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Barack Obama and, Martin Luther King have slightly different ideas of how things are and should be, “A Just and Lasting Peace” by Barack Obama and, “Acceptance Speech” by Martin Luther King. King believes that we can achieve a long lasting, peace along with a noble civilization through the means and actions of nonviolence. Obama agrees to what King has stated, even so this doesn’t always work. Obama believes that in some cases violence is necessary in order to achieve peace and, not an ever-lasting peace but a practical and real peace. Obama and Martin Luther King are different in the sense that one is more bias on taking action and do things physically yourself in order to achieve what you want, and King is more bias with patient, believing …show more content…
“As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King’s life work, I am living testimony to the moral force of nonviolence” (Obama, line 75-77, paragraph 75) emphasizes Obama’s agreement and admiration towards Martin Luther King’s peace making methods through nonviolence, along with providing proof itself towards this as well. “. . . nonviolence is the answer to crucial political and moral question of our time- the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression” (‘Acceptance Speech’ by MLK, paragraph 4) implies MLK’s acknowledgment and recognition of violence and, nonviolence. He does not disregard nor eschew the presence of violence because, he knows that it has taken place before, and still does happen. MLK emphasized this throughout his speech by mentioning examples of actual occurrences of violence against the people participating in the movement of blacks but, he emphasizes and sets a mood for them as well by using strong word choice. For example “I am mindful that only yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama, our children, crying out for their brotherhood, were answered with hoses, snarling dogs and even death” (MLK, paragraph 2). Martin Luther King’s main objective has the same intentions as Obama, to achieve peace. “Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and …show more content…
King’s view is expressed throughout his speech, he also puts emphasis on it by using a great amount of repetition and strong adjectives. “I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic into the hell of the thermonuclear destruction” (MLK, paragraph 7) is a great example of MLK’s refusal. Obama acknowledges that violence has happened and, that we may have to use violence as well against other under certain conditions. “Still, we are at war, and I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be killed” (Obama, lines 22-24, paragraph 5). This connotes that he is very much aware of violence and where he stands on the topic of it. Although it depends on the situation and the events which led up to it. Which is indicated by “The concept of a ‘just war’ emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when it meets certain preconditions: if it is waged as a last resort or in his self-defense; if the force used is proportional, and if,
MLK once said "We have no alternative but to protest. For many years we have shown an amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom and justice."(The Biography.com website). MLK knew that if we used force it would be a disaster and they would never get freedom. While MLK was at Birmingham Jail he wrote about nonviolence for all people to read. He said"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community, which has constantly refused to negotiate, is forced to confront the issue."(The Biography.com website) So many thought MLK would come and be this guy who would see violence as a tool to use, but when he didn’t people were very supprised that nonviolence was his choice of action. MLK has a family too and it was not only but his family too. They probably wondered all the time if their father would be home that night. Many suffered from these movement acts and wondered if they would be able to kiss their kids goodnight, or see their wifes. Would you be able to not see your dad for weeks or maybe even months? This is why many had patience. They knew what they were fighting for all of them had a purpose. MKL knew one day there would be freedom everywhere. He also knew it wasn’t going to come easily. He never gave up though and he always believed in
Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an argumentative persuasive essay, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” on April 16, 1963. King had written this letter to address and respond to the criticism made by the white clergymen. The letter was an approach to end racism and hatred in a non-violent manner. The non-violent movement was organized by King and his pro-black organization called “The Southern Christian Leadership Conference”.
When MLK was taken in to custody, he was charged with “parading without a permit”(King), which really means he was doing wrong because it was a parade against segregation. He was holding a peaceful protest on behalf of the people who did not have a voice for themselves, and he was going to stop at nothing to be heard. MLK, while in jail, was receiving criticizing letters from all over about his protest, he never responded to them until he came across one. Eight Alabama clergymen entitled, “A Call For Unity”, which explained that he should be fighting in courts only and not on the street, wrote the letter. When King writes back that taking direct action is the only way to achieve the true civil rights even if it goes against what is morally right.
