In this blog, I will be discussing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s major concepts on nonviolent practice and just how he became such an essential historical figure as taking part in Civil Disobedience from doing so. King was legendary for his speeches and sermons during the time of injustice and inequality towards people of color. He understood the struggles people worldwide were facing and became conscious that the system played a part in how misfortune came to be. People listened to what King had to say because of the power and assurance he had in his voice. King was so sure to strategize what was going to happen during his campaigns in fighting for human needs such as the right to vote, cease racial discrimination, and to have jobs so people can sustain the ability to have food and basic needs. King understood that it was a process where he had to be patient even in troubled times.
King digs so deep into how the universe must be and goes into detail what should be done to create the peaceful world. Through King’s eyes, he’s seen the struggles that surrounded him and was so brave to take it to a higher level. King sincerely believed and used the element of “satyagraha” which was more often equated to God, which then meant speaking the highest truth through love. King believed in nonviolence because he has such love. King used “agape”, a love of God, a love for humanity, a love for the enemy, where the end result is to win understanding. Satyagraha and agape are closely related because God is often equated with love and the truth.
King’s idea on “maladjustment” and “negative peace” was so fundamental in moving forward because that was the truth of what he observed and to realize those elements existed, meant some serious change was bound to happen. When one is maladjusted, it means they have adjusted to corrupt adversity. Maladjustment and negative peace actually coexist because the oppressed individuals carried on with their daily lives in stress and left it at that. They were convinced that their role in life was to be at someone else’s service while neglecting the very care of their minds and body. After the emancipation of slavery, the idea of “slave mentality” remained until the African American examined his true purpose. The mind of the oppressed took a toll until someone named Martin Luther King came along and transformed the way one saw themself. The Negro discovered that he was certainly worthy of human personality.
King was so brilliant bringing completely different people together to fight for our God given rights. King used the power of simply being a human to be so responsive to the unjust laws which have been existing for decades. From Linguistics, I have learned the meaning for one to use their voice to take a stand. It’s often something most of us take for granted without even realizing the lasting effects it can have on society. In being voiceless and powerless means that a person is not using their full potential of virtually being human. The thing that matters is when people are struggling to survive; they use what they can find and what they have to make change. From Law and Human Rights, I have learned the importance that human development was a basic need to live a fulfilling life. Human development can simply be interaction, education, food and shelter, and most importantly, doing things that makes a person feel good. A person should be free in making their own decisions and have a say about what they feel is good for them. A person shouldn’t feel obligated to do things. A person should have choices. King’s ideas show that he is completely aware of deprived individuals and takes on acts where his life becomes in danger. The power of King’s influence on people made them feel like they have never felt before. King made them feel worthy of being alive and they all had to act immediately as a team to save their current generation as well as the next.
The journey has been extremely tedious for African Americans, people excluded from decision-making actions and especially for mindful Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King radiated positive psychological change and continuously saw the light in a dark situation. A vital element was that King accepted all suffering because he knew justice was on his side. The way King’s mind operated was the gift of being human. He approached his methods in a peaceful and timely fashion and used what he was born with to achieve justice. The struggle for human rights was overcome through linguistic and symbolic acts of nonviolent protest.
