We know through painful experience that freedrom....

I chose to do a passage-based focused free write on the first paragraph on the second page of "A Letter From Birmingham City Jail.  MLK mentions in this paragraph that freedom is never voluntary and it must be demanded.  I think that he says this in his letter for two reasons.  MLK wants African Americans to realized that their freedom will not be handed to them and that they will need to demand by nonviolent protests and demonstrations.  The other reason behind that statement is that MLK is telling the "oppressors" that they are demanding their freedom now and they are done "waiting".  I like how MLK says in his letter that the oppressor's answer for their request for true equality is "wait".  Over the years, this has almost always meant "never".  I think that saying "wait" is the oldest trick in the book and is another way to delay something in hope that the issue goes away.  People do this all the time to avoid change or conflict.  However, I think MLK makes it clear that there is no more waiting.  They are done being told to "wait" and the time for equality is NOW.