It’s been over 58 years since the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. penned his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” on scraps of paper, but its message still resonates with faith leaders and activists today.
They say the letter, which was written in response to white clergy critics, serves as a “road map” for those working towards justice and equal rights.
In April of 1963, King was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for leading a nonviolent protest against segregation. While he was in jail, eight white clergymen published a letter in a local newspaper criticizing King and his methods. In response, King wrote his famous letter, which defends his actions and lays out his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
Now, over five decades later, King’s words are still relevant. In recent years, the country has seen a renewed focus on issues of racial justice, and King’s letter has been a touchstone for many activists and organizers.
To mark the 58th anniversary of the letter, a number of events and exhibitions have been held across the country. In Birmingham, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has hosted a series of events, including a panel discussion on the letter’s legacy and a screening of a documentary about King’s time in Birmingham.
There has also been several social media comment on how the letter has helped various aspect of justice and faith.
i’m so so so happy i remembered the quote from Letter From Birmingham Jail I NAILED THAT ESSSSSAY BC INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE ALRIGHT
— tiffany (@bala_tiffany) May 1, 2023
Harry Belafonte bought MLK’s freedom when King wrote his infamous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” condemning white moderates.
In January I read portions of that letter to the House. I could do that bc of Belafonte, King.
Their condemnation is as accurate today as it was in 1963.
— Elisabeth Epps (@RepEpps) April 26, 2023
On Wednesday, April 26th, Georgetown University’s Center on Faith and Justice organized a virtual event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of King’s renowned letter. Written on April 16th, 1963, King wrote the letter while imprisoned for leading a nonviolent protest on Good Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. The letter was later released to the public in the following month and was included in his 1964 book titled “Why We Can’t Wait.”
Faith leaders have also been reflecting on the letter’s message. Rev. William J. Barber II, a prominent civil rights leader and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, said that King’s words are still relevant today
During the event, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, who is currently serving as the interim president of the National Council of Churches, revealed how King’s letter had a profound impact on her family. She recounted how her family relied on the letter’s message to guide their prayers for her older brother’s safety, who was traveling by bus to the South to support the civil rights movement during that year.
“It was a fearful time, a fearful time when something had to be done,” she said. “The African diaspora is calling you to do it. And King gives us a road map on how to begin that process of change.”
