Analysis Of The Civil-Rights Movements Of Gandhi And Malcolm X

He showed African Americans helpful tactics to use when they wanted something to change. For instance, African American was able to change segregation on buses in Montgomery. King encouraged African Americans refuse to ride the bus until a change was made. According to Pitney, after a year “Montgomery's bus lines were reopened on a nondiscriminatory basis” (Pitney 4). In other words, African Americans did not have to sit in the back of the bus; they were able to sit in the front. In addition, African Americans were also able to sit with whites, because segregation laws did not exist on buses. King’s nonviolent approach helped change segregation and discrimination on buses. Therefore, King encouraged African Americans to use nonviolent approaches.

All through history governments and empires have been overthrown or defeated primarily by the violence of those who oppose them. This violence was usually successful however, there have been several situations, when violence failed, that protesters have had to turn to other methods. Non-violent protesting never seemed to be the right course of action until the ideology of Mohandas Gandhi spread and influenced successful protests across the world. Non-violent methods were successfully used, most notably, by Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King highlighted the effectiveness of peaceful resistance. When Parks refused to leave a bus seat upon demand of a white man, she was arrested for civil disobedience. Such a simple action triggered a 381-day boycott of public buses and furthered the growing movement. King later described this movement in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” where he explained the bombings that drew him to Birmingham, and how he would peacefully pursue a solution through large-scale civil disobedience. Both Parks and King peacefully revealed injustice to the public, and the violent responses from their opponents allowed the media to highlight the impacts of segregation, mainly poverty, physical threats, and verbal prejudice. Again, civil disobedience broadened social inequality, while also reducing the violence, poverty, and discrimination that African Americans experienced, increasing their involvement in modern government and the overall equality of the

Protests are a way that many citizens have historically exercised their right to freedom of speech and as to voice their opinions on current matters in the U.S. as well as other nations. Protests help the uninformed get informed on specific issues, and try to persuade fellow citizens. What were some of the effective aspects of the protests that were portrayed in “The Matrix”, “Battle in Seattle” as well as those in “The Letter from Birmingham Jail”? What were the downfalls? An effective protest is one where an advocated idea gets across to the intended audience. Peaceful protests tend to have a better outcome than those that lead to violence.

To stay strong when surrounded by cruelty. To show respect to a fellow man, even when he refuses to return the favor. Preaching these words is one thing, but to fight a war with such practices, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers did, is truly astonishing. As a minister, Dr. King was bound and determined to win the battle for equality using the teachings of God. History has remembered him as the quintessential civil rights leader, not only because of the great strides he made in the fight for racial equality, but also for the manner in which they were accomplished. Nonviolent protests across the nation, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Selma to Montgomery marches, were organized by King in order to combat prejudice against his people. During his protest campaign in Birmingham, Alabama, King and fellow leaders were violently arrested for boycotting without a permit. Alone with his thoughts in his damp jail cell, Dr. King assembled a passionate letter to defend his operations. Little did he know, this letter would go on to play a major role in attaining the equality he had thirsted for his entire life. In King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" he utilized the power of his pen to deal a lethal blow to the segregation and unethical practices that had plagued this country for centuries. His goals were not achieved through threats or immoral behavior, but by actively deciding to seek a solution through peace and

At a time where African Americans felt oppressed by whites, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for what he felt was right and spoke the truth about controversial issues such as inequality and injustice. During the 1960s when he wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, segregation was a major controversy. There was a divide between African Americans and white Americans with racism and prejudice being very prevalent throughout this era. Public places, like restaurants and bathrooms, were being split up into sections based on race. As a nonviolent protester, King frequented in silent marches through southern cities, especially Birmingham, Alabama. The goal was to act in a nonviolent way towards whites and stay persistent. From this,

The history of American, non violent, civil disobedience depicts how peaceful resistance can shape public opinion, voice dissent, and change unjust laws. In both Contemporary and past history do we see the role that protest has on our Democracy,and how dissenters, such as Susan B Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr, can become American heroes. The United States was founded on an act of civil disobedience, and even in Modern America, principled dissent has become the highest form of

Protests riots in the United States has proven to an issue for both the country’s financial strength and the unity of the nation. With the presence of social injustices, combined with the increased impact of social media propaganda, protests riots are beginning to reach an all time high. Protest riots destroy individual communities and businesses, jeopardizes the safety of others and taints the protest’s cause by resorting to civil disobedience. Action must be done in order to prevent these random acts of violence from continuing after every social hot topic. The goal is not to prevent citizens from protesting; in fact, this should be encouraged. The goal is to change the way the protests are handled from both the citizens and authority perspectives, in order to prevent these protests from escalating into something dangerous.

