Passive Resistance and Non-Violence
UPDATED
During the Civil Rights Movement, Reverand Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated passive resistance. Non-violence. But he never advocated lack of action, or lack of discussion. King’s teachings and leadership are far more than a Black History Month poster story, or the reminder that Black protest should never hurt White people or their property. Everything else seems to be lost on most casual users of his name.
King protested not only for the Voting Rights Act and the dissolution of the official Jim Crow laws and practices especially in the South, but he also advocated protests against the Vietnam War and poverty. Before he was able to attend the assembly he orchestrated through his leadership and organized movement structure, the Poor People’s Campaign, he was murdered. Protesting and petitioning for action, discussions, marching, singing and being seen and heard, King was able to guide anger and angst into positive action. It is his TEACHINGS that still inspire, when they are understood.
One of the reasons of his success, beyond the value of the changes he was working to make, was the methods of passive resistance and non-violence. This was true of not only face to face actions, but also in the words we used when confronting obstacles and even aggression. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and regardless of the understanding of those who observe us, we will stand our ground. Getting hit with a brick is a distraction from the goal, and we will not bow down to an attempt to derail our progress. We will continue on with the strength of our convictions and the belief that America provides We the People Politics for a reason…
What reason more would parents have to come together than the well-being and very lives of our children? How many dead kids are enough to become an “appropriate conversation?” How many times will “race-baiting,” and accusations of hate turn us from our goal? The answer is NONE!
We gather in this discussion, those of us who grieve, because we believe that we can have a more perfect union, and it starts with our children. Trayvon Martin was not the only unarmed youth shot by adults in authority. We believe Americans can do better than that. We believe America must do better than that. Long after Zimmerman’s name has grown moldy and forgotten, Trayvon Martin will still be dead, and we will still remember.
For those of you who ARE interested in learning more about the methods of peaceful protest, including civil and organized discussions, we can continue talk, but share ideas about how to enhance not only skills and understandings, but also a sense of good will among those who care. Peaceful protest by not becoming engaged in conversations with those who throw verbal stones for the sake of disrupting our progress.
We should not have to worry about assembling to discuss our concerns about our nation. I have witnessed several strands of ugliness intruding upon the rest of our good intentions and I will give little heed to that tiny, distracted part of this discussion. The worth of this discussion is now established. Let the conversation with SUBSTANCE ensue. Change lay in the hands of America.
Let’s Get Started:
Keep the goals in mind. Our kids matter.
Keep the goals in mind. We do not accept lies about ourselves to carry weight in our beliefs.
Keep the goals in mind. We will not let racial disagreement derail forward progress.
Keep the goals in mind. The children must live.
Keep the goals in mind. The children must be safe.
Keep the goals in mind. Illegal murder and legal murder is not the same.
Keep the goals in mind. Don’t debate that which doesn’t matter (such as derogatory opinion)
Keep the goals in mind. Remember to value YOUR life and let love and family help you to remember why we do what we do is coming directly from Our Higher Angels.
Keep the goals in mind. Our combined voices are our strength.
Here is a cartoon that we shared during my upbringing in Detroit, to teach us why social activism is important to a community and to a nation. Nothing has changed to make this obsolete.
To leave here with good vibes, as we used to say, chill with some good music. Music was not invented by accident.
Pluralistically Yours,
Nancy Bell
Civil Rights Movement is NOT Dead
We just entered a new chapter
First Used in University of Phoenix LINKEDIN discussion.
About the Author: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-bell/30/231/855
First Used in University of Phoenix LINKEDIN discussion.
About the Author: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-bell/30/231/855
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