"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the most profound men in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream. Two significant aspects of his philosophies were nonviolence and racial equality in the twenty-first century. During the era of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King risked his life orchestrating sit-ins and marches in an effort to eradicate hatred between people of different races. His contempt for prejudice and blatant racism compelled him to concentrate his efforts on eradicating violence and racial inequality.

Because Dr. King believed that problems could be solved peacefully, without bloodshed, he attempted to assure the community that one day they shall be equal. He lost his life while fighting for the rights of minority communities. Due to the overwhelming amount of racial tension, the result of slurred statements such as, "They can't swim with us, they might contaminate the water," the minority community became enraged, and a war between the majority and minority was ignited.

As I reflect upon the life and work of Dr. King, I contemplate whether his fight for nonviolence has made a significant change in the world. Undoubtedly, it has changed the world as a whole, but unfortunately, it seems that his contributions to the betterment of society have been in vain. Shamefully, with the recent surge of hate crimes emerging around the country, it appears that much of his work has been taken for granted. It saddens me to know that people of different races still do not have the mutual respect that Dr. King so eloquently preached about. It is my dream that this nation will begin to appreciate and build upon his efforts, and that the people in communities around the country will gain work toward respect for each other.

I believe that it is the duty of my generation to revive the aims and ideals of Dr. King. Our world is rapidly changing, such that, with our aggregated effort, we may influence the moral conscience of society. For this reason, I am dedicated to fulfilling his mission to change the world peacefully and to ensure that, through true equality, no group of people is oppressed. To go a step further, I would like to see nation-wide tolerance for all people, independent of race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or any other differences manufactured by society. In this vein, I take an active role in my community to achieve Dr. King's goals, and thus, take my leadership positions in the community very seriously. For instance, while participating in Girl Scouts of America I coordinated sessions to teach younger girls that fighting is not the way to solve problems, and may in fact, invite more violent, unforeseen situations. By doing so, I continue to keep Dr. King's dream and legacy alive. His belief in nonviolence has helped me to become a better leader and has fostered in me a better understanding of the necessity of peaceful problem solving.

Dr. King's belief that all people be judged by their character and not their color has certainly influenced the importance of racial equality to me. The boycotts, sit-ins, and marches that he organized have been and will continue to be beneficial to the minority community and serve as historical markers of the impact minority groups can have in their communities and in the world. As a result of Dr. King's work, I am allowed to walk into a restaurant and eat without being told to go to the back. I am not chastised for shopping at a store where I would have been forbidden to go in past years. I have the right to sit in the front, in the middle, or in the back of a bus as a result of the work of Dr. King and his contemporaries. Dr. King's philosophy and fight for equality has enabled me to attend schools with children of different races and cultures. This philosophy of racial equality and acceptance of all people is what I endeavor to pass along to others. His life has helped me to understand that in order to gain a true love and appreciation for mankind, I must only consider the inner being of people, and not make judgments based on skin color or cultural background. In essence, Dr. King's dream of a nonviolent world where racial equality prevails has become my dream. Because of his dreams and works, I am able to realize my own.

Bibliography

"Philosophy of Nonviolence." King Encyclopedia. Oct. 29, 2007.

Gates, Harry L., and Cornel West. The African American Century: How Black Americans Have Shaped Our Country. New York: Free P, 2000.

Dr. Martin Luther King Online: www.mlkonline.net/quotes.html

Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? (Boston: Beacon Press, 1967)



 

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