ipl-logo

Martin Luther King Jr's Fight Against Civil Disobedience

719 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Martin luther king impact on social justice

Henry David Thoreau spoke out against the unjustness of war and slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal civil rights. Both were highly influential men who led the way in protest through civil disobedience. Through their words and actions, they left behind a legacy that would continue to inspire others for years to come. The driving force behind these words and actions was a strong moral code. Both men fought the fights they did due to a wholehearted belief that what they were doing was right, and important. This is especially apparent in Thoreau’s fight, as the institution he spoke out against didn’t even affect him. As a white man in America, slavery did him no harm, and there was no threat that it ever would. However, his moral compass led him to understand that all men were equal, regardless of their skin color, and that the enslavement of another human being was wrong. Martin Luther King Jr’s fight was different, in that it affected him on a personal level. As an African American, he was subjected to the same segregation and persecution that he spoke out against. Regardless, he never did what he did simply out of hopes of personal gain. He did what he did because he cared deeply not only for what was right, but also because he wanted to make sure others would not be put through the same trials and tribulations. …show more content…

Believing that to obey an unjust law was to condone unjust acts, and that right and wrong was more important than rules written by the government, both men chose to make their point through civil disobedience. By practicing civil disobedience they were able to take a stand, without carrying out violence, and, thus, causing more depravity. Truly, they believed, that reason was the only way to truly bring about good. Brute force only led to

Show More
Related
542 Words | 3 Pages

In 1849, Henry David Thoreau’s essay, Resistance to Civil Government was published. In this essay, Thoreau discussed the importance of using civil disobedience in hopes of creating a more civilized government. Around 100 years later, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to some clergymen about why blacks should have the same civil rights just like everyone else called, Letter from Birmingham Jail. King was greatly influenced by Thoreau and many of King’s ideas were acquired from principles used in Thoreau’s essay. Compare and contrast how these two men were similar and different when it came to their beliefs of civil disobedience.

Read More
89 Words | 1 Pages

During this day I believe that I would take up Martin Luther King's view on civil disobedience as my own because I see just how he said that not all laws that are legal are just. I believe that not all that is made law is just for all people but only make it just for the majority. King view on civil disobedience is more suitable for this day and age that why people would try to follow his example if they would have to take up civil disobedience.

Read More
268 Words | 2 Pages

In my opinion Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. have very similar purposes in their writings. Both author 's are writing to protest unfair laws. But they also have very different audiences. In Civil Disobediance, Thoreau writes how those who break unjust laws should suffer the consequences as a protest to the laws.

Read More
944 Words | 4 Pages

The members of the movement still remained subjects secondarily; they followed laws that they viewed as morally right, as proven by their use of nonviolence. Nonviolent protesting is all about refraining from fighting back and hurting attackers physically or verbally, damaging property, etc. " The hardest part to learn--to truly understand, deep in your heart--was how to find love for your attacker" (Lewis et al 1:82). Love was the focus of their movement, not violence. In other words, they did not kill, steal, assault, or anything else that is common sense for a man of

Read More
1845 Words | 8 Pages

Civil Disobedience Compare and Contrast Henry Thoreau and Martin Luther King both wrote persuasive discussions that oppose many ideals and make a justification of their cause, being both central to their argument. While the similarity is obvious, the two essays, Civil Disobedience by Thoreau and Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. do have some similarities. King tries persuading white, southern clergymen that segregation is an evil, unfair law that ought to defeat by use of agitation of direct protesting. Thoreau, on the other hand, writes to a broader, non-addressed audience, and focuses more on the state itself. He further accepts it at its current state, in regard to the battle with Mexico and the institution of slavery.

