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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Summer of Our Discontent," MLK states that our nation was born how?

2. What does MLK state in his letter is the basic reason that he is in Birmingham?

3. After the President of the United States told the nation he would not allow extremists to sabotage a fair and just pact, how many federal troops did he order into Birmingham?

4. MLK talks of people wondering "what the Negro will expect as he gains rights" and he likens the Negro people demanding more to what person?

5. How many affiliated organizations across the South does the Southern Christian Leadership Conference have?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the campaign had sent out a request for volunteers, what did the six tiny youngsters ask Andy Young, and what did they do to help the movement?

2. Why does MLK state that they could thank the segregationists for the revolution that started in Birmingham?

3. What did MLK wonder about the media writers when they accused the campaign officials of "using" their children "in this fashion"?

4. Why does MLK state that "we were all involved with" John F. Kennedy's death?

5. Why does MLK state that no revolution is like a ballet?

6. What did scientific observers place in the sealed death chambers where poison gas was to be administered to the victims of capital punishment?

7. What does MLK say about injustice that explains why he felt like he needed to be involved with the city of Birmingham to help the civil rights movement?

8. What is the relevant question that MLK mentions that must be asked to atone for the injustices the Negro has faced in the past?

9. What significant change in employment patterns does MLK talk about taking shape?

10. When MLK is discussing the difference between a revolt and a revolution, what does he state a revolt is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book, Why We Can't Wait, is written by Martin Luther King, Jr. about the time of the civil rights movement during the 1960s in which Birmingham became the center of attention for the nation to watch those "fighting" for freedom. How do you think MLK's perspective on the details of these events affected the reader of the book? How would the details of the events be told differently if we were reading a book by Bull Connor? How about a book by Jesse Jackson? Explain your answers and use evidence from the book to support those answers.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think there was a need for an afterward in this book? Why do you think Jesse Jackson was the person to write this afterward? How does Jesse Jackson compare the time mentioned in the book to the time the afterward was written (1999)? How does Jesse Jackson honor MLK in his words in the afterward? What does Jesse Jackson suggest for the nations future?

Essay Topic 3

In "The Sword That Heals," MLK mentions the meaning of tokenism and the use of it during the times of the marches, revolution, and meetings between leaders. What is tokenism? MLK states that Negroes condemned the form of tokenism that is an end in itself. He says that this type of tokenism is there not to begin a process but to end the process of protest and pressure. Why would this be considered to be a hypocritical gesture? How is tokenism being used during the events MLK describes in Birmingham? Why were there some that argued in favor of tokenism?

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