King’s motive for equality has affected many African Americans in a positive way. One of the positive ways is the announcement of the title of the 45th and first black president of the United States going to Barack Obama. In Barack Obama’s 2008 “A More Perfect Union” speech, he asserted that “Issues of race and gender in America have been a complication throughout our history, and they are still complicated in this primary campaign.” Barack Obama’s intentions were to retaliate against the officials discouraging him from winning the campaign. However, this quote is also used as a statement regarding the racial issues that occurred in the past and that are continuing to occur in the present day. Barack Obama and Dr. King seemingly shared similarities regarding equality. Although they were almost a century apart, Both Barack Obama and Dr. King realized racial equality is a major issue in America. Both of them realized that it is a sensitive issue, but it should not be ignored nor avoided. They realized that racism is an issue that may never come to an end as long as hate crimes and other forms of discrimination occur. They stressed the fact of blacks living in an existing slave mentality. In previous days, Dr. King focused on the way blacks were living in a post slavery era, meaning that blacks were being treated like they never left the plantation. In today’s time, Barack Obama insinuates that blacks are continuing to be treated as slaves, whether it is by other civilians
Martin Luther King Jr was one of the most beloved and one of the most hated men of his time. The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is embodied in these two simple words: equality and nonviolence. He believed that Gandhi’s method of nonviolent resistance was the key to overcoming evil (The Archive, 1968). King was involved in many nonviolent protests including the Montgomery bus boycott, The Albany movement, and the Birmingham campaign. He also wrote many speeches and writings that changed the way people thought about others. In one of his most famous speeches, I Have A Dream, King says, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” He is basically saying that anger and revenge will actually do the opposite of setting you free. The hatred in your heart will never satisfy
Until the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his life’s work was dedicated to the nonviolent actions of blacks to gain the freedoms they were promised in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. He believed that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King, 1963). These injustices had become so burdensome to blacks that they were “plunged into an abyss of despair” (King, 1963). The nonviolent actions of the sit-ins, boycotts, and marches were so the “individual could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths…to help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism” and ultimately lead to “inevitably opening the door to negotiation” (King, 1963). Not only was King’s approach effective with the older black generation, it was also successful with white people. They did not feel threatened when approached by King. White people gained a sense of empathy towards the plight of black freedom as King’s promise of nonviolence did not threaten their livelihood. Malcolm X viewed the world similarly to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., however; his beliefs to changing the status quo were slightly different from his political counterpart. Malcolm X realized that “anger could blind human vision” (X, 1965). In realizing this, X knew that in order to achieve racial freedom blacks had to “forget hypocritical politics and propaganda” (X, 1965). While Malcolm X was more so an advocate for violent forces against white people than King, X merely used force when it became necessary for defense. According to X, “I don’t go for non-violence if it also means a delayed solution. I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to American black man’s problem” (X, 1965). However, this le...
Dr. King had been one of the greatest leading person during the 21st century. Fifty years later till this day, the message he has portrayed, is still being reviewed today. The ideas that King had brought along in his speeches would still be relevant to civil problems that are occurring in the United States currently. One of the most incredible moments in his life at the time was when he conveyed his tendency from human rights onto the stage of the world; educating the listeners, while obtaining the Nobel Peace Prize Award.
The tone of King's piece is informative because he explains how color people are being treated. In contrast, Obama's tone of speech is persuading
Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated nonviolence to suppress oppression in his essay, “The Power of Nonviolent Action.” King's factual and reasoned approach is intended to win his adversaries over by appealing to their consciences. King realized that the best strategy to liberate African-Americans and gain them justice was to use nonviolent forms of resistance. He wanted to eliminate the use of violence as a means to manage and establish cooperative ways of interacting. Moreover, King states that the “oppressed people must organize themselves into a militant and nonviolent mass movement” in order to achieve the goal of integration. The oppressed must “convince the oppressors that all he seeks is justice, for both himself and the white man” (King, 345). Furthermore, King agreed with Gandhi that if a law is unjust, it is the duty of the oppressed to break the law, and do what they believe to be right. Once a law is broken, the person must be willing to accept the ...
