During the Birmingham Campaign of 1963, Martin Luther King addressed Mayor Albert Boutwell in his ‘‘Letter from Birmingham Jail,’’ writing that he hoped the Birmingham mayor would see the wisdom of not resisting desegregation.
Robinson, a member of the NAACP board of directors best known for integrating major league baseball in 1947, expresses concern over public criticisms of the veteran civil rights organization.1 Probably refering to James Lawson’s comments a few weeks earlier, Robinson advises, “let’s not be a party to the old game of divide and conquer.”2 King replied on 19 June.3
Civil rights attorney Harris Wofford offers “sharp criticism” of an appeal for funds that appeared in the 29 March New York Times.1 Placed by the Committee to Defend Martin Luther King and the Struggle for Freedom in the South, the advertisement described King as “the one man who, more than any other, symbolizes the new spirit now sweeping the South.” Wofford suggests that the fund-raising effort should focus on student activists and argues that “the very name of the committee is a mistake and
Following King’s perjury indictment, black Communist Benjamin Davis reminded him that threats of imprisonment used to silence dissent have “never succeeded in stopping the march forward of the people.”1 Davis assured King that, “while we struggle to save this Martin Luther King, others will arise from your example, until they do not have enough prisons to hold the Martin Luther Kings.” In this response, King thanks Davis for his encouragement and promises to write the federal parole board in s
In the second part of King’s diary, published on 23 August in Jet magazine, he writes about a visit from his family, particularly his three children, whom he has not seen in several weeks. The visit, King says, “certainly gave me a lift.”1 Throughout the week, he continues to attend court proceedings on the July injunction against demonstrations in Albany.
The Alexanders, Dexter Church congregants, share with King their response to his first sermon as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.1 They also report hearing news that King had been indicted on 17 February for perjury.2 The Alexanders bemoan King’s perjury indictment, commenting “that many months ago you said we must be prepared to face some real dark days ere freedom comes.”
