...the south ensured the preservation of segregation by the constant use of threat and violence against people who sought to end it. In contrast, the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement chose the tactic of nonviolence as a tool to dismantle the institutionalized racial segregation, discrimination, and inequality in the south. The movement was guided based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles of nonviolence and passive resistance. The success of the American Civil Rights Movement and the fight for racial equality in the United States is a testament to the determination of millions of African Americans who fought against discrimination in the 1960s. Instead of using the alternative strategy of using an armed uprising such as one of Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr. championed and thrived on the strategy of protesting for equal rights without using violence. King's non-violent approach was inspired and derived from the teachings of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu religious leader, nationalist, and social reformer who revoked the British occupation of India through acts of civil disobedience and nonviolent protests. History is the best example on how acts of non-violence has brought social justice for millions across the globe. Prominent individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma...
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...Trident University Julia Y. Maldonado Module 1 Case Assignment ENG 101: English Composition I Dr. Joseph “Jay” Avella 18 July 2013 The civil rights leader and activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was most remembered as an effective orator and passionate organizer of social movements. (D.L. Chandler, 2012). His letter from a Birmingham jail written in 1963 explained his ethical, emotional and logical appeal. Martin Luther King was a clergyman and a prominent leader in the civil rights movement. He was an activist and an advocate for the rights of the oppressed African American people and used nonviolent methods in his fight for equality. “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is a truly emotionally charged, but particularly logical letter. Martin Luther King appeals to the reader in an effort to make them understand what he and the oppressed people were doing was a necessary step and that it was in love, not hate for those that oppressed them. His emotions in the letter do not come across as hateful but more as frustration in an effort to appeal to the reader. He appeals to the emotions of the reader on several occasions by talking about how the “Negros” were treated but perhaps the emotional appeal that stands out is at the end of his letter. He apologizes for the letter being long and assures the reader that it “would have been much shorter” had he been “writing from a comfortable desk”. He states, “What else can one do...
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...Malcolm X Versus Martin Luther King Junior’s Methods for Fighting Against Injustice As we all may notice in history, there are no two great men that are alike. With contrasting personalities, both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. play an important role in American history. They were prominent African American figures who stood up for what they believed in, however, they went about acting on their vision in separate ways. Their many beliefs may have stemmed from their childhood and influenced or represented their call-to-action. King grew up in a middle class family and was well educated, whereas, Malcolm X experienced hostile situations as a child and was underprivileged with limited schooling. Malcolm X’s despair about life was reflected in his angry, pessimistic belief that equality is impossible because whites have no moral conscience, whereas King felt that blacks and whites should be united and live together in peace. Although these leaders had the same end results in mind, their means, philosophies, and principles differed. Their intentions were delivered in different styles and purposes – their willingness to employ or not employ violence to achieve their goals. Even though they differed greatly on the philosophies they used to obtain their goal, they shared a common struggle. Their same goal in mind was to achieve equality between all races. As both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. sought to fight against injustice, compared to King, Malcolm X fails to appropriately...
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...influence the African American community. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X two men having experienced different things in their lives held different beliefs and morals and influenced people based upon those things. Martin Luther King Jr., came from a Baptist home with a fairly easy childhood, he was educated when he was younger and attended Morehouse College, an all black college, where he had several role models that shaped his beliefs. Malcolm X, on the other hand, experienced a hard childhood and used drugs and committed other crimes in his early adult years. While in prison he found a father figure in Elijah Muhammad and joined the Nation of Islam. There are many differences between Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X in the way they acted and influenced the African American community. This paper will look to describe their differing views and analyze their actions and their lives. In most cases a person’s childhood has a lasting affect on the rest of a person’s life. In comparing Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X this seems to be the case. Martin Luther King Jr., was born January 19, 1929 and was raised by a strong supportive family. He had a somewhat privileged life and “never experienced the feeling of not having the basic necessities of life.”[1] His father “was a community leader in Atlanta and pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church” and his mother “was a school teacher and an accomplished pianist.”[2] Although King was well off economically he was also...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a solid force in the fight against racism and segregation in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was a man with profound speaking skills that led to his influence of the minority peoples of the United States. King was a sincere man who was against using violence to rise above the roadblocks thrown in the way of Black people all across the country. Background Michael Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929 to the Reverend Michael Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. The Louisiana State University (1996-2011) website Michael was the first born son and second child for the couple. Michael Luther King, Jr. had an older sister named Christine King Farris and a younger brother the late Reverend Alfred Daniel Williams King. When Michael was young King, Sr. started calling himself and his oldest son Martin. On June 19, 1953 King, Sr. performed the marriage ceremony for King, Jr. and Coretta Scott. Together they had four children, Yolanda Denise born in 1955, Martin Luther III in 1957, Dexter Scott in 1961, and Bernice Albertine born in 1963 (Louisiana State University, 1996-2011). King’s father and grandfather were both members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Atlanta, Georgia. His father’s own fight for equality in voting rights and teacher salaries helped to shape King into a political icon of the future (Carson, 2000). Education King attended two...
