaining the highest respect for justice, a philosophy that has influenced protest movements for decades.
• A Call to Activism: Discover the enduring message that inspires new generations to confront injustice and fight for a more equitable society, making this a foundational text for today’s activists.

Contributor: Reginald Dwayne Betts (Afterword by)

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