Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts society because it falls under our right as Americans to free speech and it benefits our country in the future. Freedom of speech was one of the founding ideas of the United States government and for good reason. While being controlled by Britain, Americans didn't have freedom of speech or any control over their government, which is the reason why free speech was put into the Constitution. Free speech gives minorities the right to share their opinion without fearing that the government will intervene. As long as it's peaceful and no one is getting hurt in the resistance, resisting the laws can be an amazing opportunity for our country to become better than it already is. Not only is it a right …show more content…
Rosa Parks put her own freedom at risk in order to achieve equality for her race. Our government during this time viewed African Americans as lesser than whites and didn't grant them the rights that whites had: a major flaw which resulted in extreme consequences. Rosa Parks began a movement that would result in the abolishment of these unfair laws, which bettered America as a country because as a whole, we learned to become more accepting to races and cultures other than our own. Like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. peacefully resisted the laws that were in place, protecting and speaking out for African Americans. In his letter addressed to his clergymen that he wrote in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified the fact that he was standing up for a minority group when he said "if I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day." This quote is important not only because it shows that Martin Luther King Jr. was standing up and speaking out for a minority, but also because Martin Luther King Jr. was viewed as ridiculous by other people in his time for wanting …show more content…
Martin Luther King Jr. was another civil rights activist ho stood up against what he thought was wrong and he fought to make things right. Later in his letter, he wrote, " I am in Birmingham because injustice is here." Martin Luther King Jr. fought for justice for all people, something some parts of the United States still neglect to respect. Martin Luther King Jr. saw one of the flaws in the laws made by our government like Rosa Parks recognized and he too had the courage to stand up against it. He fought for justice and he said "injuistice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The laws he were trying to change were implemented nationwide and a huge task to take oon, yet he still did. Martin Luther King Jr. like me, believed that peacefully resisting our country's laws positively impacts our society. Not only does peacefully resisting America's laws give Americans the chance to exhibit free speech, but it also gives the American government a chance to make up for their mistakes in the laws that get
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, ...
Martin Luther King believed that the whites and Blacks should be able to live with each other in the same company comfortably and without any stereotypical views hindering people's lives. He felt that blacks had waited 'more than three hundred and forty years for our constitutional and God-given rights'. Martin Luther King protested peacefully for the rights he felt like blacks deserved. He believed that if he organised non-violent protests th... ... middle of paper ... ...
Henry David Thoreau’s work on civil disobedience in 1849 paved way for Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. His work stated that if you don’t like what is being done then don’t just say you want change be the change you want to see. In the case of Rosa Parks she didn’t find it right she had to sit in the back of the bus so she didn’t sit in the back. Then she was put into jail. After people heard about Rosa Parks they stood up and started protecting.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist who was constantly engaging in peaceful protests to eliminate segregation. He was a minister who believed that there was four basic steps to a nonviolent campaign which are: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action,” (King). Therefore, he constantly used these steps to perform sit-ins and marches in order to face the unjust racism he and other black people in America were facing at the time. Similarly, he had to use these tactics because the whites in society refused to listen to King when he wanted to negotiate with them (King). Dr. King made many sacrifices throughout his
Martin Luther King has given America a plethora of great advice, speeches, letters, and memories. He has tried to make America a better place and has wanted the United States to live together in harmony with each other no matter our race, religion, or beliefs. Mr. King was a very peaceful man and believed in nonviolent protests, marches, boycotts, and sit-ins. He did not believe in social injustices though and would go to stand up for what he believed in. In his letter from the Birmingham jail Mr. King is quoted saying, "I am in Birmingham because injustice is here." Mr. King believed in facing social injustices wherever they were. He stated in the letters that "Injustice anywhere is a thre...
Martin Luther King was one of the front runners of one of the biggest movements in the history of America. He wanted America as a whole to change not just the whites but the blacks as well, so that we could learn to live together as one people. He wanted a place where people where not persecuted based on how they looked or what color they were. He wanted everyone judge only on how they acted and who they perceived themselves as. He and
Martin Luther King Jr. was a key figure in the fight for the equality of African Americans. King had a great impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and had a nonviolent method of achieving what he did. Dr. King is a well-known Civil Rights Activist who gave his life for his cause. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, he addresses his fellow clergyman on the topic of segregation and the protests against it. King is well known for his nonviolent protests, and even the participants of the event have to ask themselves during a period of self-purification, “‘Are you able to accept blows without retaliating? ', and ‘Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail? ' “(King). King believed that nonviolent protest were better to use because "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," (King). King believes that nonviolent tension is
Martin Luther King Jr. is considered the formative figure in the modern fight for the civil rights movement and fought for racial equality with something much stronger than tolerance. He fought for the equal rights for all people of every background. Being a leader of racial equality and spoke up for the wrong doing of society, but also the peoples' actions towards making America a better place and equal opportunity. The reason he is so unique is because he was non-violent in his goals. King had great moral and philosophical purposes by speaking out in the public of the conflicts that was going on during that time and finding ways to overcome those conflicts in a peaceful
Martin Luther King was one of the greatest civil right activists in American history. Martin Luther King impacted American society in many ways and one of the most important things he did for America was weakening racism in America. At the time when he was living, colored people living America were treated differently with white people. For example colored people needed a pass to go through certain places, they could not go to the same school as white people and it was much harder for colored people to get a job compare to white people. Martin Luther king thought these were wrong. He also thought these were against American dream. For him American dream meant every people having equal rights, opportunity and freedom. What was happening in America were completely against these. To fix this problem, Martin Luther King moved around the country and did nonviolent protest and organized a peaceful marching which attracted national attention showing brutality of police that were trying to stop the march. Martin Luther King also delivered a lot of speeches that inspired many people all over the world and one of his speeches include “I have a Dream.” One of the most famous speeches in America. In this speech he clearly explain his own opinion of how he think everyone should be treated
Peaceful resistance itself does not affect a free society. A people-group can protest any number of laws: voting rights, taxes, and the legality of murder. A majority of society must determine what is best for itself. If the principles of a resistance aligns with the ideals of the society, the pursuit of betterment positively impacts that
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for what he believed in. He symbolizes the struggle of blacks to gain civil rights. His methods of non-violent social change will continue to be used as long as problems exist in society. Millions of people can credit some of the basic rights in which they enjoy to the work of Dr. King. The work of Dr. King, goes further than establishing peaceful social change strategies, he shaped America into the beautiful country she is today.
The way he got his point across was not through violence, but through peaceful protest, just as Gandhi had done. Martin Luther organized sit-ins, marches and boycotts. This was otherwise known as civil disobedience. King believed that it was now time to end segregation and discrimination in the South and throughout the entire country (Civil Rights 84). King helped bring together many blacks that were looking for peaceful solutions to racial oppression in the United States.
Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to eliminating discrimination towards African Americans. He has risen to a national icon status in the history of civil rights due to his peaceful protests and his proven approach in achieving equality. Nevertheless, like most changes in American history, the battle for equality was not won without a cost. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for civil disobedience during his campaign to end segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. He and other civil rights activists were protesting the unfair treatment of blacks. During his time in jail he wrote his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to his fellow clergymen. His letter supports the nonviolent battle to end racism and argues that people have a right to fight against unjust laws, via civil disobedience. Although he sacrificed his freedom, his letter fights for a good life for everyone; and in the end brought equality to African Americans.
To begin with, Dr. Martin Luther King as well as many other African- Americans fought for equality, social justice, and a better life for African- American resulting in a great cost. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was ridiculed and was the target of many attacks simply for trying to exercise his freedom of speech and his right to protest. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested a total of 30 times during his lifetime. When he wrote his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Dr. King was placed in jail while peacefully protesting due to the officials in Birmingham claiming that he was “parading without a permit”. The fact that he was arrested 30 times, proves Dr. King was not afraid to risk his freedom during his fight for a better life. Not only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, but also his family’s life changed during his fight for social justice and the common good. His children never got the chance to live a normal childhood. His family served as an example for the black community and a target for racist people who were against his actions. His family traveled a lot as well. In the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Dr. King explains how he was called to Birmingham, Alabama from Atlanta, Georgia by affiliates to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to help...
What exactly is the perfect human being, and how do we define this when society and technology continues to revolutionize every aspect of what has traditionally been defining features of humanity? As humans continue to push the boundaries of science, biotechnology will give us the power to decide our biological future. The emerging biotechnology of genetic modification will pave the way to enhance human’s capability. Imagine a generation who will grow up not having to suffer the stigma and terror of AIDS, and who will not experience Tay-Sachs because a method to prevent these diseases have been manufactured. Until recently, all this would have been mere science fiction.