In Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, what method does he advocate for addressing injustice?

• A. Violent uprising
• B. Legislative appeals through courts
• C. Nonviolent direct action
• D. Political lobbying

Answer: (C)

Nonviolent direct action is the method he advocates. King argues that to confront deep-seated injustice, peaceful tactics like marches, sit-ins, boycotts, and peaceful demonstrations are necessary to create constructive pressure that a community cannot ignore. This approach seeks to compel negotiation and change by showing the moral seriousness of the grievance and by making injustice uncomfortable enough for those in power to address it. He grounds this in a moral framework: unjust laws should be disobeyed openly and lovingly, while accepting the consequences, to highlight their injustice without resorting to violence. He also notes that relying solely on courts or legislative lobbying can be slow or insufficient when injustice is entrenched; direct action, conducted nonviolently, is a way to accelerate change while maintaining ethical standards. Violent uprisings, he argues, undermine the cause and alienate potential allies, whereas nonviolent direct action stays true to principles and retains broad legitimacy.