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...Martin & Malcolm & America In this paper, there will be a primary focus on two of the most prominent leaders during the civil rights era. These two leaders are Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. The paper will discuss how these extraordinary men made their phenomenal contributions to America by offering to bring about their own political, racial, and social views that were affecting the people of color. Their ability to voice their strong opinions about the injustices that were taking place among African Americans and the oppositions that were before them gave them the durability to prolong the fight for freedom and justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were both men of purpose, dignity, and pride. The ongoing effort they gave for the people and to the people helped them to earn the respect that has followed them for decades. For that reason, this paper will reflect the ways in which both men contributed to the African American culture and the shaping of America in an effort to bring about a change that was needed to move forward. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X had different political philosophies; however, they both went about using different methods to campaign for civil rights. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion of non-violent protests and peace marches. His speeches entranced both blacks and whites into action for the civil rights movement. MLK knew that if the blacks worked for peace, peacefully, then equality was inevitable. “What they...
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...World leaders and United States leaders share the ambitions to achieve these descriptions. Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. are two names nearly every American citizen knows and most likely respects today. To begin, Martin Luther served as a prominent world leader. Many years ago, in medieval Germany, Martin Luther changed the church forever. He lived as a man full of deep faith for God and was a strict Christian all of his life. Today he is known by numerous people as the most influential German monk who ever lived. Luther had a doctorate in Theology and craved for a reform. He had the biggest issue with parishioners buying indulgences, believing that this purchase would ensure their salvation. He fought for justice and equality, as many great leaders have. At one point he nearly brought down the entire Roman Catholic Church. After writing his famous 95 Theses, the Church was devastated. Even though Luther was hesitant to fight back about the indulgences, he found answers when he turned to the Bible and realized that it is not the Church that will guarantee salvation, it is your own personal faith. In his theses he criticized the Pope’s purpose in raising money and expressed a straightforward concern for the people of Rome. Due to the revolutionary machinery of printing, Luther’s 95 Theses spread throughout all of Europe within three months (“About Martin Luther”.) In 1521, Luther was forced to face Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms. Here, he was expected to retract...
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... 5/16/14 Dr. Alvin Lee Strayer University Analyze the qualities that mirror courage and moral leadership in the leader, and document those qualities (moral traits) as discussed by Daft (2010) (Chapter 6: Courage and Moral Leadership). Martin Luther King, Jr. was the mirror image of a moral and courageous leader. Dr. King upheld his morality principles as well as set examples for his followers. Dr. King had special virtues in which he lived and they was love, courage, hope amongst others. " Love, courage, hope, non conformity, and impatience were embodied in the sit-ins, boycotts, and marches, in which King himself was often a participant" (Rice 2004). Dr. King wanted his followers to be just and kind and to not use oppression as a crutch. Despite being spit on, sprayed with a hose and verbally assaulted he was able to manage frustration and anger and continue his peaceful rally. Dr. King was not one to hold his tongue especially about issues concerning his people. In one instance researchers say " King lamented Negroes' lack of "initiative," lambasted blacks for spending above their means, and expressed no patience with blacks who had "used their oppression as an excuse for mediocrity" (Rice 2004). King was well disciplined and courageous in his efforts. He spoke courage through to his followers to keep them encourage and give them strength. He believed “courage does not entail indifference to danger any more than it entails an absence of fear. To be...
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...Responsibilities of citizenship: Example Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dear Mr. President, Being a part of the political participation is important so that the decisions that are not made by fewer people. Participation by the masses makes a greater decision, we should have the say of what goes on in our community. So it’s very important to get involved and educated to the laws they pass. That way we get the government we want not the government they force on us. We the people are their boss and not the other way around. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equality in a manor no one had before and for that I believe that he deserves his own holiday. I know that he has one for his birthday but deserves one for all that he accomplished in life. There were many other respectable citizens who played important roles during the civil Rights Movement, but Dr. King was a leader, as well as an advocate of nonviolence. He was one of the greatest leaders of the nonviolence in the world. Some people say that he shouldn't have his own holiday but I say that he should be honored. After his death, people really felt the importance of hi cause. They realized that this man died for something he believed in, and others to believe in as well. Since he wasn't there to carry out his legacy, he left it in the hands of everyone else. What If he didn't give the “If I Had A Dream” speech? Where would we be? Imagine if he was too scared to speak up in what he believed in. The Civil rights movement...
