Early on in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King's house was bombed.
Yep. His house. Was bombed.
Dr. King used the opportunity to double down on his philosophy of non-violence.
In "Letter from Birmingham Jail," MLK tells us he draws inspiration from a long line of courageous leaders who shook things up without violence and hatred. All those people are great too, but if you wanted a picture of courage personified, you might as well get yourself a snapshot of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Questions About Courage
- What does it take to remain true to your principles and ideals like King did in the face of violence and the threat of death?
- Was the initial lack of support for Civil Rights legislation more a result of racism or fear? Or is racism actually motivated by fear?
- What do you think it was that kept Dr. King and the others going?
Chew on This
Check out some potential thesis statements about Letter from Birmingham Jail.
It takes more courage to commit to peaceful protest and civil disobedience than to use violence.
Dr. King's epic speeches and sermons were the key to inspiring extraordinary courage in ordinary people throughout the Civil Rights Movement.