Power of Nonviolence Marin Luther Thesis

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The African-American church and community were energized by the protest and successful social movement organizations were established as a result. For a decade, protests such occurred in the Southern United States and they were primarily supported. Sit-ins became popular and before long, the movement established an "important mass base' (Morris 525). The evolution of this form of protest is what led to the very organized force that would "topple Jim Crow" (525). During the mid 1960s, "highly public demonstrations" (525) increased in number and were strengthened with support from various individuals. These such protests demonstrated that African-Americans were serious more than anything else.

Martin Luther King was chosen to lead the movement and under his direction, nonviolent action emerged as "crucial, for it robbed the white power structure of its ability to openly crush the movement violently without serious repercussions" (525). King was perhaps the most effective voice for the cause of nonviolent action. In his essay "Nonviolence and the Montgomery Boycott," King clearly identifies the importance of nonviolence, noting that nonviolence does not automatically mean surrender. He wrote, that nonviolence does not "seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding" (265). King's ideas spread throughout the country and he organized a march on Washington where 250,000 individuals gathered to "demonstrate their support for civil rights and racial harmony" (Davidson 1170). Here King gave his famous speech in which he describes his dream for African-Americans. Others helped the movement as well. In his essay, "The New Jacobins and Full Emancipation" James Farmer supports King. He understands the need for control during protests.

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He explains how violence often does more harm to the cause that anything else. He observes, "violence by the freedom fighters would sever from the struggle all but a few of our allies" (Farmer 357). Violence may also cause contention between freedom fighters, which would again do more harm than good. He writes an "expeditious and thorough program of discipline, internal and externally" is what everyone must desire in order for progress to be made. (357) Stokely Carmichael agrees, noting that for individuals to make a difference, people "must begin to think politically and see if we can have the power to impose and keep the moral values that we hold high. We must question the values of this society" (Carmichael 439). He realized that the war on racism was a "psychological battle on the right for black people to define themselves as the see fit" (440). Here we see that King's nonviolent ideas ignited the souls of many who knew the cause could be won without violence and evil.

The civil rights movement is one that is filled with violence directed at one group of individuals. Through that experience, they understood that violence was not the answer. As individuals began to make small, seemingly insignificant stands for their freedom, they were actually setting a precedence for thousands in the years to come. When king wrote that violence and oppression could only be overcome with nonviolent behavior, he war right.

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