even African Americans who were concerned KingÆs actions would result in greater oppression, KingÆs status among the majority of African Americans was not shared by all. Even other African American clergy tried to persuade King to adopt methods more to the liking of local and state officials when he took part in peace demonstrations and protests of injustice.
An excellent example of this is revealed by an incident that involved King being jailed in Birmingham, Alabama. While in jail King penned a letter to a collective group of African American clergy in Alabama who had criticized his methods and philosophy that appeared to them to incite more ire toward the African American community from government and law enforcement officials. Known as Letter from Birmingham Jail, in it King undermines the criticism of the clergy and develops his notion of man-made law versus moral law and just laws versus unjust laws. He also criticizes the church and the police actions, citing a lack of support from both toward dism
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