1. According to King, what are people really doing when they passively accept
an unjust system? Do you think this is a bold statement for King to make?
Explain.
2. What does King think about violence as a means for bringing about social
change? What does his opinion about violence tell you about King himself?
Explain, using details from the selection.
3. What is nonviolent resistance? How is it similar to and different from both
passive acceptance and violent resistance?
4. Against whom or what should nonviolence be aimed, according to King?
Why do you suppose King took pains to make this target clear?
5. Identify three allusions (see Literary Terms Handbook, page R1) in the
selection. In your opinion, how effectively does King use each of these
allusions to make his point? Support your response with evidence from
the selection.
6. Booker T. Washington said, “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
How might King respond to this quotation? Do you agree with it? Why or
why not?
7. This selection was first published in 1958. Do you think King’s ideas are still
relevant? Explain.
8. After reading the selection, what would you add to the word cluster you
made about nonviolent resistance for the Reading Focus on page 891?
Explain