Examples Of Nonviolence In African American Culture

Vincent 1

Amy Vincent
Professor Sartin
AFRS 100 Sec 02 5511 Composition II
December 15, 2014
Nonviolence in African American Culture
Is violence actually a strategic method of obtaining equality? Throughout the years,
African Americans have struggled to find the answer to this question. Quite often, violence rather than verbal or written communication has been used throughout history as a means of th subduing people of color. For example, in the last half of the 19 century, blacks were terrorized

by many discriminatory groups, the Ku Klux Klan perhaps being the most famous. Due to the centuries of racism against African Americans, they have struggled to find a solution to this dilemma. There has been much debate as to which path is more effective, violence or
nonviolence. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other influential historical figures have debated on the matter and the majority has come to a strong conclusion. When it comes to methods of eliminating racism, violence incites more violence and causes catastrophic damage, whereas nonviolence promotes peace and understanding from each of the opposing sides and is far more effective. Violence is a never ceasing strategy of eradicating racism against African Americans.
For
instance, in the early 1800’s African American slaves were forced via several methods, primarily violence, to work for Caucasians. As a result, the slaves revolted. Time and time again, they

Vincent 2

retaliated. Several of these retaliations were well thought through and planned. Several men directed revolts, Gabriel Prosser led one in 1800, Denmark Vesey in 1822, and perhaps the most successful and famous, Nat Turner in 1831 (Americans of African Ancestry). Though these attacks were without much success, they did inflict a fair amount of damage and struck fear in the heart of white slave owners.
Most often, situations involving violence will be revisited rather than abandoned. While there might be a short period of peace, the issue still lurks in the background unsolved, and in time the issue will be raised again and fought over. After each bout, v iolence leaves the losing side feeling not only defeated but resentful. It is only a matter of time before the resentment of being discriminated against builds and enough of a force is mustered to retaliate. The aforementioned skirmishes, however brief, caused many deaths and failed to bring about the end of racial discrimination.
Throughout history, violence has been the cause of ruinous damage and deaths. The result of this violence has affected African Americans heavily. In his article “Nonviolence: the
Only Road to Freedom,” Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, “In violent warfare, one must be prepared to face ruthlessly the fact that there will be causalities by the thousands” (579). Also in this text, King writes that 200,000 men were slaughtered in Vietnam due to violent warfare
(579). The Civil War, though it ended with freedom for all enslaved blacks, came with a heavy toll. Over 650,000 lives were lost due to the years of violence (McPherson). Due to racism, misconceptions were spread stating that it was the African Americans who were causing damage in riots. Charles Whitman, a 25 year old Caucasian murdered 16 people and injured thirteen more. Not one person was killed or even injured at the hand of a person of color in these riots.
King points out the fact that “one young man killed more people in one day than all the Negroes

Vincent 3

have killed in all the riots in the cities since the Harlem riots of 1964” (578). King does acknowledge the fact that people of color were not completely nonviolent; indeed they were guilty of brutal fighting amongst each other. However the damage was kept between themselves and did not affect any whites. King concludes that nonviolence would reach a far more peaceful conclusion and that the prejudice against blacks in this instance was unjust.
In context to racism, nonviolence seeks to make all parties involved at peace with one another with as little damage done as possible.
Nonviolence, i.e. discussing the issue at hand, one of the opposing sides submitting peacefully, or nonviolent protesting, is the path to the least destruction because it looks to produce a compromise in which no one is left for the worse, and each of the opposing forces are at least mildly content. As a result of said compromise, there are far fewer fatalities, if any at all. If each of the opposing sides agrees on the terms, peace will rule far longer. [Source? evidence] However in order for the peace to remain, each of the opposing forces must strive to reach a peaceful conclusion. It is essential to make their opponent feel heard. In an ideal situation, after one force states their points, they will return the favor and listen to the view of the other force. And it is not merely enough to hear each other’s view, each force must truly consider the view and strive to come up with a compromise in which both forces feel comfortable with. Though it may take many debates, eventually there will be a compromise.
[evidence? beforehand] This leaves each side with minimal resentment, as they understand that the best solution has been reached. With each side feeling that they have reached a proper conclusion, peace will essentially remain far longer than if violence were used. In his article
“
Martin Luther King and Non­Violent Resistance,”
Adam Roberts says “Non­violent action, far from being extra constituational or even illegal, served as a powerful means of pressure for

