Was Martin Luther King Justified In Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience makes a statement. It is a tool that can be used to make a difference. Peaceful resistance to unjust laws helps a free society by allowing people to be heard without violence. Anyone can attack brutally, either verbally or physically, to get attention. But the best way to be noticed is to, “create such a crisis and establish such a creative tension...that it can no longer be ignored,” as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his letter from a Birmingham jail. In many instances, civil disobedience has proved successful. In the mid-1800s, Henry David Thoreau, in response to taxes supporting slavery during that time, decided to become a “tax rebel” and not pay his capital tax. Thoreau was then jailed for a night and inspired …show more content…
We obey laws because we fear the consequences, or we believe they are just. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made a keen observation when saying, “An unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts on a minority…” referring to segregation in Alabama during the 1960s. He also argued that, “One who breaks an unjust law must do it openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” Dr. King, like Gandhi before him, paid the ultimate penalty for his willingness to fight unjust laws. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a perceptive view on civil disobedience concerning the South in the 1960s. He realized that because of the false, racist belief that African-Americans were naturally violent, any violent acts would solidify the southern white view of African-American communities. So, instead Dr. King organized peaceful sit-ins, and marches to help end the racist practice of segregation. It was the peaceful actions by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that resonate through …show more content…
If we didn’t allow civil disobedience, than many of the things Americans take for granted wouldn’t be laws or rights. Slavery was abolished because of people like Henry David Thoreau and the lasting legacy of “Civil Disobedience”. Religious and racial intolerance were combated in India and South Africa because of the actions of people like Gandhi. In the United States, we no longer have discriminatory Jim Crow laws and government sanctioned racism because of people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the sacrifices he made through non-violent
Comparison Of Letter From Birmingham Jail And Malcolm X
2022 Words | 9 PagesCivil disobedience is a non-violent act of protest or resistance against unjust actions from the government. This form of collective action is based on the belief that individuals have the right and duty to challenge the authority if it acts against the interest of the people. In recognition of this, prominent figures of the Civil Rights movement often discussed civil disobedience; eventually debating on the justification of violent disobedience. In this essay, I will examine the arguments presented by Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and Malcolm X in “The Ballot or Bullet” to recognize the various usage of civil disobedience; ultimately, evaluating the moral justifiability of using violence as a means of promoting
1960s Dbq Essay
741 Words | 3 PagesDuring the late 1950s and 1960s the southern states in America were segregated. Black and white people were separated from bathrooms to schools and therefore, blacks had to use their installments or they would be punished by whites. While this was happening, two African American men, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, wanted segregation to come to an end. So they proclaimed their ideas and started to form groups to protest against segregation in America. Consequently, Martin Luther King Jr’s civil rights philosophy made the most sense during the 1960s because integrated schools was the goal, nonviolence could have a huge impact on the enemy and nonviolence was the only practical strategy.
Muhammad Ali's Anti-War Stand Was Civil Disobedience
789 Words | 4 PagesOur disobedience enstils the passion our contemporary society continues to have for what we feel is just. Peaceful resistance to unjust laws benefits a free society by giving the American people a voice in government. History and contemporary media has proven that protesting our governmental ideals is a strong and powerful means of changing the government. Martin Luther King Jr. protested the horrendous treatment of African-Americans in the 1960s by bringing people together in order to end racial segregation in the United States. King included in his Letter From Birmingham Jail that "an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law.”
Civil Disobedience In Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
631 Words | 3 PagesMartin Luther King Jr once stated, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” in his Letter from Birmingham Jail in 1963. He was invoking the principle of civil disobedience. He wasn't justifying breaking laws just because, but instead, meant that you break the law and accept your punishment, in hopes that people will come to see that the law is unethical. Civil disobedience plays an important role in how our society has been shaped up until this point.
How Did Martin Luther King Jr Disobey Unjust
169 Words | 1 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. was a man that was willing to do anything to end segregation of the white and black people. He would be the man to dare and break the unjust law that was set upon colored people. He would do so by not promoting violence or any acts of harm toward others. Kings states, "One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
Henry Chavez Disobedience
234 Words | 1 PagesHenry David Thoreau, an American philosopher and abolitionist, once stated, “ Disobedience is the true foundation of Liberty. The obedient must be slaves”. Thoreau asserted that disobedience is the reason America claimed it 's Liberty and those who are obedient are the Government 's slaves who don 't realize what 's around them. I acquire that Disobedience is a very important act and helps us progress and achieve goals people said were impossible, but good people didn 't listen In the 1960’s, California witnessed an unexpected Civil Rights movement inspired by Cesar Chavez.
