skip to main content

Primary Source Essentials: Letter From Birmingham Jail

2 minutes 51 seconds

Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)

In "Primary Source Essentials: Letter From Birmingham Jail," the video explores Martin Luther King Jr.'s compelling arguments for justice and equality, rooted in his famous text, "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, the episode delves into historical context, such as the impact of Plessy v. Ferguson and legal segregation in the South. King articulates the distinction between just and unjust laws, asserting the moral obligation to disobey those that degrade human dignity. This video is particularly relevant for school-aged children, as it introduces critical concepts of civil rights, nonviolent protest, and ethical decision-making, while inspiring active citizenship. It provides a valuable educational resource for understanding the fight for racial equality and the principles of justice, advocating for nonviolent methods to drive societal change.

Media Details

Runtime: 2 minutes 51 seconds

Black and white image with closeup of a sign that reads, "Civil Rights Plus Full Employment." Crowd of people and protest signs fill the background.
10 Things You Don't Know About
Season 3 / Ep 3
41 minutes 53 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
A Black woman wearing a nurse's uniform puts her arm around a Black boy, both smile at the camera.
56 minutes
Grade Level: 9 - 12
Black and white photo of Black and White people in a coffee shop, some sitting in chairs and others standing at a lunch counter in the background. Caption. Male as narrator. The idea of the freedom rides was radical.
51 minutes 57 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
Color illustration of Ananse. A colorful umbrella shields him from the sun. Caption. All the stories belonged to Nyame, the Sky God.
9 minutes 47 seconds
Grade Level: K - 4
Black and white frame of A. Philip Randolph, a civil-rights activist. Caption. Of a mighty corporation such as the Pullman Company was.
1 hours 27 minutes 27 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
Black and white image of Jackie Robinson wearing his Dodgers jersey and sliding on one side towards a base, baseball hat falling to the ground.
20 minutes
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Senior Black man wearing glasses, a teal-colored African scarf and head wrap, and a dark suit jacket stands next to an African wall hanging and speaks towards camera.
17 minutes 15 seconds
Grade Level: 9 - 12
ASL
Faces of influential Black Americans dispersed across frame. February calendar page and map of the U, S in background. Caption. To focus on and learn more about black culture.
All About the Holidays
Episode 54
1 minutes 34 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Still image from: All About the Holidays: Black History Month (Spanish)
All About the Holidays
Episode
2 minutes
Grade Level: 4 - 8
ASL
Closeup of a wooden Kwanzaa kinara with red, green and black candles. Heap of fruits and vegetables fills background.
All About the Holidays
Episode 4
1 minutes 1 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Apply for a Free Membership

Major funding provided by the Department of Education