When listing several items separated by comma and putting "and" before the last item, is a comma needed before "and"?

commas are only used before and when you want to separate 2 independent clauses , or when it's used for an oxford comma to separate the last object in a list of 3 or more things

Explanation:

hope this helps

in "letter from a birmingham jail," king argues that there are four basic steps in any nonviolent campaign: "[c]ollection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action." finally, direct action is taken and acts such as boycotts and sit-ins are staged.