Loving V. Virginia Case Study
798 Words | 4 PagesIt's easy to get angry and/or violent protests confused with civil disobedience. Many overlook the effectiveness of civil disobedience and see it as just another way to protest the government but civil disobedience has a long history. A few examples of civil disobedience include Rosa Parks’ famous refusal to move from the back of the bus in 1955; the interracial marriage between Richard and Mildred Loving in 1958; and most recently, the protest against the Dakota Access pipeline construction. In each instance, people stood up for what they thought was just and right.
Civil Disobedience: Martin Luther King Jr.
1153 Words | 5 PagesCivil disobedience can mean many things to many people. To some people it could mean a non-violent means of protesting or attempting to achieve political goals; however, in the eyes of people like Martin Luther King Jr it could be different. He stated that “one has the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”. Martin Luther King Jr prove this by doing many non-violent protest during his time, to fight against segregation. The meaning of civil disobedience is a bit different in Henry Thoreau’s eyes.
Civil Disobedience In 'Antigone'
534 Words | 3 PagesMy Standpoint Civil Disobedience is an effective method of change that has been used throughout history against unjust laws. “Antigone” The story of “Antigone” uses this idea of civil disobedience through Antigone who defies the law given by her new king. As Creon starts off his first day of work he is emotional due to the loss of his eldest son. Because Creon is so emotional, he states that the person who brought war to the land causing his eldest son’s death, shall not be buried.
Civil Disobedience By Martin Luther King Jr.
296 Words | 2 PagesThe civil disobedience is to describe when the public refusal to obey the law or commands of a government that violate one's personal principals without the act of violence, as an effort to induce a change in governmental policy or legislation. The purpose is to force concessions from the government or occupying power. For example, if a group of people refuses to pay taxes as a peaceful way to express disapproval of those laws they disagree with or taxes. Civil disobedience may be appropriate when a democratically elected government uses its power to discriminate against their race, sex, religion or skin color. In such a situation, people would most liking object the Laws and start a protest to show they want to be treated equally.
Thoreau And Martin Luther King Comparison
678 Words | 3 PagesCivil Disobedience In the dictionary civil disobedience is the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest, but Thoreau and Martin Luther King have their own beliefs to civil disobedience. In Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” he writes about the need to prioritize one’s conscience over the dictates of laws. Martin Luther King uses civil disobedience as something that effectuates change in the government. Both Thoreau and Martin Luther King has similar yet different perspectives on civil disobedience.
Peaceful Resistance To Civil Disobedience
501 Words | 3 PagesPeaceful resistance with civil disobedience has played a huge role in shaping a free society throughout our history, and not just our history as Americans either. There has been many successful peaceful resistance throughout world history. Many forms of this such as, marches,parades,sit-ins,protests,boycotting and even speeches, have positively impacted or changed a free society. I can't talk about civil disobedience or peaceful resistance without talking about one of the most famous civil disobedience leaders, Martin Luther King Jr., from 1954-1968 the civil rights movement was in effect in the United States. Martin Luther King was a major person during this time.
Why Is Martin Luther King's Non-Violent Protest
656 Words | 3 PagesDuring the 1950's through the 1960's the civil rights movement was taken place in America. This movement was lead by Martin Luther King Jr. Although, what King did was amazing, I am astonished in how he achieved it. King was able to bring equality to the African American Community through non-violent protests.
Comparing Crito And King's Argument Against Civil Disobedience
1111 Words | 5 PagesIn the Crito by Plato, Socrates argues against civil disobedience, seeing it as an unjust act. Contrasting this view, Martin Luther King argues for civil disobedience against unjust laws, and seeing it as a responsibility of citizens. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain law, commands or requests of the government. I will argue that the view of Socrates is superior to the view of Martin Luther King on the justness of civil disobedience. Using the argument against harm, I will show that even if a law is viewed as unjust, you must not repay an evil with another evil, as evident in the Crito while contrary to ideas presented by MLK.
How Is Civil Disobedience Effective
1251 Words | 6 PagesCivil disobedience is nonviolent resistance to a government’s law in seek of change. Civil disobedience is an effective way to bring about change because it is a harmless way of fighting an unjust law or idea, it can educate people about the cause, and it has been successful many times in history. First and foremost, civil disobedience is
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