...Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience is “The refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest” {google dictionary, “Civil Disobedience”}. Selma, a motion picture on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is a perfect example of civil disobedience. Though, history hasn’t changed much since then. In Selma, Martin Luther King Jr. stood as an advocate for the rights of the people. He used nonviolent protests to stand up for what he believed was right. King and the people, not just of salem, but those who wanted equality for those of all races, marched on the grounds of Montgomery Alabama against Governor George Wallace and President Lyndon B. Johnson for the right to vote, not only for African-Americans,...
Words: 393 - Pages: 2
...Martin Luther King, Jr said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Civil disobedience is part of our culture. People stand up for themselves when laws, rules, or just when things are unfair and unjust. Martin Luther King, Jr is a prime example of civil disobedience. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” he describes his own thoughts on civil disobedience through real life experiences. David Thoreau is also a main figure in civil disobedience from his letter, “Civil Disobedience.” He talks about what he did to stand up for what he felt was right. There is a couple of reasons to believe in civil disobedience , one it can bring attention to main topics and also create real change in society. Civil disobedience is only...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
...Civil disobedience is the act of refusal against laws, taxes, or demands by a government usually staying peaceful in nature. Martin Luther King Jr. and Antigone implement civil disobedience to defy unjust law; however, both approaches used to go against the wrong laws are different. Martin Luther King Jr. became the leader for the civil rights movement to put an end to segregation through civil disobedience by stressing the importance of peacefully protesting; while Antigone purposely went against the law, knowing the consequences, to follow God’s law instead of man-made law in a holy effort to bury her late brother Polyneices. Martin Luther King Jr. goes against unjust laws through civil disobedience by initiating peaceful protests. He believed that using nonviolent tactics are better at showing the immorality the unjust laws’ and calls for black people to fight the long battle against segregation. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, he reveals the unjust treatment going on in Birmingham and why it is important for him to be there helping, “Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already...
Words: 1102 - Pages: 5
...What does civil disobedience mean exactly? Civil disobedience is the refusal to comply with certain, as a peaceful form of political protest. Civil disobedience is good because it makes changes with to violent moves. The passages that will be talked about as good examples of civil disobedience are “On Nonviolent Resistance,”, Mohandas K. Gandhi. The next passage is called “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by the one and only, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For the third and last passage, it is called “Civil Disobedience,” by Henry David Thoreau. These passages will make you think differently about what people are capable of. In “On Nonviolent Resistance,” Mohandas K. Gandhi writes about how violence isn’t always key to making changes. It can only...
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...figure when it comes to the issue of the non – violent persistence or civil disobedience. He was born in Porbander in Western India. Ghandi made a huge change to the India and their society during his life; his actions and famous method of nonviolent approach against the British instead of violent one. He believed that method would bring and provoke less negative reaction in the British at that time. Like Mohatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. was also an advocate and supporter of the same method of passive resistance, which he believed, was the better method at the time and situation. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in January 15, 1929 in Atlanta. He died due to assassination on a hotel balcony on April 4, 1968. Later on in his life, he became the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which had a purpose to provide a new leadership to the movement of Civil Rights which ideology was based on Christianity, whereas the actions and procedures more based on Gandhi; Martin Luther King Jr. practiced Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence. Both Mahatma Gandhi’s and Martin Luther King Jr.’s core belief and the way to attain their goals were pretty similar in a way. Mahatma Gandhi believed that with nonviolent method of fighting with the political or social issues in his times was the best way. He did it through protests for example like the March that inaugurated the Civil Disobedience which he led to the sea in order to gather salt with his followers but...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist from the 1950 to 1968 with a strong religious background. A strong advocator for all minorities, King did all in his power to end barriers of community, poverty, racism and militarism. The principle he focused more on, however, was racism. King defined racism as prejudice, apartheid, ethnic conflict, anti-Semitism, sexism, colonialism, homophobia, ageism, or discrimination against disabled groups and stereotypes (Haskins). Later turning his efforts to poverty, King believed that the United States should have equal rights for all men, women and children. Martin Luther King Jr. had a strong philosophy of non-violent protests, called civil disobedience, to which he gained supporters, changing the jurisdictions of racism and poverty to create the American Dream for all. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, to Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Born as Michael King Jr., King lived in Atlanta, Georgia (How Did Martin). However, in honor of minister and civil-rights activist Martin Luther Baptist, his parents gave him the name Martin. In 1931, King’s father became the lead pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, a very successful minister as his father and grandfather had been. A very intelligent man, King skipped ninth and eleventh grades, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School at the age of fifteen. Dealing with segregation at a young age, King believed...