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...Johnson Dec. 9, 2013 Nonviolent Movements, Effective Results Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” is a response to criticism from American clergymen about demonstrations in Birmingham. It is among the world’s canon of the most influential writings. He successfully informs his fellow clergymen of the importance of African Americans gaining rights through nonviolent methods. He also speaks eloquently of the difference between just and unjust laws, which lies in the equality of rights. The 1960s were trying times for African Americans due to intense segregation. Despite these difficulties, Dr. King was able to respond with nonviolent methods. These methods are considered very praiseworthy as such a nonviolent response, particularly with such profound effects, is very rare in human society. Dr. King’s nonviolent approach for achieving equal rights, not only helps society make considerable progress on achieving equality, but also enlightens future societies to go for equality in a peaceful manner. According to Dr. King, the difference between just and unjust laws is whether or not everybody has equal rights; similarly, whether or not the law in question uplifts the human spirit. As Dr. King claims: “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust” (King 3). African Americans were forced to face intense segregation and had to witness their friends and family members be subjected to abuse and humiliation...
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...John. “What Martin Luther King Jr. can teach us about nonviolence” National Catholic Reporter.( 2012): Ncronline. Web. Nov 2015. In John Dears “What Martin Luther King Jr. can teach us about nonviolence” article he claims “[…] nonviolent resistance [is…] a strategy of hope, which can help us today in the thousands of [social change] movements around the world, including the […] ongoing Arab Spring movements.” Dears gives six points of nonviolence that Doctor King wrote about in, Stride Toward Freedom (published by Harper and Row) Opening Dear states, “Nonviolence is not for the cowardly, the weak, the passive, the apathetic or the fearful.” Dear is insisting that participating in nonviolent acts is not for the spineless but for the brave and courageous. Furthermore, the point of the practice is to change the ideas of another peacefully not aggressively or forcefully. Additionally, Dr. King states, "Nonviolence does not seek to […] humiliate [your] opponent but to win friendship and understanding." What Dr. King really means is that nonviolence is a way to show a different perspective without demeaning another human. In addition to the other principles, boycotts and peaceful protest are not the end solution but the launch of the solution. Another goal of nonviolence is to destroy evil, not people. King wanted to change the systems that were put in place because you cannot go after the people that made those systems violently and expect a hopeful outcome. Nonviolence includes a...
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...goal should be reached. Many believed non-violent methods were the right way to go while others insisted that violence had to be used. Protestors and leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr., thought non-violence was crucial to the accomplishment of their goal. On the other side, many other activists like Malcom X, supported the idea of violence mainly because non-violence was not going to work. Violence is necessary...
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...Martin Luther King Jr and Gene Sharp Martin Luther King Jr. once said "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." From where King stood during the Civil Rights Movement show that he was a great man who preached nonviolence and made the ultimate sacrifice for it. By being persistent in his nonviolence discipline, he was able to show the world the violence of their opponents' repression for what it really was. Gene Sharp's book, Power and Struggle Part One examines the nature and control of political power. Sharp believes that social sources of political power include socially recognized authority, human cooperation and obedience, and the skills and knowledge of the population. All these sources rely on the support, cooperation, and obedience of the population. Therefore by withdrawing support, the population holds an effective means of resistance to political power. Nonviolent action works to control political power by affecting the sources of that political power. Sharp mentions that the three major categories of nonviolent action are: protest, noncooperation, and nonviolent intervention. These actions work to change the opponents' behavior either by conversion, accommodation, or coercion. Conversion involves a change of heart in the opponent to the point where the goals of the protestors are now their own. With accommodation, the opponent...
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...Martin Luther King Jr., on the other hand completely anti-violence. He does not believe in fighting fire with fire. In Blacks Should Strive To Be Part of the American Dream, King states “I believe, more than even before, in the power of nonviolence resistance. It has a moral aspect tied to it. It makes it possible for the individual to secure moral ends through moral means.” Here Martin explains why he strongly supports nonviolence as a tactic against the injustices. In another speech Martin says that: “May be our mission to save the soul of America... we can’t save the soul of this nation getting our ammunition and going out shooting physical weapons. We must know that we have something much more powerful just take up the ammunition of love.” This quote further supports Martin’s anti-violence mindset and his desire to spread love instead of...
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...Two Influential and Morally Different African Americans Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. are both household names of men who fought diligently for African American rights in the postmodernism 1960’s. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling favored that segregated educational structure left blacks at a disadvantage. This was the spark that triggered uprising in the following years. Malcolm X and King Jr’s emphasis on their beliefs is evident in the works and actions that they have done through their lives. Their philosophies do differ from one another, as we will see in “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and with “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Both men had different approaches and desires for the black community as well as different upbringings that influenced them. We will see how such differences are reflected throughout their work to get a better understanding on how they compare and contrast. Known as Malcolm Little, the Omaha-born future activist suffered an impoverished start in life due to his father’s early demise. Prior to his death, Malcolm’s father was a “follower of Marcus Garvey, who instilled racial pride among the masses of African Americans” (Lauter 3088). To make end’s meet, Malcolm became a drug dealer and thief while living in Harlem, which landed him time in jail. His experience in jail and childhood shaped him and encouraged him in to becoming the activists that he was known for. Malcolm “replaced his own last name with “X” which stands for the African name...
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