Examples Of Nonviolent Resistance

Nonviolent Resistance: Best Way of Dealing with Oppression When we talk about the United States, the ideal image is freedom and equal opportunity. The founding fathers built this country based on these basic values. However, discrimination and prejudices are examples of complete contradiction of such traditional values. Racial discrimination against African–Americans has perpetuated for years. This discrimination started around the 1800’s, when African-Americans were brought to the U.S. against their will to be sold as slaves. The dominant culture, white, treated the colored domain unfairly. African-Americans suffered many injustices, like for example unpaid labor, non-employment opportunities, inferior education that did not give them an
For many years we have seen how cultures try to solve oppression. Many of them have fought against others on battles and wars getting temporary results (p. 238). Violence leads to destruction and separation of communities. Hatred that is tied into violence stays among the oppressed, oppressors and future generations. Martin Luther King states that acquiescence is the way of the coward (p. 238), therefore the way to handle oppression is with nonviolent actions. Even though people protest without physical aggression, they are still passionate fighters. As Martin Luther King says “The Negro must work passionately and unrelentingly for full stature as a citizen, but he must not use interior methods to gain it. He must never come to terms with falsehood, malice, hate, or destruction” (p. 239). He explains that African-Americans must work intensely with their minds and thoughts without using any other malicious technique. By this way, the oppressed people will persuade their oppressor that they are
People instead of using communication, they use physical violence. Violence leads to disgrace. Hence, using a persuasive dialogue, we can reach our oppressor’s mind easily. Martin Luther King mentions in his essay that violence is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding (p. 239). This statement clearly explains that violence is not the best way out. The same way, cooperation helps to maintain the peace between cultures. In order to have a deal, both groups have to find a balance to achieve what is the best for both of them. Doing other actions that are against the other group may cause the failing of a trade. Thus, groups should discuss and negotiate before choosing