The Symposium

In light of recent events, we decided to talk about Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail." MLK is often quoted, but given his fame, it's easy to quote him without knowing what he actually thought. We sit down for a couple hours to take a look at some things that the Reverend Dr. King actually said. "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is a timely and poignant document, and is fundamental to a modern and developing understanding of racism, nonviolent protest, politics, the black experience, and in many ways, Christianity. Looking at the whole document, we delve into King's meaning regarding some commonly misunderstood ideas. For example: - What does King mean when he talks about nonviolent direct action? - What does he mean by "the white moderate"? - What is King's conception of justice? If you've never read the Letter before, it is readily accessible online--and now is a perfect time to read it. Credits Opening audio owned by 92nd Street Y, "James Earl Jones reads excerpts of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail.'" Used for educational purposes under Fair Use.