What Is The Role Of Violence In The Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1965) is important from both historical and sociological points of view. It is an example of self-sacrifice as in idea for the of equality of all people. Formally, King addresses this letter that he wrote while in Birmingham jail at the clergymen who opposed his protests. In fact, he applies it to everyone who approves of racism, and considers the methods of nonviolent struggle to be too radical and far fetched from achieving an actual goal. From a sociological point of view, the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” shows the way of nonviolent adjustment of the social conflict and stages of this way: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist negotiation; self-purification; and direct action” (MLK np.). Martin Luther King was the first person in western history to show that you can achieve change without going into violent measures. While taking a sociological viewpoint and following two of its major theories. It is conceivable to say that King’s method of nonviolent direct action was the leading motive in the civil rights movement, which allowed for change.

Dr. King and Malcolm X strived to achieve equality for blacks under the law, more specifically, voting rights, desegregation, and more representation in government and politics. However, both men differed immensely in their tactics and strategies. For Dr. King, the negotiations could be brought about by the persistence of a nonviolent plan where, the oppressed people’s determination would overcome the will of the oppressor in the hearts and minds of the nation. He firmly believed in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi’s method of nonviolence resistance, which had been successful in driving the British out of India. For example, according to King, one of the resisters, or black mans goals is not to humiliate the opponent, (the white man) but to win his friendship and understanding. Dr. King proposed a passive resistance, based on “the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice” (“Pilgrimage to Non Violence” King, 112). He claimed the center of nonviolence is based on the principle of love, or understanding. Dr. King emphasized that the white man should not be held responsible for the minorities and blacks being oppressed. Here is where the two leaders oppose each other. Malcolm X felt social injustice and racism had endured too long, and it was

He started American Civil Rights Movement, in order to spread equality among the people of United States. There was huge protest against racial discrimination and social segregation in the southern part of United States. He explained Just laws and Unjust application of Law. Unjust laws are those laws which are not based on morality whereas unjust application of law refers to the law which is against justice, implemented on someone else. MLK along with few other people started a movement in which they violated unjust law and he did that by starting civil disobedience movement. While staying in jail Martin Luther king expresses his opinion on being criticized by the clergymen’s. He talks about the Southern Cristian leadership conference and its operation in south. Later, he gives the moral reason of staying in Birmingham, to fight against injustice. He took the path of non-violence to bring back the rights. There were four basic steps involved in this nonviolence campaign, collection of facts, negotiation, self-purification and direct action. He gave the difference between just law and unjust law, just laws are those laws which raises humans’ personality whereas unjust laws brings down an individual’s personality. A law is said to be unjust if a minority group has to obey the majority. In non-violence resistance he said that freedom is always demanded by the oppressed. He focuses on the creative

Malcolm X used violence as a way to get more black rights and to hopefully lead up to black supremacy. Dr. Martin L King Jr used non violence protesting as a way to symbol that people standing up for their rights are not wrong or barbaric, but the people who are stopping these nonviolent protests look bad because there is no physical harm being done. Malcolm X states, “This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s liberty or it’s death” (The Ballot or the Bullet). This describes Malcolm X warning that if black people are not allowed suffrage and other rights, then there is going to be violence and death involved to have those rights granted. Malcolm X is showing that he is not afraid to have a violent revolution if there has to be one. Dr. King however states, “We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must ride to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force” (I Have A Dream). Martin Luther King Jr is trying to persuade others that a violent protest will only hurt, not help in getting equality and that a peaceful, powerful protest will ensure smoother integration and peace. Dr. King is promoting the opposite of Malcolm X by saying peace is power whereas Malcolm X is trying to bring forth the

Many people turned to violence during this time, but Martin Luther King, Jr., a legendary front-runner of this movement, advocated for peace. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, one that is still quoted by American citizens today, he voiced his wish that “one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will he able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” (King). Rather than using his position of power to communicate rage to the masses of people gathered before him, King relayed messages of optimism. As a result, the Civil Rights movement was one built on the notion that peaceful resistance was the key to equality. The Montgomery bus boycott, marches in Selma, Birmingham, and Washington, D.C. were all intentionally nonviolent. Protesters, calm in the face of brutal police retaliation in order to defend their rights, eventually achieved equality under the law (Simkins). Footage from the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, displaying passive African-American protesters being beaten down by police, was rapidly spread through the media, eventually reaching President Lyndon B. Johnson and motivating him to take action against racism, passing measures such as the 1965 Voting Rights Act (History.com) Though radical protesters did resort to violence during the movement, we remember it and teach it for its emphasis on

