How to Cite Letter from Birmingham Jail
The “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, is a pivotal piece of American history that addresses the civil rights movement and the importance of nonviolent protest. As a student or researcher, accurately citing this letter is crucial for giving proper credit to its author and ensuring the integrity of your work. This article will guide you through the process of citing “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in various citation styles, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.
APA Citation
In APA style, the citation for “Letter from Birmingham Jail” should include the author’s last name, first initial, the publication date, the title of the letter, the title of the collection or book it is found in, the editor’s name (if applicable), the publisher, and the page number(s) where the letter is located. Here is an example:
King, M. L. Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail. In A. J. Heschel (Ed.), The Jewish voice in the civil rights movement (pp. 45-54). Beacon Press.
If you are citing the letter from a journal article, include the journal title, volume, issue number, and DOI (if available). For example:
King, M. L. Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail. The Christian Century, 80(14), 615-616. https://doi.org/10.1080/00095214.1963.11453589
MLA Citation
In MLA style, the citation for “Letter from Birmingham Jail” should include the author’s last name, first name, the title of the letter, the title of the collection or book it is found in, the editor’s name (if applicable), the publisher, and the page number(s) where the letter is located. Here is an example:
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In The Jewish Voice in the Civil Rights Movement, edited by Abraham J. Heschel, 45-54. Beacon Press, 1963.
If you are citing the letter from a journal article, include the journal title, volume, issue number, and page number(s). For example:
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Christian Century 80, no. 14 (1963): 615-16.
Chicago Citation
In Chicago style, the citation for “Letter from Birmingham Jail” should include the author’s last name, first name, the title of the letter, the title of the collection or book it is found in, the editor’s name (if applicable), the publisher, and the page number(s) where the letter is located. Here is an example:
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In The Jewish Voice in the Civil Rights Movement, edited by Abraham J. Heschel, 45-54. Chicago: Beacon Press, 1963.
If you are citing the letter from a journal article, include the journal title, volume, issue number, and page number(s). For example:
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Christian Century 80, no. 14 (1963): 615-16.
Harvard Citation
In Harvard style, the citation for “Letter from Birmingham Jail” should include the author’s last name, first name, the title of the letter, the title of the collection or book it is found in, the editor’s name (if applicable), the publisher, and the page number(s) where the letter is located. Here is an example:
King, M. L., Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In The Jewish Voice in the Civil Rights Movement, edited by A. J. Heschel, 45-54. Beacon Press, 1963.
If you are citing the letter from a journal article, include the journal title, volume, issue number, and page number(s). For example:
King, M. L., Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Christian Century 80, no. 14 (1963): 615-16.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you are accurately citing “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in your research and academic work.
