Letter from a Birmingham Jail - Martin Luther King Jr.

The Letter from a Birmingham Jail is still very relevant today in regards to racial and other social justice issues.  We must look to the root of problems, recognize the intersections of social justice issues and have solidarity with each other in order to affect change.
A great scatching critique of the mainstream systems: it is useless to wait for government to exact change, change comes because oppressed peoples make demands of those in power.  Concessions are granted by governments, by the legal systems - these were fought for.  The government isn't trying to be generous to us.  There is no point 'waiting'.
I support direct action andhave participated in such acts myself.  The critcism I hear of this form of activism resembles what MLK terms as the moderate 'white' - order over justice.  "Sure, sure, we sympathize with Occupy's statements but camping is illegal.  Go volunteer at a soup kitchen, go sign a petition.  These are the ways to enact change".  While I agree that these actions produce some good, this alone is not enough.  Social change is enacted through a diversity of tactics. How to make such people aware that charity merely provides breadcrumbs?  To enact change, we cannot act as our oppressors do, unless necessary - In large numbers, direct action can be a powerful medium to enact change as Rosa Parks and others have.  I am not saying that direct action is the correct way or the only way to exact change.  I reiterate that social change is a continuum of a verity of actions.
The middle class is our current moderate white - complacement and not willing to give up their privileges voluntarily.
Understanding oppressed peoples' discontent helps us to further understan the bitterness that comes from the feeling of helplessness, of nobodyness.  Putting yourself into the Other's shoes.
"Civil discontent is the highest form of patriotism" - Howard Zinn
Legality does not necessarily means that something is moral; ditto for mainstream/majority, long standing traditions and cultures (e.g. female circumcision, meat eating, hunting for sport, etc.)
"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."- Elie Wiesel (in regards to MLK's "the appalling silence of good people".)
Inward spirituality, morality is more important that church dogma.
I love this piece of work from MLK - it contains so much truths.  I will remember the 'radical' and 'extremist' MLK.  Listen to his speech below.