As we celebrate another Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s important to remember the road taken to achieve what many take for granted today, our civil rights.
Poll taxes, state laws designed to disenfranchise black people seeking to exercise their right to vote. State-sanctioned segregation in schools, lunch counters, on buses, in movie theaters, in restrooms and water fountains.
The African-American church became instrumental in the struggle for civil rights. People were taught how to conduct peaceful campaigns against injustice.
And, if you recall, there wasn’t seething anger coming from protesters, while they had every reason to be incensed at decades of degradation and state sanctioned terror. Protestors for the most part were well dressed polite and dignified. As evidenced recently on King Day, microwave protests staffed by angry people spitting verbal nails at the camera, at the end of the news clip all you remember is the anger and a crumpled up photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
These campaigns staged in church basements became sessions where the six principles of non-violence were taught and reinforced:
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people;
2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding;
3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people;
4. Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform;
5. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate; and
6. Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
Now that you have the principles of non-violence in place, how do you implement a nonviolent campaign? What’s next?
Six steps for nonviolent social change
1. Information gathering – get factual information on the topic that’s being challenged, learn about your opponent. Learn and be well versed on both sides of the argument.
2. Education – Educate people about your position including your opposition. This minimizes misunderstanding and gains public support.
3. Personal commitment – Check and affirm your faith, eliminate any hidden motives. (It’s not about you).
4. Negotiations – Develop a plan and confront your opponent with a list of issues and possible solutions. The civil rights movement never sought to humiliate the opponent but called forth the good will in the opponent.
5. Direct action – There are hundreds of possible actions that can be taken by people to effect change. These actions are taken to morally force the opponent to work with you. Direct action imposes a “creative tension” into the conflict.
6.Reconciliation – Nonviolence seeks friendship and understanding with the opponent. Nonviolent action is taken against evil systems, unjust acts, and oppressive policies, not against persons.
People and organizations evoke King’s name as they throw together a protest with efforts usually reserved for a tossed salad. These initiatives are misguided, poorly planned, and have the efficiency of a scud missile.
When you view the aforementioned steps taken in preparation for protest, it’s no wonder most modern day mini-marches end in failure.
On this Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, remember why our nation honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
