Letter from a Birmingham Jail philosophy來自伯明翰監(jiān)獄的信

LetterfromaBirminghamJailMartinLutherKing,Jr.Onbeing“unwiseanduntimely”Criticshavebeeninfluencedbytheargumentof“outsiderscomingin.”However...Allcommunitiesandstatesareinterrelated.Injusticeanywhereisathreattojusticeeverywhere.Whateveraffectsonedirectlyaffectsallindirectly.AnyonewholivesintheUnitedStatescanneverbeconsideredanoutsideranywhereinthiscountry.Considertheconditionsthatbroughtthedemonstrationsintobeing

FourbasicstepsinanynonviolentcampaignCollectionofthefactstodeterminewhetherinjusticesarealiveNegotiationSelf-purificationDirectactionWehavegonethroughallofthesestepsinBirmingham.Therecanbenogainsayingofthefactthatracialinjusticeengulfsthiscommunity.NoalternativebutcivildisobedienceWehadnoalternativeexceptthatofpreparingfordirectaction,wherebywewouldpresentourverybodiesasameansoflayingourcasebeforetheconscienceofthelocalandnationalcommunity.Whydirectaction?Nonviolentdirectactionseekstocreatesuchacrisisandestablishsuchcreativetensionthatacommunitythathasconstantlyrefusedtonegotiateisforcedtoconfronttheissue.

JustasSocratesfeltthatitwasnecessarytocreateatensioninthemindsothatindividualscouldrisefromthebondageofmythsandhalf-truthstotheunfetteredrealmofcreativeanalysisandobjectiveappraisal,wemustseetheneedofhavingnonviolentgadfliestocreatethekindoftensioninsocietythatwillhelpmentorisefromthedarkdepthsofprejudiceandracismtothemajesticheightsofunderstandingandbrotherhood.Thenecessityforlegal,nonviolentpressureHistoryisthelongandtragicstoryofthefactthatprivilegedgroupsseldomgiveuptheirprivilegesvoluntarily.Freedomisnevervoluntarilygivenbytheoppressor;itmustbedemandedbytheoppressed.AlegitimateconcernOnemaywellask,“Howcanyouadvocatebreakingsomelawsandobeyingothers?”Theanswerisfoundinthefactthattherearetwotypesoflaws:justandunjust.IwouldagreewithSaintAugustinethat“Anunjustlawisnolawatall.”

Howdoesonedeterminewhenalawisjustorunjust?Ajustlawisaman-madecodethatsquareswiththemorallaworthelawofGod.Anunjustlawisacodethatisoutofharmonywiththemorallaw.AmoreconcreteexampleAnunjustlawisacodethatamajorityinflictsonaminoritythatisnotbindingonitself.Ontheotherhand,ajustlawisacodethatamajoritycompelsaminoritytofollowthatitiswillingtofollowitself.AnimportantdistinctionOnewhobreaksanunjustlawmustdoitopenly,lovingly,andwithawillingnesstoacceptthepenalty.Isubmitthatanindividualwhobreaksalawthatconsciencetellshimisunjust,andwillinglyacceptsthepenaltybystayinginjailtoarousetheconscienceofthecommunityoveritsinjustice,isinrealityexpressingtheveryhighestrespectforlaw.

ImustconfessthatoverthelastfewyearsIhavebeengravelydisappointedwiththewhitemoderate.Shallowunderstandingfrompeopleofgoodwillismorefrustratingthanabsolutemisunderstandingfrompeopleofillwill.Lukewarmacceptanceismuchmorebewilderingthanoutrightrejection.OncondemningdisobediencebecauseitprecipitatesviolenceIsn’tthislikecondemningSocratesbecausehisunswervingcommitmenttotruthandhisphilosophicaldelvingsprecipitatedthemisguidedpopularmindtomakehimdrinkthehemlock?AtragicmisconceptionoftimeItisthestrangelyirrationalnotionthatthereissomethingintheveryflowoftimethatwillinevitablycureallills.Wemustcometoseethathumanprogressneverrollsinonwheelsofinevitability.Itcomesthroughthetirelesseffortsandpersistentworkofmenwillingtobeco-workerswithGod,andwithoutthishardworktimeitselfbecomesanallyoftheforcesofsocialstagnation.OnbeingseenasanextremistThequestionisnotwhetherwewillbeextremistbutwhatkindofextremistwewillbe.Willwebeextremistsforhateorwillwebeextremistsforlove?Willwebeextremistsforthepreservationofinjustice—orwillwebeextremistsforthecauseofjustice?AbouttheoutcomeofourstruggleAbusedandscornedthoughwemaybe,ourdestinyistiedupwiththedestinyofAmerica.WewillwinourfreedombecausethesacredheritageofournationandtheeternalwillofGodareembodiedinourechoingdemands.InclosingOverthelastfewyearsIhaveconsistentlypreachedthatnonviolencedemandsthatthemeansweusemustbeaspureastheendsweseek.SoIhavetriedtomakeitclearthatitiswrongtouseimmoralmeanstoattainmoralends.

OnedaytheSouthwillknowthatwhenthesedisinheritedchildrenofGodsatdownatlunchcounterstheywereinrealitystandingupforthebestintheAmericandreama