Non-violent resistance, also know civil disobedience, was an idea that motivated Martin Luther King’s strategy during the Civil Rights Movement that began in the fifties. This was not the first time the tactic had been used in American history. American colonist, according to Linda T. Wynn, “employed [non-violent resistance] during the revolution when they boycotted British imports and offered resistance to taxation without representation”. Wynn states that this theory was first described by Henry David Thoreau, in his 1849 essay, “civil disobedience”. She explains how Thoreau’s essay says that in regards to civil disobedience, it is morally just to resist unjust laws.
During the civil rights movement, leaders like reverend Martin Luther King Jr. adopted the strategy in the fight for equality amongst African Americans. In the primary document, “Martin Luther King explains nonviolent resistance (1967)”, we learn that King was fascinated by Thoreau’s ideas. He also heard a lecture by a Howard University professor, who lectured about his experiences in India. Martin Luther King was quoted in the document as saying that his professor’s “message was so profound and electrifying that [he] left meeting and bought a half-dozen books on Gandhi and his life” (704). The ideas of Thoreau, Gandhi, and even his God, Jesus Christ, kept Marin Luther King focused on a peaceful movement. He believed that the attacks should be made on the forces of evil inflicting the even (the law) rather than the actual people committing the hateful acts. He also believed that the tension was not between whites and blacks but rather between justice and injustice.
In India Gandhi led a movement against unjust laws as well. It was in 1906 that he called upon his fellow Indians to the law that asked for the registration of Indian colonies. Gandhi asked that the people suffer any punishment that came along with defying the law. Wynn explains how “the adopted plan led to a seven-year struggle in which thousands of Indians were jailed, flogged or shot for striking, refusing to register, burning their registration cards, or engaging in other forms of non-violent resistance”. Gandhi movement is also known as the non-cooperative movement.
In America, the Montgomery bus boycott was an example of non-violent resistance which captured the essence of Gandhi’s vision. America took notice when the movement was no longer philosophical non-violence in which King would preach about injustice. The movement had shifted to tactful non-violence. Wynn explains how people were no longer just talking about Thoreau and Gandhi’s philosophies; they were organizing and putting those philosophies into action, which came in the form of boycotts and protest.
The article is a great resource to the understanding of Martin Luther King’s, as well as many other civil rights leaders, motivation and passion behind the way they handled the struggle for equality in America. It gives us more background information on the ideas of Thoreau and Gandhi, which were part of the foundation of the struggle, and the belief in a just world. The civil rights movement grew as more people adopted the philosophy and used it to organize people as well as to promote activism. The Northern Student Movement was a group of predominately white youth who also believed in the movement. More and more groups began to form and continued to put words into action
Works Cited
Wynn, Linda T. "Non-Violent Resistance." Freedom Facts & Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil Rights Experience (2009): 59-60. History Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 12 Oct. 2009.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you about the Montgomery Bus Boycott and it being a non-violent resistance example and it definitely shows Gandhi's vision. I actually went and read the article which I found that it was very interesting and is a good resource for understanding how the civil rights leaders handled the issues on equality in America.
ReplyDeleteGreat job making connections with MLK's actions and those of the past, attempting to shed light on the origins of non-violent resistance. The first thing that came to mind was the Iranian elections held in June. An unknown number of Iranians protested by unique means inspired by actions such as those of Martin Luther King Jr. and going even beyond what he may have imagined in his day. Some of the forms of non-violent resistance were as simple as writing slogans on money, to more elaborate stagings of short and loud protests, where a few hundred would gather, shout, "death to the dictator," and take off before police could arrive. Another was running all electrical appliances while national television was on to prevent power to the tv signal. Additionally, the number of attempts to circumvent the government's restrictions on internet communication by proxy's was a major effort, although the Iranian government did a wicked job of containing communication. It is clear that these forms of resistance demand a strong will by the populace and it is amazing to see that people will continue to be influenced by what MLK, Gandhi, and many others before and after have accomplished in this way. As long as there is injustice, may we all have the strength to do the same when it becomes necessary.
ReplyDeleteI think that is amazing. I read a lot about the elections but it's interesting to know more about the type of action that was taking place. I know that people would wear green, even here in California I would see lots of people on the Bart, and other places wearing the color. I think civil disobedience is really the best way to handle these types of situations.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to me that with the inspiration of religion to support the end of segregation there were also other influences that were not religious. Martin Luther King did not share the same religious beliefs as Gandhi but he did share many of the same values. Another example of this is the use of civil disobedience with the leader of the United Farm Workers, Caesar Chavez. He also used the same strategies of civil disobedience. I think that through these actions people with different religious backgrounds were able to see how much they had in common by seeing how they shared similar moral values.
ReplyDeleteI have never realized how non-violence dates so far back. Even though non-violence protest around the country have had their successes still it is not enough fo some who feel that in order to have immediate action violence must take place. I too have been a firm believer in non-violence and have looked into the study of Ghandi, MLK, and more so than ever Ceasar Chavez. It is just sad to know that although non-violence protest are done with such a negative light as it is still a protest.
ReplyDeleteAVC you make a good point to how civil disobedience has a role everywhere around us. When elementary school teachers were getting laid off and getting handed their pink slips teachers, students, principles, and school workers all wore pink to make a statement. While it is a useful tool Collegestudent101 points out that it still has the conotation of being negative. Unfortunately the word disobedience gives it that negative conotation.
ReplyDelete