Vincent 4

ensuring that legal decisions were first reached and then implemented” (230).
Choosing peace over strife helps opposing forces to come to a decent conclusion. In the event that the agreed terms aren’t met, nonviolence gently reminds rather than forces the adversary of the terms. In addition, throughout the debates, it may also have helped whites to treat blacks more humanely if they saw that indeed, blacks were people that could be honorable, reasonable, and respectable.
Nonviolence has proven to be a more effective method of obtaining one’s goals when it comes to eradicating racism. This is largely due to four reasons: it is far more orderly, it resolves the issues entirely, it increases participation rates, and it strengthens unity among blacks and weakens unity among whites. Mahatma
Gandhi believed that nonviolence would lead to a much more disciplined and orderly nation than violence could ever lead to. Violence creates chaos and ruin whereas nonviolence promotes order and peace. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Violence solves no social problems; it merely creates new and more complicated ones” (
Nonviolence and
Racial Justice
). The loss of lives and damage of possessions due to violence creates
resentment and tension, which in return leads to hostility. This aggression and anger often leads to more violence against the instigator. This continues in a never ending circle of enmity and bitter wars.
Violence does not solve the issue of racial discrimination. It merely releases some of the tension between the people of different cultures. In doing so, it creates destruction and causes more tension in the long run.

Vincent 5

According to
The Glossary of Nonviolence written by The King Center, an organization based off the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., reconciliation is the end goal of nonviolence
(thekingcenter.org). Nonviolence is the more effective method because it seeks to resolve the issues rather than use brute force to achieve racial tolerance. According to the
Glossary of
Nonviolence
, nonviolence also attempts to bring the opposing forces together with a ‘spirit of community’ after the conflict is concluded. As a result, nonviolence leaves far less scars in its wake. In general, violence is a faster method of attaining a specific desired result, but the result is usually only temporary. In his text titled “On Segregation” W.E.B. Du Bois wrote “the objection is not against the color of the pupils’ or teachers’ skins but against the discrimination”
(400).While nonviolence may be slower to come to a conclusion, it seeks to cut to the heart of the issue. It delves into what the true problems are and searches for the best path that pleases everyone with the least damage done possible. For example, peaceful segregation may have been a reasonable compromise as opposed to violent discrimination. Du Bois realized that it would be many years, if ever, before whites began treating blacks as equal. Here, he basically makes a plea for a compromise in which blacks would be treated more humanely even if they were still segregated. Vincent 6

Participation rates for nonviolent campaigns are much higher than that of violent campaigns. In fact, in their book “Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of
Nonviolent Conflict,” scientists Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan claim that people are four times more likely to participate in a nonviolent rebellion than one that uses force [page number]. There are several reasons for this. First off, nonviolent campaigns cost little or no money. Generally, the only money spent would be on signs or posters. This is as opposed to violent campaigns that have several factors that could cost money, such as weapons, damage done to material possessions, and injuries sustained by people. In addition, during riots, there are always the risk of being penalized for disturbance of peace or the damage to either people or possessions. While nonviolent riots hold some risk of penalty, the sentence if actually penalized is far less than that of violent riots. In peaceful protests against intolerance, there is little or no risk of bodily damage.

Vincent 7

Finally, unity plays a major part in nonviolence being effective. There are two reasons for this. First off, nonviolent campaigns tend to strengthen the unity of its participants. Each person attending nonviolent riots against racism is there for the same purpose. This is not so in violent riots. In addition to those whose sole purpose is to exterminate racism, violent riots bring out the many people who are merely looking for a chance to reap destruction with a legitimate excuse as backup if questioned.
Du Bois wrote in his text “On Segregation” that “It is the race­conscious black man cooperating together in his own institutions and movements who will eventually emancipate the colored race” (400). The participants of the nonviolent riots know that they have a bond in common. They are, in essence, united in their cause. Secondly, nonviolent protesting weakens the unity among whites, whereas violence actually increases the determination and unity between them. As Roberts said, “Non­violent action has a serious chance of undermining white unity” (231). Nonviolent riots against racism have in the past invoked sympathy from many white people, which creates a divide in their unity. This sympathy can be seen in the following examples: in 1961 many whites joined black students in their nonviolent sit­ins, in the
Nashville Student Movement hundreds of whites joined a silent march through Nashville, and even as recently as earlier this year when over a hundred whites, including a few white police officers, joined a nonviolent protest against the ruling of State of Missouri vs. Darren Wilson.
Unity is essential in the fight against racism.
Despite the aforementioned claims, in some situations, violence is a superior
method.
This is not violence in the sense of inflicting damage for sport, but violence in the sense of armed self­defense. Malcolm X is known for being a major advocate of violence when it comes to racism and self defense. He believed that blacks should fight for their rights using any means

