You're Evidently Not That into Justice and Love
- Dr. King says he's starting to think maybe the biggest problem for the Civil Rights Movement isn't the overt racists, but the white people who want "law and order," who complain about social tension and conflict, who want Black Americans to continue to wait patiently for their rights.
- He understands the KKK. They are very clear about their beliefs. But he doesn't get the so-called white moderates.
- He's adamant that Black people didn't create this problem; they're just calling attention to it.
- The clergymen say the SCLC and associated activists are inciting violence, even though the protests are peaceful. That doesn't make any sense at all to Dr. King.
- He eloquently argues that justice isn't inevitable, and that all progress comes from active and creative struggle for what's right.
- Now. Is. The. Time. Get with it, clergymen.
- Since they brought it up, Dr. King wants to talk about extremism.
- He explains how he's smack dab in the middle of a divided Black community. A lot of Black Americans are completely defeated, resigned to their second-class status.
- Then there are a lot of Black people who are just really mad and blame their problems on white people. They don't have much use for Christianity or peaceful protest, Dr. King says.
- He, on the other hand, is advocating love and non-violence. He's afraid that if the messed up situation isn't confronted and changed with love, then hate and despair will win everyone over.
- He believes that you can't oppress people without them eventually rising up. And since Black citizens are definitely rising up, he argues, let them do it peacefully.
- If he's an extremist, he's in good company. Jesus, Amos, Paul, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Abe Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson: extremists.
- So he's got to ask: "why aren't you clergymen extremists for love and justice, like Jesus?"
- He's disappointed in the white community in general, but admits that there are plenty of white brothers and sisters who have stepped up to the plate. They understand why things need to change now.