Peaceful And Nonviolent Resistance

Improved Essays
I believe that a Peaceful resistance will always act as a positive impact on a free society.I feel that a peaceful/nonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving goals such as social change through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, without using violence. “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” (Rosa Parks). In other words, you must not be afraid to defend your actions as long as your action are justifiable. Park's illustrated peaceful resistance on December 1, 1995, in Montgomery Alabama when she boarded a bus and decided to sit in the middle behind the whites-only section. Parker and three other African Americans were ordered by the driver to sacrifice their seats …show more content…
Both Parks and King illustrated nonviolent resistance through peaceful protest. Change only comes when those who are willing to bare the cross of oppression and injustice that our ancestors and loved ones have faced. Social change has caused alterations over time in culture and behavior. For example, King, stated “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Change doesn't happen because the oppressed said it should change only happens when the oppressed is willing to sacrifice their morals for the greater goods of others. A free society is only a theoretical ideology. Society today emphasize the Ideology of a free society due to the fact man himself believe in having the freedom to obtain the authority and means necessary to fulfill their own destiny. Peaceful resistance is only accompanied by restraint. Restraint is the act of self-control. Self-restraint is a key component when one is actively searching for a means of change at the hands of adversity. By the same token, Ralph D. Abernathy along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr founded the most notable successes of the civil rights organizations in the south. The organization was named the Southern Christian Leadership

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    The theoretical basis of nonviolent resistance is to have a movement that wouldn’t hurt or kill anyone, but still be able to make a change. Nonviolence isn’t the same as being passive because the members of a nonviolent resistance actually do something; like for example singing, talking, etc. The difference between nonviolence and passivity is that in a nonviolence resistance people are actually try to do something without having to resort to violence, while passivity is when you do nothing at…

    • 82 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Peaceful resistance, which is a way in an attempt to accomplish goals such as social change, through nonviolent protest. I personally believe that nonviolent resistance impacts our free society, in a positive way. I see it this way because in short, simple words, it is least likely to get someone killed and set a good example for the future generations. This sets a good example because it shows that problems can be solved without blood shed, but instead with words and actions.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Racial friction in the south during the 1950’s and 1960’s was becoming increasingly worse. On April 12, 1963 eight clergymen from Alabama wrote a statement that was published in a newspaper titled “A Call For Unity”. These clergymen criticized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., saying that his demonstrations were “unwise and untimely.” Urging their black citizens to withdraw their support from the demonstrations being led by Dr. King, an “outsider”, so they said. To solve the problems of racial injustice the clergymen said that the problems should be pursued in the courts with honest negotiation within their own community.…

    • 2021 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Furthermore, in order to balance out this contradictory system of morality, power needs to be placed in the hands of people with outcome-based thinking. People in high positions of power do not enact change that is necessary for a growing society. They defend the status quo and tend to focus on the principles that support the current system in operation. The low-power, outcome-based thinkers recognize negative attributes and have a desire to change them (Lammers 280). King exhibits outcome-based thinking when he discusses the process of nonviolent direct action and how the results of each situation is greatly analyzed before making any strides (1-2).…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In his book "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story", Martin Luther King Jr. states it best: "Nonviolent resistance was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their quest for social justice.(1)" Time and time again, throughout history, this has been proven true; civil disobedience can positively alter our nation's policies and sociological behavior. Not only do nonviolent protesting acts change certain legislation, like when the Court ruled 2-1 that the city’s bus segregation laws were in violation of the Constitution due to copious seat-refusals that were taking place in Montgomery(2), they also open the public's eye on important social/economic issues. For example, in more recent events, there was a controversy…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Peaceful resistance does indeed impact the society in a positive way. Rosa park became a hero, activist and an inspiration to others, not only to those of colored but those who are white, red, yellow and black. Right along side her Martin Luther King Jr. who was an american Baptist activist during the Civil Rights Movement, he also was an inspiration to many, he help make this world a better place. All he wanted was ¨one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.¨ that is from Martin Luther King Jr.ś famous speech ¨I have a Dream.¨ King had enemies, enemies that he did not want, one that did not intend to have. As being loved and praised for his mindset of equality for all he was also hated.…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Peaceful resistance positively impact a free society. First of all, the point of a free society is that you have freedom and can speak your voice, as long as doing so peacefully. Without peaceful resistance, more people would not be educated about certain issues, such as, Pro-life vs Pro-choice or Republicans vs Democrats. Peaceful resistance is a good way to bring people in the nation together. Citizens will realize that they share a lot of same beliefs with other people in their nation, and begin to reach out to others.…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The intention of nonviolent resistance is to reconcile the truths of two opposites. This path is a combination of acquiescence and violence, while averting from the extremities and malfeasance of both. It is similar to acquiescence in the fact that neither attempt to be physically aggressive towards the opposition, while being similar to violence in that evil must be confronted. Practicing nonviolent resistance it takes hard work and dedication to gain progress, and ascend to a noble height to alter the corrupt system before him.…

