Similarities Between Thoreau And Martin Luther King

Protesting for what is right

Today, there are many stories of protests all across the world. Although it is not thought about during the protest, they may be following Thoreau’s way of protest. Martin Luther King had a very similar situation to Thoreau. Likewise, Ghandi also went through some of the same experiences just in a little more violent way. Thoreau had many beliefs about Civil Disobedience and the way things in government and society should work. He had certain beliefs and ways about going about them. Thoreau thought that we the people needed a government that was better for us and would help. He believed that governments that were expedient were the best kinds of governments. Thoreau has been known to have many different parts of his protest, which still influence on many people today.

Furthermore, Thoreau wanted to protest the expansion of slavery, which would hopefully result in no more new slave states. Thoreau had a firm belief which is why he had some risks going through his protest. By the same token, Martin Luther King also wanted to protest against the idea of racism. King, growing up, being separated because the color of his skin, had an important reason that he should want to protest. King hoped that he would be a, “key figure of the civil rights movement- the struggle by african

Americans to gain full equality, justice, and economic opportunity.” Martin Luther King had a huge hope in solving the problem of racism. King was an important role in the steps to making racism not a problem. King also hoped that “dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear- drenched communities…” King and Thoreau both had very firm beliefs and had a strong purpose of why they wanted to protest. Together with King and Thoreau, John Carlos and Tommie Smith in the 1968 Olympics also had a strong purpose to the protest that they committed. These two men wanted, “to draw attention inequality in their country.”(Ben Crosgrove). Thoreau, King, Carlos, and Smith all had very similar ideas behind their protests.
As mentioned, Thoreau had a very good process set up to go about his protest. Thoreau refused to pay his poll tax since it would go to the government to indirectly support the Mexican/American War which would stop the expansion of expanding slavery. Although it may have not later worked out because he spent the night in jail, it helped others later to decide how they should go about their protest. Thoreau’s method was not at all violent. Likewise, King decided to go towards a non-violent method to his protest because he believed, “‘we will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.’” King did not want anyone to get hurt or cause any violence because of his method. King also mentioned in his writing that, “I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.” King believed that nonviolence would probably be the best method for his protest. Similarly, Carlos and Smith in the Olympics also had a method that was not at all violent. They did not follow any violent acts to protest, the only thing that they did held their black gloved fists in the air. They took a more symbolic protest than violence, which sometimes has a greater impact. In contrast, Ghandi’s way of protest was much, much harsher. He thought it would be okay to “smash the head of the man who perpetrates injustice…” Clearly this is a much harsher way of going about the protest than all of the other ways of protest.
As it comes with every protest, there are risks. Thoreau was arrested and put in jail until someone paid his poll tax; then he was released. King was aware of his risks because he had , “no fear about the outcome of our struggle in Birmingham, even if our motives are presently misunderstood.” In the same way,John Carlos and Tommie Smith had a huge risk when their protest could have affected their Olympic experiences. Again, Ghandi also had a similar view when he says, “Award us for it what punishment you like, we will put up with it.” All of these people were ready to put up with the risks of the protest, even if it meant something bad. The risks of the protest would be okay because they were fighting for what they believed in.
Thoreau brought attention to his case, but he did not have much of an impact.

However, the essay he wrote about his method inspired many other people and still inspires people today. Equally important, King’s essay wanted to help people “...find you strong in the faith,” King and Thoreau had somewhat similar outcomes, with their essays or speeches, but Martin Luther King ended up having a greater impact and eventually end segregation. Not only King, but Smith and Carlos made a stand a showed a point of what they believed in. All of the protesters mentioned ended up making an impact, which was the point of their

protest.