Words: 2264 - Pages: 10
...Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience was a common topic between Thoreau, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. Each of these historic figures had varying views on what should be accepted in the light of civil disobedience. Thoreau felt that there should be a more violent take on what you believed in, while Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. felt that the people should have a peaceful nonviolent protest. The views of these offers vary due to the time period but they are all based on the same idea, civil disobedience. Thoreau, Gandhi, and King Jr. all expressed their views of civil disobedience differently. In Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”, he expressed his own ideas of civil disobedience with his words and actions. He showed his disagreement with the government’s policies by refusing to pay his taxes, and not reacting to how he was treated when he was jailed for the night. He believed that “the government is best which governs least” (Thoreau 392). In saying this he means that he would like to see a government that does not control the people harshly and lets them express their thoughts freely. Hare and Madden believe that civil disobedience should be “directed specifically to exert pressure that is likely to change an unjust situation” (Parker 37). While Thoreau suggests a more forceful approach, Gandhi hopes for a passive approach, Gandhi suggests a more peaceful approach when dealing with civil disobedience. He believes that if the people use force to acquire what...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...the world. This paper will discuss one of our well known world leaders and a well-known American Leader and the significant impact these individuals had on society and political changes. b. Thesis statement: History shows how leaders impact the outcomes and development of cultures and society due to social and political changes and influences. c. Preview of Main Points: i. World leader Gandhi led to Satyagraha and the equal rights for all. ii. Martin Luther King Jr. contributed to the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. II. Gandhi’s contribution to social changes. a. One of the worlds most pronounced leaders of the twentieth century. b. Concept of Satyagraha, truth and firmness (Mohandas Gandhi). c. Indian Independence from Britain in 1947. III. Martin Luther King Jr.’s contribution to the social changes made in the United States. a. King traveled the Country and the world to lecture other leaders, activists, and protestors on the importance, how to, and benefits on non-violent protesting. b. Civil Rights Act prohibiting racial discrimination (History.com) c. Voting Rights Act guaranteeing the right to vote to all African Americans (History.com). IV. Conclusion a. Restatement of thesis: History shows how leaders impact the outcomes and development of cultures and society due to social and political changes and influences. b. Summary of main points: i. Gandhi led to the concept of Satyagraha and the equal rights for all due to his contribution...
Words: 1276 - Pages: 6
...30 April 2013 Civil Disobedience When should civil disobedience be justified? Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to obey government laws, in an effort to bring upon a change in governmental policy or legislation. Civil disobedience is not an effort to dissolve the American government, because without government our society would result in chaos. Sometimes, when there is an unjust law and the government won't take the initiative to fix it, the public must act as civil disobedient to bring awareness and fix the unjust law. There have been times when citizens have felt the need to revolt against the government because of an issue that is unjust. There were such cases during the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau made such actions to prove their point. Civil disobedience is justified when its goal is to obtain equal rights and service for everyone, without causing physical damage to people and their property, and without breaking the just laws that are already enforced. It should only be practiced when the government fails to uphold justice and fix laws that don't allow everyone the equal rights already given to some. In his essay, "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau wrote in 1849 after spending a night in the Walden town jail for refusing to pay a poll tax that supported the Mexican War. He recommended passive resistance as a form of tension that could lead to reform of unjust laws practiced by the government. He voiced civil disobedience as "An expression...
Words: 1384 - Pages: 6
...Civil disobedience allows one to convey their thoughts and ideas in a passive, nonviolent way. It can be used when one believes that they are morally correct and know that there are others that will agree with them. Antigone, from Sophocles Antigone, and Martin Luther King Jr. in his letter, Letter from Birmingham Jail, both chose to fight for justice rather than preserve their own safety. They both violated laws that they believed were unjust in order to help people and were willing to suffer the consequences that their actions brought upon them. In other words, they believed that there was a higher good that required them to disobey specific laws. However, even though they both had the same intentions, the methods that they used to achieve their goals differed...