On the issue of Violence, Malcolm X’s philosophy made the most sense for America in the 1960s. Martin Luther King believed that nonviolence was the only option for black people in the Civil Rights movement (Document L). He believed that blacks should endure the violence from whites

“I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.” were once words spoken from a man greatly known in the African American community. This man was Malcolm X. An expressive public speaker, with a charismatic personality, and an untiring organizer, Malcolm X expressed the pent up anger, frustration, and bitterness of African Americans during the major phase of the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1965. Malcolm X spoke of a violent revolution, which would bring about radical change for the black race, while a man with the name of Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out to all people. Martin Luther King Jr. promoted non-violence, civil rights, and the end to racial segregation, while Malcolm X dreamed of a separate

Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are notable activists during the civil rights movement in America. They were leaders highly credited by the public. They carried similar, and different views on how to take on oppression in America. “Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom” (1966) by Martin Luther King and “The Ballot or the Bullet” (1964) by Malcolm X had points were they agreed with one another, points of controversy were the did not see eye to eye, and points of disagreement about violence in the civil rights movement.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister, activist and leader in the civil rights movement. He was inspired by the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. Though they were nonviolent and pacifist, Gandhi and King were justified in breaking the law. In the articles “Excerpt from Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “Text from Letter to Viceroy, Lord Irwin” Gandhi and king were known to feel that the laws are legal, but not just and that the threat of violence cannot be used to limit freedom of speech.

The American Civil Rights had many moving parts and the many accomplishments can be attributed to the persistence and sacrifice of many that participated both black and white. Two seminal figures in the movement were Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. While they were similar in many accounts and held many of the same beliefs King is usually portrayed as a pacifist while X is a rabble rouser ready looking for a reason to use violence. Two diametrically opposed sides of the same coin whose accomplishments may not have happened if not for the other. The love of and fear of are two of the strongest motivators known to man. King use love and the quality of love in his address while X uses fear in attempts to motivate change.

It was a period of soul-searching and religious flowering that led him to a state of peace, and which is all-too-often cast aside when we look back at his life.” The article is supports how Malcolm X and MLK,both wanted the same things which included equal rights for all people. Malcolm X believed in nonviolent protests because, if not he would not have went to support him.Which both should be remembered equally,as brave African American

Martin Luther King Jr pleaded everyone to take the moral high ground when it came to racial segregation and this was one of the things he was most praised for. MLK’s actions towards defeating racial segregation in a non-violent manner was praised by future parties. This is shown as few years after graduation Martin travelled to India to learn about Mahatma Gandhi who influenced him not to use violence in his Civil Rights Movements. (Slide Change)

This paper will focus on Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King jr. because they are both strong representations of two different approaches to a common goal. Perhaps their different approaches of violence and nonviolence stem from their original opinions of how capable the whites are of being good.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s method of tackling the civil rights pandemic of racism, consisted of sit-ins, boycotts, and marches all forms of peaceful resistance. Although Malcom X agreed with King’s beliefs regarding racism the way Malcom X attempted to get his point across was violent inciting African- Americans to fight back with their first rather than their words. History today remembers kindly the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s approach to achieve justice that brought about true change in the free

The Civil Rights Movement of African-Americans is the movement in the United States as an attempt to terminate racial discrimination and prejudice against African-Americans Southern states. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the great leaders of this movement because his ideals proved to be powerful enough to eventually bring victory. One of King’s strongest strategies was his “ethic of love.” This ethic was based on of his Christian beliefs and the teachings of the leader Gandhi. Gandhi had practiced non-violent resistance was the only option to getting rid of the oppression Indians had to face and was able to influence King to do the same. People like the Nationalists, Segregationists, and the privileged were, of course, against this