Spearheading the Montgomery Boycott was just one of King’s noteworthy accomplishments along the realms of non-violent direct action. Sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks after her refusal to relinquish her seat on a city bus, the Montgomery Boycott was a year-long bus boycott in protest against the unjust laws that segregated public buses (Azbell 114). King was chosen by community leaders of the Montgomery Improvement Association to lead said

King believed in peaceful protest and said that peace is the only weapon they have. For example it started with his peaceful boycott on all Montgomery public transportation in 1955-1956 .Which proved to be successful considering blacks made up the majority of the transits systems paying customers. This protest paved the way for the Birmingham Campaign in 1963 which was a strategic plan created by Dr. King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference. These throughout protest included boycotting businesses that only hired whites or that had segregated facilities. King proved to others around him that this cause they were fighting for was serious and that he would do whatever it took to achieve equality. Dr. King became known for his concern to make people equal and to ensure that everyone is safe and

made many contributions to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. King contacted Reverend TJ Jemison, who had ran a boycott in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although these boycotts were two years apart, King found out everything he needed to know about the carpool system Jemison used. This carpool system was used in the MBB. King found himself in many lethal situations. His house had bombs thrown into it and even threatening phone calls to both him and his wife. He knew that non-violence was the answer. He had learned this from his life-long inspiration, Mahatma Gandhi. King even went to jail to support the boycott. Martin Luther King turned himself in, even though he hadn’t done a thing wrong. He knew that going to jail and staying the maximum of one to two nights in a cell was worth the integration of buses, and soon much more. Last but not least, King gave empowering and important speeches to his fellow black citizens. The Negroes trusted King and knew that they would finally get the integration they were fighting

The famous Mahatma Gandhi and Malcolm X left behind legacies that still influence the world today. One of the major factors that impacted these two historical figures was religion. The characteristics of Hinduism definitely had an effect on Gandhi’s peaceful and nonviolent views, just like the Islamic religion guided Malcolm X’s beliefs of by any means necessary. Their religious affiliations were not only deciding factors in their lives, but also played a key part in their deaths

By stating the African American communities “impatience” as legitimate and unavoidable King pressures those reading to become immediately and directly concerned with issues of social justice and civil rights. King then states, “My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.” Again there is a forcefulness with which the words are read. The phrase “determined legal and nonviolent pressure,” stands out. Grammatically, “determined,” “legal,” and “nonviolent” are adjectives that apply to “pressure”. All three of those words are synonymous with nonviolence. I believe King wanted “determined” to give hope to his followers. He wants them to be “determined” in their nonviolent push for equality. “Legal” and “nonviolent” go hand in hand here. Any violent action is most assuredly illegal. By coupling violence with illegality, King is able to press upon his followers that, to remain within the laws of the United States, their quest for civil equality must be a nonviolent one. King uses these words to show how nonviolence is the “legal” or correct method, not violence, to use when approaching civil rights. “Pressure” isn’t force, pressuring someone does not ensure the deed will be done. Pressure allows for other options but pushes the one being “pressured” into a corner. That is King wants. He wants to corner white America, smother them with nonviolent direct action so

In addition to Biography, this article tells us, “The bus company refused to back down and so Martin Luther King helped to organise a strike where coloured people refused to use any of the city buses. The boycott lasted for several months, the issue was then brought to the Supreme Court who declared the segregation was unconstitutional.” ( Biography Online). The boycott was very powerful and got a lot of attention so the Supreme Court eventually got involved. One final source told us, “ During the boycott King’s home was bombed, but he persuaded his followers to remain nonviolent despite threats to their lives and property.”

Non- violent movements are a way for groups of people to achieve change and create an impact in the society. The labor, African American, and Vietnam anti-war peace movements were significantly successful in abolishing harsh working conditions, gaining civil rights for blacks, and withdrawing from the Vietnam War (Upchurch). Non-violent and violent movements have been used throughout history to evoke change in the society, obtain equality, civil rights, and peace. While violent protest result in the same changes, non-violent methods can ultimately go beyond local violent protest, spread nationally through movements, and protest without requiring violence. These events because of the non-violent