Words: 1069 - Pages: 5
...“Civil Rights Movement” During the 1950’s and the 1960’s, African Americans were still experiencing unequal segregation. Laws such as the Jim Crow Laws banned them from sharing bathrooms, theaters, train cars, etc. with white people. In 1954 when the “separate but equal” doctrine was enforced, it triggered the frustration of many African Americans. Civil Rights Activists began using non-violent protests and disobedience of segregation laws to try and bring about a change. This period of time is known as the Civil Rights Movement and is one of the most successful and meaningful social movements in the world. Many African American’s are remembered today as leaders who risked their lives in hope for freedom and equality during the Civil Rights Movement such as, Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks and E.D Nixon. Martin Luther King Jr is known for leading many of the most significant civil rights protests. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and was the youngest to have even received that honor. He is also known for leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was generated after an altercation involving Rosa Parks. On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks boarded the bus after a long day at work, sitting in the first row of the colored section. As the white section of the bus filled up, the bus driver ordered the colored people in the first row to give up their seats, but Rosa Parks refused. Eventually, she was arrested for violating the Montgomery City Code. On the night of Rosa Park’s...
Words: 610 - Pages: 3
...Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., born January 15, 1929, was both an influential minister and a civil rights movement leader. During his time as an activist, King helped to organize nonviolent protests, such as the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his powerful and famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In addition to his “I Have a Dream” speech, King also gave many other speeches, which all spoke out against racial segregation and discrimination. On December 25, 1957, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a sermon titled “Loving Your Enemies” at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. In the speech “Loving Your Enemies” King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his sermon “Loving Your Enemies” while he was in prison for committing non-violent civil disobedience during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. King’s quote refers to Matthew 5:44, which says “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This section of the gospel of Matthew was a part Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which Jesus delivered on the Mount of Beatitudes. In Jesus’ sermon he addressed the main principles of Christian discipleship. Through his “Loving Your Enemies” sermon, Martin Luther...
Words: 463 - Pages: 2
...greatness during their lives. When they run across a problem that needs to be resolved, is the time they start coming up with their ideas. They may look at the same problem and have different ways to solve them from other people. In this paper Bertrand Russell who was born in 1872 and died in 1970 along with Martin Luther King Jr. who was born in 1929 and died in 1968 will be examined. They used their own creative process to motivate people into seeing different issues their way. Each of these men made contributions during difficult times. In this paper specific problems and ideas that these men sought to solve, and the plans they put into action to resolve these problems. Their ideas and solutions were met with opposition from people who did not like change. Some of their solutions were constantly improved upon. A part of these solutions were logical solutions, which allowed them to be accepted without much resistance. The way these two men thought had a huge impact on the way other people started to think, this helped to make the outcome of personal issues for the better. Russell dealt with analytical philosophy dealing with realism, and King was for fighting against inequality and the injustice of segregation. Being that they were two different men, they looked at things with different perspectives that others did not see. Both of them could produce ideas and solutions to various issues. Sometimes they had to have perseverance and patience to...
Words: 1265 - Pages: 6
...civil Rights movement by jessica dagosto In the 1900’s african americans were slaves. They were also treated with disrespect. but in the 50’s and 60’s they fought hard for their rights.this included many people including some presidents and people who were for it and against it. and without this the world today would be very different. In the 50’s and 60’s people like martin luther king jr, malcolm x, john f. kennedy, the kkk, and many more.when martin luther king protested he used nonviolence. martin luther king jr thought that without violence you could win because you would learn to love your opponent.malcolm x fought for the same things martin luther king did but malcolm x wanted to use violence.malcolm x believed that if you wanted freedom violence was the way to get it.“The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a white supremacist organization that was founded in 1866.” the kkk destroys black people's houses and maybe even kills them.the kkk was very against the civil rights movements. the kkk is still around but in complete secret and nobody even knows who or where they are.the group has also been called the White Brotherhood, Heroes of America ,and Invisible Empire....
Words: 497 - Pages: 2
...Versus Laws in The Eyes of King In the mid twentieth century, America was full of segregation and inequality between the blacks and whites. One man did everything in his power to get equal rights for the races until it eventually killed him, literally. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who dedicated his entire life striving towards African American equality. Without using violence, King fought hard and strong for what he believed in, and was passionate about, which was civil disobedience, that is defined as a peaceful form of protest. Practicing civil disobedience addressing his demands for racial equality landed Martin Luther King, Jr. a spot in Birmingham Jail. The incarceration resulted in a large amount of free time which he used to complete a lengthy letter addressing the clergymen who criticized his actions, calling them untimely and unwise. These criticisms did not sit well with King and therefore, he formulated “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” Although long winded, Martin Luther King, Jr. uses repetition, in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to his benefit, in addition with ethos and pathos to sway his audience and develop his reasons for his civil disobedience. Ending at an astounding eleven pages, Martin Luther King, Jr. covers a great amount of information throughout “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. The length of this letter most likely was due to the fact he was locked in a cell with nothing better to occupy himself with, King admitted himself, in the last...
Words: 1173 - Pages: 5