MLK would always preach about the nonviolent way being better and this was true because it showed the white moderates that they meant no harm. Whenever violence broke out they would be able to easily tell who was the one who started it. His methods inspired the Cngress of Rational Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to ride a bus throughout the southern states to see if there were any problems and if they had any desegregated buses. In Alabama they encountered a white mob who lit the bus on fire and beat the passengers. This made world news so it started the conversation and encouraged JFK to take action. JFK then started brings up a strong civil rights bill to congress called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned different voting standards for blacks and whites, witheld federal funds from public/provate programs that practiced discrimination, and banned discrimination based on religion,sex,or national origin by employers and unions. MLK's peaceful method was the effective in inspiring change in
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader who grew up in a middle class family and was well educated. King was always against violence, even thru his entire ministry. He believed in an integrated society between blacks and whites in one American society based upon the promises of the founding fathers of American that all men were created equal and had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Even though, he was physically and verbally attacked he always stood his ground and never fought with violence. While in jail for 8 days Martin Luther King Jr. compose “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The letter was evidently a response to a letter that recently ran in the local newspapers by the Birmingham Clergy. Which had claimed that the protesters were “unwise and untimely”. However, Dr. King chose to express himself in writing instead of violence, by replying “Seldom, ...
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail gave the people an insight into the mind and his unwillingness to give up on his dream for better life and respect for ‘Negroes’. However, it was not just his mentality we have an insight on but also his philosophy, his mantra. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a devoted Christian and refused to use cruel, demeaning words and unnecessary violence to get his points across to the people. He fought against the injustices brought on upon the black people by the ‘white power’ in Birmingham. Letter from a Birmingham Jail also gave insight into his personality and character. Throughout the letter, he never used cruel words, he never used words that could be taken offensively by the people who he was protesting against, in some cases, what he says can be taken light-heartedly and jokingly, and he always talked with respect. He even apologized to the reader, the ‘white power’, and asked for forgiveness from his God. Dr. King’s philosophy, his commitment to the cause, and his unyielding determination for his dream for the future generations made him a hero among the masses, an unforgettable icon for the Civil Rights Movement. His message, no matter what it was or where, shook the very chains that ‘white power’ still had around the black people. His words added weight to the opposite side of the balance beam, giving strength and weight to the black people. His gospel of freedom through nonviolence was the pillar, the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement and the mantra for people struggling for justice throughout the South. Nevertheless, I ask you, in today’s society, is his message still significant? Is there a way to move people to fight with you without using force? The answer will ...
Throughout his education, Martin Luther King Jr. tried to find a way to demonstrate his belief of racial equality with the most effective means possible. He quickly realized that the best strategy to end segregation was to use nonviolent forms of protest. At Crozer, Morehouse and Boston University, he studied the teaching of Mohandas Gandhi, who used nonviolent methods to help India claim its independence from Britain. King read several books on the ideas of Gandhi, and eventually became convinced that his methods could be employed by African Americans to obtain equality in America. King knew that any violence on the part of African Americans would lead to violent responses from segregationists, which would lead to injury or maybe even death for his followers. He had to teach his followers not to respond violently to cruel attacks from segregationists. King decided to sponsor workshops to train African Americans in nonviolent beh...
Both Dr. Martin Luther King and President John F. Kennedy were the change they wished to see. They didn’t worry about the consequences or the repercussions. They were tired and fed up, but most of all they did not want their children to grow up in such a hard and harsh generation. Unlike some civil rights leaders, Dr. King was adamantly against violence. I can truly appreciate and am envious of how King kept such dignity and composure throughout the entire civil rights movement. He believed in forgiveness and sought out his commitment to non-violence while trying to educate as many Americans as he could. Reading about him being throw in jail time after time broke my heart, but nothing could hold him back from seeking out what he was so passionate about. I am forever grateful for Dr. Martin Luther King and his
Martin Luther King Jr is one of the wisest and bravest black man the world has ever seen. He has set the path way for the black community and other miniorities. In his Nobel Prize Speech the “Quest for Peace and Justice”, King had three major points that he addressed in the “Quest of Peace and Justice”. One of the points he made was about racial injustice and how we need to eliminate it. King stated that, “when civilization shifts its basic outlooks then we will have a freedom explosion”. Overtime things must change, nothing never stays the same. King’s way of making parallels with this is making the claim is saying, “Oppressed people can’t oppressed forever, and the yearning will eventually manifest itself”. He insisted that blacks have,