Tiffany 9 - The Power of Nonviolence
As everyone knows, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, in honor of his powerful works to advocate for justice for all people. His efforts were entirely nonviolent, but he was still able to have such a large impact. How then, was he able to have so much influence over so many Americans?
When I think of power, the first thing that comes to mind is military power. Countries with strong militaries can establish their dominance and have power. An example is the Nazis, who used violence to completely oppress the Jews into submission and prevent anyone from challenging them. Money also comes to mind when I think of power. Money can serve as leverage and can get people to do things for your interest. However, peace and nonviolence are typically not associated with power.
Even so, Martin Luther King Jr. was able to make a huge impact on the lives of people in America and around the world. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement and "traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times." He also led many protests, one of the most notable in Birmingham, Alabama, which gained worldwide attention. On August 28, 1963, he led the peaceful march in Washington D.C. and delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. His power did not come through military power or oppression; instead, his words and protests with the support of many Americans gave him the power to change the world.
One of the reasons why Martin Luther King Jr. is so respected and has an entire holiday dedicated toward him is that he fought very hard for justice for African Americans and all people through nonviolent methods. He gained the support of millions of people and was able to make such a large positive impact on the world. He deserves to be remembered because America might have become a different place without his powerful work.
Hey Tiffany, the power of nonviolence really demonstrates the reach of the true power of power. It goes to show that in order to attain power, one does not need to violently steal nor bribe their way to do so. Martin Luther King Jr., like you said, is a perfect example of this. Through only the use of his voice, he is able to garner the support and gain such power that political leaders dream of. He serves as the literal example that the path to power is not a singular road, but instead consisting of multiple curving paths, each one distinct from the next. Through him, he is able to set an example for the future of our enthusiastic social leaders, to follow in his path of nonviolence to empower our society into the harmony we all desire to be in. Taking into account his selfless bravery of placing himself as a public leader amongst tense racial disagreements during his time, Martin Luther King Jr. truly is deserving of having his birthday being nationally recognized and honored.
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany! Power is indeed an interesting concept and military power is certainly the first thing to come to mind when I think of what power really means on a large scale. It is an interesting thought therefore that merely the act of non-compliance and no confrontation, along with powerful words, gives us a certain power over an oppressor. Martin Luther King is certainly a role model for this and certainly deserves all the praise and tribute he gets from around the world. His “I have a dream speech” was certainly as rousing to African Americans as any call to war that the government has made.
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany! Martin Luther King is definitely one of the most influential non violence activists. The power of his words and actions moved many and demonstrated the enormity and strength words can have. Mahatma Gandhi was also a strong advocate on the use of non violence. While non-violence may seem weak to many, the power of words is always one’s strongest asset and weapon. While words can move millions, physical weapons can only physically harm and destroy life. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany, it is really amazing to see how Martin Luther King Jr. was able to have such a great impact on society and people just through the act of nonviolence. I think the emotional weight his words carried and the personal connections he thus created, appealing personally to so many individuals, was why his tactics to advocate for social justice were so effective. His proficiency in his oratorical skills along with the peaceful marches and public demonstrations that helped lead to the creation of laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the epitome of the idea that violence is not always necessary when advocating for change.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! Like you said, I think we often think of aggression and dominance whenever the concept of power is mentioned. But Martin Luther King was able to reach such a wide audience with his influence and brave cause. His dedication to non-violence was what gave him power, as he reached people with his words and dedication to advocating for civil rights and social justice. Touching people's hearts and connecting with their emotions is an especially effective way to exert influence over them. He was able to show people that fighting violence with peaceful dissent was much more powerful. Martin Luther King is really an inspirational and outstanding leader, as it must have taken much courage to lead such a movement during times of fierce discrimination and racial tensions.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! As you mentioned, when they hear the word “power,” many people immediately think about military power and being physically strong enough to dominate others. However, peaceful protests and nonviolent activists can also bring about powerful change. For example, Martin Luther King was definitely a powerful person who fought for what he believed in a nonviolent manner. King gave speeches and hosted peaceful protests to fight for the rights of African Americans. I think it is very respectable that despite being faced with violence, King still fought back nonviolently. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe power of words and nonviolence is a stark contrast to the power of violence. The power people hold through strikes and speeches is sometimes even greater than the power through violence, especially for the greater public. The problem with the public using power is that the boiling build up is shown as much as the 'violence' is. These forms of nonviolence are seldom talked about for what an impeccable display they are and that is truly a travesty.
ReplyDeleteTiffany, what a great post about the power and simplicity of non-violence revolution. Being raised by Indian parents, from a young age, they told me many stories about Mahatma Gandhi and how his non- violence approach helped India gain its independence from Britain. My parents used that powerful message in those stories to shape the way I should react to violent situations. I definitely believe in this day and age we need more MLK’s and Gandhi’s. Countries have resorted to using many violent approaches rather than sitting down and discussing. When the BLM protests occurred the government and cities did not bother to come together and discuss with the protesters but resorted to the violent approach, another powerful yet destructive approach. Hopefully, government leaders will follow MLK’s approach and realize the power of non-violence.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany, I strongly agree with the fact that Martin Luther King Jr. deserves to be remembered since he was such a great inspiration for thousands of African Americans who were at a low point in their lives due to all of the racial attacks and segregation towards that. Martin Luther King Jr. gave them hope that they should fight to gain respect and equality. I feel that this should be how most political leaders strive for their goals because it does not involve corruption or the casualties of thousands of people. Because wars separate families and require millions of dollars, in the long run, settling political differences without violence is far more powerful and uprising.
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