Violent Or Nonviolent Protest In The 1960's

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We live in a volatile time and still face many issues with civil rights. We have school shootings, police shootings, and even a church shooting earlier this year. As time goes by, and as civil rights seems to progress, we are still reminded that racism, hatred, and civil unrest are unfortunately still alive in our society. Looking back at the civil rights movements of the 1950’s and 1960’s, and even today, the question is often asked whether violent or non-violent protest are more effective. However, it may be argued that it is not which is most effective, but rather that it is the combination of both that has created the ultimate awareness and could be the recipe for success. For example, Martin Luther King was known for nonviolent protest, and Malcom X was known for violent protest, but much of the success of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s was based on the result of both types of protests as the media moved public opinion by reporting on the violent reactions to the protests. …show more content…

Those events helped shape the changes in civil rights such as voting, equality, and de-segregation. Many of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement chose non-violent methods of protest to change the awareness of inequality, discrimination, and ultimately. Martin Luther King was the most influential leader known for advocating nonviolent methods of protest, which made him one of the most productive and respective leaders of the movement. Martin Luther King’s nonviolent protest was a radically different view from other leaders during The civil rights movement in the late 50s early 60s such as Malcolm X, who believed that racial inequality and injustice must be overcome with equal violence and retaliation. The essence of King's beliefs can be summed up in the following excerpt from his now famous 1963 "I Have A Dream