Nonviolent Activism

African American people have come a long way from the illiterate slaves, who were once picking cotton in fields, to powerful political leaders. A prime example would be President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America. But first we must ask ourselves, how did this occur? Who lead African Americans to better living standards? Civil rights leaders, such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. However, among these great names in history, there is one that stands out, and that man is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King gave hope to those in need with his awe inspiring sermons he performed at the church his grandfather founded. He changed foes to

unjust” (Banks 1). “Principle four – accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal – this characterizes that nonviolent resistance is a willingness to accept suffering without retaliation, to accept blows from the opponent without striking back; accept the violence, if necessary; but to never inflict violence on another” (Banks 2). “Principle five – avoid internal violence of the spirit, as well as, external physical violence – a nonviolent resister not only refuses to fight or shoot his opponent, but he also refuses to hate him; at the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love for one another” (Banks 2). “Principle six – the universe is on the side of justice – this basic fact pertaining to nonviolent resistance is that it is based on the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice which is positive peace, consequently, the believer in nonviolence has a deep faith in the future and therefore, can accept suffering without retaliation. There is a creative force in this universe, that by whatever name we decide to call it, it works to bring the disconnected aspects of reality into a harmonious whole; a universal wholeness for each of us to share with one another and that nonviolence is both the means and the end” (Banks 3). Dr. King also had a couple of

Throughout the 1950s and the 1960s, civil rights activists started protesting for change. In the US and Australia there were many significant protests undertaken by different groups of brave individuals all to invoke change. Some of the most influential protests were the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the American and Australian Freedom Rides. These protests mainly used the tactic of non-violent protests however, they also used boycotts and demonstrations. These protests brought great change to the way that the African Americans were treated in the US and the Indigenous people in Australia, because it forced the public to acknowledge the hardships that they had to face from segregation.

Civil disobedience has been used by the people to get the attention of their government and to hopefully inspire change. Civil disobedience is an act of refusal by a large group of people against certain laws. From Ghandi to Martin Luther King Jr, people have used civil disobedience to enact change. While the concept of civil disobedience has been around for centuries, it hasn’t been called civil disobedience until recently. Protest, rallies, boycotting and worker strikes are forms of civil disobedience. Civil disobedience has been used for social change too. For example, the suffragettes, Rosa Parks and marches to legalize gay marriage have had social ramifications. Civil disobedience can be used to change laws, it publicizes important changes but it can be overshadowed by violence. Civil disobedience is a good way to change laws because it’s usually peaceful, brings attention to controversial laws and brings about social change.

The Civil Rights Movement was an African American revolution, that started because they were being judged by the color of their skin. African Americans were segregated within the school system and businesses: assaulted daily by white citizens with fists or attack by police dogs, and denied equal rights. Africans Americans felt as though they were second class citizens. However, there was a difference of opinion between African Americans on what was the best approaches that could be used to achieve these goals. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr. preached using nonviolence and integration; on the other hand, Malcom X advocated using violence and separatism. With this divide and difference of opinions, it created conflict and disharmony within the Civil Rights Movement. Many African Americans embraced the use the of a nonviolent approach; however, others felt they needed to defend themselves against violence with violence. Some civil rights activists left the movement all together. With such indecisiveness the Civil Rights Movement deteriorated

September 11, 2001 is a day that no American will ever forget. That day has left a mark on each an everyone of us. That day is commonly known as ‘9/11’ and was the longest day in New York City. Everyone needs to know the dangers of each day, no matter if you see if coming or not. No one on that day know what life changing experience they would go through. Shortly after arriving to work in September 11, 2001, the attacks took place. Flights 11, 77, 93, and 175 were hijacked early in the morning and the crashed occurred shortly after. Not only were the Twin Towers hit that day, but the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania were hit. There are many survivors who shared their incredible stories. They addressed what was going throughout their minds

Following quite a while of isolation and disparity, one man stood up and battled for what was correct. This man talked about dreams and for what he felt as ethically right, morally right, legally right and sincerely right. This man talked about flexibility, fraternity and equity among all individuals, regardless of what race they were. He delivered actualities and feelings to America that were being felt by the dark group, which was being dealt with so severely. This man was Martin Luther King Jr., a minister and social liberties pioneer, who later was granted the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. Ruler opened the eyes of America to a more extensive feeling of comprehension, to a more extensive perspective of the disparity and detest that practically

I remember the stigma Muslims like me had faced following 9/11. We were the subject of hate crimes and the unfortunate acceptor of ridicule. It was in the 5th grade that I was first called a “terrorist” and it truly devastated me. I was being bullied, and it was only a matter of time until I mustered up enough courage to fight the foolish stereotype. It was a feeling of ecstacy and relief to have stood up for myself and end the victimization I had gone through. From that day forward, I made a vow to stand up against bullying in any way possible.

Luther King Jr... The Civil Rights projects and lessons helped me gain a better understand of

Some of Martin Luther King’s ways to end segregation were nonviolent and direct action. The way the people handled this was amazing but at the same time is was incredibly dangerous. The definition of nonviolent, direct action is using peaceful means rather than force, especially to bring about political or social change. Furthermore, examples of non-violent direct action (also known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance) include sit-ins, strikes, workplace occupations, blockades, or activism, while violent direct action may include political violence, sabotage, property destruction, or assaults.

What motivated conservative women into political activism between 1980-2008? What organizations and networks did they form? What were their central issues?

When faced with injustices on an almost insurmountable scale, how do we fight back? It is this psychological, sociological, and philosophical question that has endured and resurged throughout the modern history of mankind: do we pursue nonviolent or violent resistance? Particularly prevalent within the Civil Rights Movement, this debate is unique in that it forces us to look deep within ourselves and outward simultaneously as the realities of each option are both personal and macroscopic. How do I fight back? And, what effect does this have on society at large? In this paper, I’ll endeavor to put forth arguments for and against each ideology through the viewpoints of the two most distinctive, eloquent men of the African-American struggle for equality.

Starting in seventh grade, a large minority of students began to harass me for being Muslim. With comments ranging from accusations of having a bomb in my backpack to malicious taunts of "return to Mecca," the whole experience was overwhelming. It still amazes me how teachers stood by and listened without even a superficial attempt to intervene. I cannot count the amount of times that I was called a "terrorist" before coming to high school, and to an extent, it changed me. I lived with a perpetual hollowness of wanting to think I was like everybody else while constantly being told that I wasn't.

I believe that protest can bring change if you protest in a nonviolent way because, if you’re going out causing violence nobody will want to support you. The Greensboro Four was a group of young African American men who attended North Carolina A&T University. The four young men got together and came together to plan their nonviolent protest which would take place at the Woolworth Diner. The Woolworth Diner was a restaurant that only served White Americans. The Greensboro Four were successful because it sparked protest from other students who attended other historically black colleges. Finally, they were seeing White American only diners open up to African Americans also. I personally believe that society has become a better place for everyone

Currently in the United States various forms of oppression afflict people of color everyday. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been trying to amend this problem since the early 20th century. Their organization has defined oppression as confining minorities to the lower limit and outer edge in political, social, and economic aspects of life (Martin). The first strategy of resistance their organization should try to incorporate is education. Lawrence Blum, a philosophical writer for racial resistance, highlights three big points in his essay "Three Educational Values For a Multicultural Society." He states that the problems in our society can only be overcome by first educating our youth in a