Law and Social Justice

What does MLK believe about breaking the law?

• Laws should not be broken under any circumstances.

• Only the wealthy are allowed to break the law because they can afford to pay the price.

• If a law is deemed unjust, then it must be broken.

• Laws may be broken if the Bible says so.

According to MLK, what is civil disobedience?

• a struggle between two social groups

• breaking the law in a peaceful manner

• breaking the law with the use of violence

• a struggle between branches of the government

What counterargument does Dr. King present to the advice to wait?

• Democratically elected officials would not require African Americans to wait.

• Socrates would not have waited under the same circumstances.

• African Americans already have waited for more than 340 years.

• The 1954 Supreme Court decision has made it impossible to wait.

King believes that resentment and frustration over racism should be channeled into...

• non-violent direct action.

• violent protest.

• religious belief.

• political discussions.

King compares unjust laws to “an ‘I it’ relationship” and describes them as “sinful.” What can be inferred about his primary motivation for disobeying such laws?

• 1. He prioritizes upholding the Constitution and ensuring legal equality for all citizens.

• 1. He is primarily concerned with challenging the power dynamics and dismantling unjust systems.

• 1. His main goal is to inspire moral reflection and awaken a sense of personal responsibility in society.

• 1. He seeks to achieve social and political change through nonviolent action, even if it requires breaking the law.

King argues for the distinction between just and unjust laws.  Based on his reasoning, which of the following best captures the central idea of chunk 2?

• 1. All laws passed by democratically elected governments are inherently just.

• 1. Obeying just laws is a legal responsibility, while disobeying unjust laws is a moral one.

• 1. Segregation laws are morally wrong because they create unequal treatment and undermine human dignity.

• 1. Laws that infringe on fundamental rights like peaceful assembly are always unjust, regardless of their purpose.

King references historical figures like Jesus, Socrates, and Abraham Lincoln. Based on his choice of figures and the context of the paragraph, what can be inferred about his underlying message regarding nonviolent resistance?

…Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal . . ." So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?

MAKE AN INFERENCE

• 1. True progress often requires challenging societal norms and facing potential opposition.

• 1. Nonviolent resistance is superior to traditional forms of rebellion or protest.

• 1. Only individuals with extreme morality can effectively lead movements for social change.

• 1. Engaging in nonviolent resistance guarantees positive outcomes and avoids any possibility of harm.

How does King introduce his purpose for writing "Letter from Birmingham Jail?”(R.2.3)

• 1. to fulfill an organizational obligation to the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.

• 1.  to challenge segregation laws as morally unjust.

• 1. to respond to the call for social justice from the African American community.

• 1. to demonstrate his commitment to nonviolent direct action.

This question has two parts.  First answer PART A, then PART B. 

PART A:  Select two ways in which King develops the central idea of recognizing unjust laws? (R.2.2)

• 1. His claim of segregation being a sin. 

• 1. His claim of unjust laws going against moral code. 

• 1. His claim on the impact an unjust law has on an individual.

• 1. His explanation on how segregation impacts a human being

• 1. His explanation of Supreme Court decisions supporting unjust laws.

Which of the following best defines 'social justice' in the context of literature?

• A) The fair distribution of wealth and opportunities within a society.

• B) The legal system's role in maintaining order.

• C) The historical development of laws.

• D) The economic growth of a nation.