Famous Letters
English Language: KS3, topic 5.1.2
Famous Letters
Martin Luther King’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ is an example of a famous historical letter.
Letter from Birmingham Jail
- ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ was written in response to a newspaper article.
- That newspaper article criticised Martin Luther King after he was arrested for protesting against segregation in 1963.
Abolishing segregation
- ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ is eleven pages long.
- In the letter Martin Luther King passionately argues to abolish segregation in the United States.
- Segregation in the U.S. was the enforced racial separation in public spaces and services.
‘I have a dream’ speech
- Martin Luther King’s similarly famous ‘I have a dream’ speech took place four months after he wrote this letter.
Test yourself on Famous Letters
‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ was written in response to what?
When was Martin Luther King arrested for protesting against segregation?