    • 580 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Since before 1960 the United States was fighting for economic rights of African Americans. Civil rights in the 1960's were a huge controversy within the U.S. Economics plays a big part in the role of civil rights for the blacks. In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. believed that blacks need jobs just like anybody else. The two articles, "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom" and "Evolution of a Revolutionary" oppose two different opinions for the economic views on the rights of blacks to be able to have a job. Martin Luther King Jr wrote an article called, "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom" the article talks about the economic rights of blacks and the complications it has caused.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts our society and reinforces the democratic convictions that America was built on. Although citizens throughout this great nation turn their noses against crowds in the streets, people fight for what they believe in, passive protesting is one of the only endeavors that Americans can embark upon to share their opinions on a national platform. The injustices that people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women have faced throughout the years certainly warrants a response, and often times, actions speak louder than words. One of the most famous examples of peaceful resistance in American history was the series of protests against segregation lead by Martin Luther King Jr. King wholeheartedly thought that all people, regardless of color and creed, would eventually rejoice in racial acceptance and equality.…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    You can imagine the the happiness we felt and the sense of progress being made. As we are making progress towards the equality between whites and black, African-American civil rights leaders recognized the need for a national organization to help coordinate their efforts. In January 1957, Ralph Abernathy, myself and sixty ministers and civil rights activists founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches. They would help conduct non-violent protests to promote civil rights reform. The organization felt the best place to start to give African Americans a voice was to enfranchise them in the voting process.…

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Does peaceful resistance to laws positively or negatively impact a free society? The answer is yes peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society and not only that but it galvanizes others to do the same. Just look at history Gandhi, along with his actions inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. King’s actions inspired Cesar Chavez, all three of these men followed the undeniable kavorka known as civil disobedience. Civil disobedience towards laws impacts a free society so obliging that it helps gain independence and admiration in a society. Look at Britain’s Salt Acts in India they prohibited citizens from collecting or selling salt, and forced to buy the mineral so vital to the Indian diet from the British with heavy tax.…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In your opinion, identify the best example of "effective activism" that took place during the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century? When trying to identify the best form of activism, I feel urged to choose one of a nonviolent nature. Although I will contradict myself and say violence can play a powerful role in the overall effectiveness of a party’s activism. For me, I particularly like the activism shown by Rosa Parks on an Alabama public transit bus in 1955.…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Does peaceful resistance to laws positively or negatively impact a free society? Will to me peaceful resistance impact positively the society. I said peaceful because Civil resistance is a way for ordinary people to fight for their rights, freedom and justice without using violence. People engaged in civil resistance use diverse nonviolent tactics—such as strikes, boycotts, mass demonstrations and other actions—to create social, political and economic change. Civil resistance movements are powerful because they shift people’s loyalties and behavior patterns.…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Nonviolent Resistance

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Many individuals think that the most successful way to resist opposition is through violence. In Maria Stephan and Erica Chenoweth’s article, Why Civil Resistance Works, they challenge the view of violence being the most effective form of opposition. Their main argument is that nonviolent resistances’ are more successful. They state, “…nonviolent resistance is a forceful alternative to political violence that can pose effective challenges to democratic and non-democratic opponents and at times can do so more effectively than violent resistance” (Stephan and Chenoweth, 9). Nonviolence resistances are civilian based methods to wage conflict through nonviolent means.…

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays