What was Socrates in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail"?

Invocation of Socrates at three instances

Explanation:

Martin Luther King Jr's 1963, "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail" provided an impetus to the struggle for civil rights. He seeks inspiration from Bible, philosophers and Christian theologians. His invocation of Socrates for non-violent resistance and a just form of civil disobedience.

Three references to Socrates:

1) His first reference to Socrates was in response to - "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?"

King conformed to Socrates' belief that it is essential to create a tension in the mind to depart from the bondage of myths and half-truths. It leads to an "unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal".

2) He further rejects the illogical notion of Socrates similar to Plato for the alteration in his commitment to truth by the misguided populace. He condemned Socrates' belief that resistance leads to violence.

3) Lastly, King gives reference to Socrates for his justification of Civil disobedience. It was practiced Christians who faced atrocities but never submit to unjust laws of the Romans.