Letter from Birmingham Jail

The Penguin Modern Edition of Letter from Birmingham Jail consists of 2 parts -The first is an open letter written in April 1963, byMartin Luther King Jr, in response to the criticisms made by 8 White Alabama clergymen, who argued that the battle against racial segregation should be fought in the courts and not on the streets..The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism and gives a befitting response to him being referred to as an “outsider”.It became an important text for the American Civil Rights Movement and was widely published..The second titled The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life, looks like a fragment of his recorded speech and gives a more philosophical and religious take on life, it’s dimensions, god and self love..Both the essays are very rich and powerful and written with the idea to bring a much needed change..I was impressed to read the first letter, in which he voices his opinions with such patience and calm and urges why people should be angry but not violent. It’s a really important piece throwing light on the injustices that we have only read about, but are much more worse..I did not quite resonate with the second part and about the dimensions of a complete life. It felt a little vague in terms of the flow of the writing and the topics..So I’d give this : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Il libro consiste in due parti la prima è una lettera scritta da Martin Luther King e la seconda parte e la trascrizione di un discorso che aveva fatto. Bella lettura, si finisce tranquillamente in un paio d'ore.

L'ouvrage nous propose deux textes. Le premier est une lettre que Luther King a écrite en prison pour répondre à des accusations et le second est l'un de ses sermons, sur le sens de la vie..."Je n'avais jamais lu les mots de Martin Luther King et je suis soufflée par tant de justesse, d'érudition et de sérénité, même pour parler des sujets les plus graves, des souffrances les plus profondes. C'est percutant sans jamais être agressif. Je suis admirative du talent de cet homme, honnête et droit, et je comprends à quel point il a pu faire peur. Je conseille cet ouvrage les yeux fermés à absolument tout le monde. Les deux textes sont très différents, et servent un propos différent, et je pense que ceux qui sont hermétiques à la religion auront sûrement des réticences à lire le second et pourtant, il est si beau et exprime si bien le sens de la vie, que vous auriez tort de vous en priver, quoi que vous pensiez de Dieu ou de son existence...C'est un beau coup de coeur qui me donne envie d'en découvrir beaucoup plus sur cette collection mais aussi bien sûr sur Martin Luther King, Jr et sa cause.

A mandatory must read exploring what is legal and just vs legal and unjust.

Excellent read, handy size, cheaper than a broadsheet.Often misrepresented, more radical than portrayed, read him for yourself.

I was first introduced to this book/this letter, decades ago by a wonderful clergyman who I was fortunate enough to meet in the military. This book along with other writings and teachings of Dr. King have had a profound impact on my life as well as my approach to conflict and injustice.