What theme does King address and how does that theme guide our principles as American citizens to this day?

The theme that King address to guide our principles as American citizens to this day is explained below in details.

Explanation:

In April 1963, King was imprisoned in Birmingham, Alabama, after he opposed a state court’s order and led a movement of black demonstrators without permission, prompting an Easter boycott of white-owned shops. A declaration printed in The Birmingham News, written by eight disciplined white preachers, scrutinized the march and other presentations.

This urged King to compose a lengthy answer, begun in the edges of the newspaper.

a social contract.

"a social contract is an agreement between citizens and their leader where the citizens give up certain freedoms in exchange for protection. the constitution of the united states is an example of a social contract."