King's Fifth Point About Nonviolent Resistance example essay topic

Martin Luther King Jr. and His Philosophy on Nonviolent Direct Action Any number of historic movements in the civil rights struggle have been used to identify Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - prime mover of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, keynote speaker at the march on Washington, youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient. However, the single events are far less important than the fact that King, and his policy on non- violent protest, was the dominant force in the civil rights movement during it's decade of greatest achievement, from 1957-1968. The first major event of the modern civil rights movement was marked by the 1954 Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown vs. The Board Of Education. The purpose of this was to overturn desegregated schools. However, schools in the south were slow to comply, and many times the attempt to register a black student would result in an eruption of violence. The second event of the Civil Rights movement which has come to be more well known, was the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 (Thomas 2).

This instance occurred after a black woman by the name of Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat to a white man, and as a result was arrested. In response, local blacks staged a one- day boycott of the bus system to protest her arrest. King made his first mark at this point by mobilizing the black community during a 382- day boycott of the city's bus lines (a movement that would cost the bus lines roughly 65% of their income). After this instance King overcame numerous arrests, violent harassment, and the bombing of his home.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court came to the conclusion that bus segregation as immoral, and declared it unconstitutional (Lee 1). Being a national hero, and a civil rights figure of rapidly growing importance, King summoned together a group of black leaders in 1957 and begun to lay the groundwork for the organization that would come to be known as th Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCL C). King was elected president of the committee, and soon began to assist other communities in the organization of protest against discrimination. King's method to approaching these protests was one of nonviolence and peaceful resolutions. His philosophy rested upon the notions of equality, structure, direct action, justice and love. In the 1960's the press sometimes referred to King's nonviolent methods as ' passive resistance'.

The 'passive' being derived from the visions of people not striking back when being attacked. King on the other hand, referred to his methods as 'nonviolent resistence' and believed that there were six important points about nonviolent resistence. First, he argued that even though nonviolence may seem to be cowardly, it was not, and it was in fact a methods that did resist. According to King, the nonviolent protester is as passionate as a violent protester and despite the fact that the aggression is not present "his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade the opponent that he / she is mistaken" (Baer 4). Secondly, King believed that the point of nonviolent resistance is not to humiliate the opponent, but rather, to gain his / her friendship and understanding. The use of boycotts and other methods of non-cooperation were used simply to "awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent" (Baer 4).

The result of this was redemption and reconciliation instead of the bitterness and chaos that resulted from violent resistence. The third point that King advanced was that the battle was against the forces of evil, not individuals. The tension was not between the races, but "between justice and injustice, between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. And if there is a victory it will be a victory not merely for fifty thousand Negroes, but a victory of justice and he forces of light". (Thomas 2). Fourth, King believed that nonviolent resistance required the willingness to suffer.

One must accept violence without retaliating with violence, and must be willing to go to jail if necessary. King's fifth point about nonviolent resistance was that the "universe was on the side of justice". (Baer 4). Accordingly, people have a cosmic companionship with God, who is on the side of truth (Thomas 1). Kings sixth and final point was central to the method of nonviolent resistance.

He believed that the importance of nonviolence rested in the fact that it prevented physical violence and the "internal violence of spirit". (Thomas 1). As public encounters, nonviolent demonstrations usually involved three separate groups of people: the demonstrators, the store / staff /police that were trying to end the demonstration, and the usually much larger group of bystanders or spectators (Baer 5). An example of this situation lies in the Birmingham sit in of 1963 (Lee 2). Birmingham, Alabama was one of the most segregated cities during the 1960's, causing serious uproar. Black men and women held "sit-ins" at lunch counters where they were refused service, and "kneel-ins" on church steps where they were denied entrance.

Hundreds of these demonstrators were fined and imprisoned. In opposition Dr. King, the Reverend Abernathy and the Reverend Shuttles worth lead a protest march in Birmingham. The protesters were met with a large number of policemen and dogs, and all three ministers were arrested and taken to Southside Jail (Baer 7). During his time in prison King composed his infamous Letter From Birmingham Jail in which he laid out the four basic steps within a campaign using nonviolent direct action.

The first step within a campaign included the collections of facts to determine the injustices present. The second step was negotiation. The third, self-purification. And the fourth being direct action. These steps seek to dramatize the issue so that it can no longer be ignored. Through these steps King concluded that the necessary level of constructive nonviolent tension would be created.

King described his nonviolent tactics as "one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their quest for social justice". (Baer 3). And the truth of this statement can be seen throughout the history of the civil rights movement. King's influence reached its zenith between the years of 1960 and 1965, his tactics of active nonviolence (including sit-ins, protests, marches, etc.) aroused the devoted allegiance of many blacks and liberal whites in all parts of the country as well as support from the administrations of presidents Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson (Lee 2). Thirty six years later Martin Luther King Jr.'s words still remain insightful and relevant"; The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach and nothing to learn from them is not just. A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war; 'This way of settling differences is not just.

'. .. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense then on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death" (excerpt from "A Time To Break Silence' a sermon preached by Martin Luther King Jr. In New York City's Riverside Church on April 4th, 1967.) In this era of heightened militarism, terrorism, and global war, King continues to call us to a radical revolution of our values, inviting us to root ourselves in an active, transforming love that can overcome fear.

The current events of the Western world lead me to believe that a nonviolent approach would not be too effective, especially at first. In thins day in age our government has come to be dependent on fire arms, and has become accustomed to using them in a forceful way in an attempt to obtain the a desired effect. I believe that other countries of the world may have an easier time converting to a nonviolent means of enforcement as a result of a lower level of dependency as well as a lower technological level of development. The contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. To the black freedom movement as well as to the current world situation was that of a leader who was able to turn protests into crusades, to translate local conflicts into moral issues of nationwide concern. Successful in awakening the black masses and galvanizing them into action, he won his greatest victories by appealing to the consciences of white Americans and thus bringing political leverage to bear on the federal government.

The strategy that broke the segregation laws of the south, however, prove to be inadequate to solve more complex racial problems elsewhere. It remains undebatable that King's social ministry and prophetic vision are now the indispensable starting point for 21st century revolutionaries.