Vincent 8

necessary and he didn’t believe that “the passive approach can work here” (
A Choice of Two
Roads,
565
)
. In his “Message to the Grassroots” ­ seemingly as an indirect comment to Martin
Luther King, Jr. ­ X questioned “
How can you justify being nonviolent in Mississippi and
Alabama, when your churches are being bombed and your little girls are being murdered”
(569­570)? Here, X is inquiring why black men seem to have fought willingly for white men in
Korea, Germany, Japan, and other countries, but for themselves and their children, they stand by passively claiming that nonviolence is the better path. He also wrote that “if it is right for
America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her then it is right of you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people” (570). Rather than the cowardice that
X is suggesting, in truth, these blacks fought in the military in the hope of showing the whites that they could be compliant, but any respect gained for fighting in the military would be lost if they retaliated to prejudice. In his debate “A Choice of Two Roads” with Bayard Rustin,
Malcolm X said “They don’t tell the whites in Eastern Europe who are under the Russian yoke to be passive in their resistance. They give them guns and make heroes out of them and call the freedom fighters. But if a black man becomes militant in his striving against oppression then immediately he is classified as a fanatic” (565). While X makes a good statement here, the stakes in each of the situations were different. In Russia, lives were endangered, whereas blacks in America faced discrimination. This is not to make light of racism; it is a serious issue.
However racial discrimination is an irritant that could be lived with albeit it is unfair and most often uncalled for. Intolerance is not an issue that should be met with violence; it calls for patience and understanding from both sides.

Vincent 9

In summary, violence is not the most effective method of ridding the world of racism for many reasons. There are three basic explanations for this. The first of which is that violence is an unending battle, and it is extraordinarily destructive to both humans and possessions. Secondly, nonviolence, seeks to find a compromise with as little damage done as possible leaving all included parties at relative peace. Thirdly, nonviolence is simply a more effective strategy for several reasons. It is better organized, it works to solve the issue permanently and strengthens the unity among blacks. While these points are all true, some people question the validity of the claim, “nonviolence is a more effective method.” All in all, it is up to each person to choose their beliefs on the matter. Racism is a serious issue that African Americans in the U.S. have struggled with in coming up with a solution. While many major historical figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Du Bois were against the use of violence to achieve equality, characters such as Malcolm X advocated for people of color to fight for their rights and supported armed self defense. While debates will likely continue over this issue for many years, nonviolence has proven to be the superior method. It holds far less risk of damage to people or material possessions, seeks to solve the problem for good rather than fix the issue temporarily, and unites people of color and whites together. Violence inflicts damage, only fixes problems temporarily, and heightens the tension between blacks and whites rather than decreasing it.

Vincent 10

Vincent 11

Works Cited
"1960."
Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement
. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
Benefiel, Margaret. "Nonviolence Is More Powerful Than Violence."
Sojo.net/
. N.p., 19 Jan.
2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
<http://sojo.net/blogs/2011/01/19/nonviolence­more­powerful­violence>.
Du Bois, W.E.B.
On Segregation
.
Call and Response: Key Debates in African American Studies
.
New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. 399­400. Print.
Foner, Eric, and John A. Garraty. "Malcolm X."
History.com
. A&E Television Networks, n.d.
Web. 09 Dec. 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/black­history/malcolm­x>.
"Glossary of Nonviolence."
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
.
N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.thekingcenter.org/glossary­nonviolence>.
Hartmann, Margaret. "In a Stunning Reversal, Police Join Peaceful Protest in Ferguson."
Nymag.com
. N.p., 14 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
India, Young. "Non­violence."
BBC News
. BBC, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/against/nonviolence.shtml>.
King, Martin L., Jr. "Nonviolence and Racial Justice."
Http://mlk­kpp01.stanford.edu/primarydocuments/Vol4/6­Feb­1957_NonviolenceAndRac
ialJustice.pdf
. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <stanford.edu>.

Vincent 12

King, Martin L., Jr.
Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom
.
Call and Response: Key Debates in African American Studies
. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. 578­79. Print.
Ladonberg, Thomas. "Royal Institute of International Affairs."
Digitalhistory.uh.edu
. N.p., n.d.
Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit11_6.pdf>.
Lynch, Hollis. "Americans of African Ancestry."
Americans of African Ancestry
. N.p., n.d. Web.
10 Dec. 2014. <http://history­world.org/black_americans.htm>.
Lyubansky, Mikhail, Ph.D. "Is Nonviolence Effective?"
Psychology Today: Health, Help,
Happiness + Find a Therapist
. N.p., 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/between­the­lines/201403/is­nonviolence­effecti
ve>.
Pal, Amitabh. "How Nonviolence Succeeds | The Progressive."
How Nonviolence Succeeds | The
Progressive
. N.p., 02 Oct. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.progressive.org/news/2011/10/172328/how­nonviolence­succeeds>.
Roberts, Adam. "Martin Luther King and Non­Violent Resistance."
The World Today 24.6
(1968): 226­36.
Royal Institute of International Affairs
. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
Rustin, Bayard. "A Choice of Two Roads."
Call and Response: Key Debates in African
American Studies
. By Malcolm X. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. 564­68. Print.

Vincent 13

Samuels, Robert. "For Some Ferguson Whites, Racial Fault Lines Exposed by Shooting Come as a Surprise."
Washington Post
. The Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
X, Malcolm. "Message to the Grassroots."
Call and Response: Key Debates in African American
Studies
. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. 569­70. Print.