Read More
895 Words | 4 Pages

In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s essay, “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” and Henry David Thoreau essay “Civil Disobedience,” both share their opinions on social injustice and civil disobedience. They both believe that people can protest unfair and unjust laws imposed on them in a civil way. In addition, King and Thoreau are challenging the government with their essays, which they wrote after they got sent to jail. For protesting the treatment of blacks in Birmingham, Alabama, King spent eleven days in jail; Thoreau spent a night in jail for refusing to pay his poll tax. Both King and Thoreau’s essays present similar plans for a resolution.

Read More
535 Words | 3 Pages

Both Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King had experience with civil disobedience. They were both arrested for peacefully protesting laws they found unfair. Thoreau was put in prison for refusing to pay a poll tax, and was ultimately protesting slavery. King, on the other hand, was put in jail for protesting the unjust treatment of blacks and other colored people across America. Though the circumstances were slightly different, King and Thoreau use many of the same techniques to appeal to their audiences.

Read More
999 Words | 4 Pages

During the late 1950’s and through the early 1970’s the Civil Rights Movement was coming into effect. There were many controversial events going on during this time period. Martin Luther King Jr had a great perspective on civil rights, while Malcolm X did also. These two men are known as some of the greatest men in history known for their speeches and what they took part in during the Civil Rights Movement.

Read More
515 Words | 3 Pages

Gandhi and Thoreau had many similarities and differences about civil disobedience. Gandhi and Thoreau had many similarities about disobedience which meant they didn’t have completely different ideas. Both men believed that one should stand for what they believed in no matter the circumstances. As seen on page 396 in lines from 159-166 which explains how going to jail did not affect Thoreau because he

Read More
1111 Words | 5 Pages

In the Crito by Plato, Socrates argues against civil disobedience, seeing it as an unjust act. Contrasting this view, Martin Luther King argues for civil disobedience against unjust laws, and seeing it as a responsibility of citizens. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain law, commands or requests of the government. I will argue that the view of Socrates is superior to the view of Martin Luther King on the justness of civil disobedience. Using the argument against harm, I will show that even if a law is viewed as unjust, you must not repay an evil with another evil, as evident in the Crito while contrary to ideas presented by MLK.

Read More
179 Words | 1 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. fought for millions of colored peoples lives never did he quit on any of them he fought until he got what he wanted, freedom. In my opinion, he was a brave man. Not only did he fight for his peoples freedom but for his own. Also for having so many

Read More
422 Words | 2 Pages

According to some investigation I made it indicated that Thoreau-inspired leaders for generations. They all believed in civil disobedience; not a form of passive protest. However, I found some information that said that he was against slavery and that he participated in the Transcontinental Railroad. Thoreau lived for a time at Walden Pond where he wanted to have a simpler type of life

Read More
274 Words | 2 Pages

About two centuries ago, an American polymath Henry Thoreau protested the Mexican-American War by refusing to pay government taxes and with his innovative essay,'Civil Disobedience'. Years later, Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King both followed his lead in employing nonviolence as a way to protest the injustices of their time. Because of their recognition as great men and outcome of these great men efforts, I believe that nonviolent protest is the only way we can achieve reform concerning today's issues. For many years, Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King as well as Henry Thoreau have been revered by many. King won a Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful imperviousness to the racial partiality in America.

Read More
751 Words | 4 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. helped us realize that segregation and poverty are wrong. He also helped us realize that we should treat people the same. No matter race, color, or gender. He has impacted our everyday lives with the Civil Rights Act and his “I Have a Dream…” speech. He is an important man with an important history.

Read More
182 Words | 1 Pages

Martin Luther claims that segregation is a horrible thing for African Americans and how him fighting for equality is hard but can be done peacefully and legally. He gives many examples to these claims. Martin Luther starts off his letter by talking about all the criticism he receives as a civil rights activist. He says that his secretaries would have little time to focus on other things because of all the criticism letters he gets. Then he talks about some of the associations he is affiliated with and addresses the plans to peacefully protest segregation.

Read More

More about Martin Luther King Jr's Fight Against Civil Disobedience

Related Topics

Open Document