Epiphany from a Birmingham Jail

With the questions this week I want to be aware of the context of this podcast. I don’t think I am way of base when I say, this podcast is delivered to a mostly white audience. I’m thrilled that it isn’t only white. The audience outside the US has grown a lot and it seems there is some diversity in our group. Still, we are majority white, and therefore majority majority culture. In this light, it is worth exploring our engagement with such a liberating text as “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

1. The audio clips from “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” are less known that speeches like “I Have A Dream.” What are some ideas, or words, that stuck out to you that you hadn’t heard before?

2. I should hope that no KKK members listen to this podcast. What do you think of Dr. King’s suggestion that the “white moderate” is a larger hinderance to the cause of civil rights than such extremist groups as the KKK?

3. How was Dr. King’s disappointment with the church, specifically the white church, convicting for you? Whether you choose to attend church or not, it seems fair to say that inaction by Christ followers in this particular area goes well beyond those who attend church.

4. Did you catch the tension between the scripture readings and Dr. King’s letter here? It seemed particularly clear with the passage in 1 Corinthians. Paul is once again calling for unity but Dr. King is creating a “tension” with such a unity. How did that critique change your view of unity?

5. There is no doubt that things aren’t equal. Racism has decreased in some ways but increased in others. It has lowered with some groups and increased in others. What will you do, especially in light of Dr. King’s speech.