King argues that the crisis of racism is too urgent, and the current system too entrenched: "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
King argumenterede, at den racistiske krise var for presserende og det juridiske system for grundfæstet: "Vi ved af smertefuld erfaring, at frihed aldrig frivilligt gives af undertrykkerne, den må forlanges af de undertrykte."