Violent vs. Nonviolent Protests in America
May 5th 2011
Violent vs. Non-Violent Protests in America
African-Americans have been oppressed since their arrival in America in 1619. Due to their differences in physical characteristics, Whites considered them an inferior race and therefore treated them as property, disregarding their human rights. After many years of exploitation and abuse, in 1791, slaves on the small island of Hispaniola revolted against French rule and successfully gained their freedom in 1804. It gave hope to African American slaves who, in turn, decided to stand against their masters and gain their freedom. Every one of those rebellions was extremely violent. They were so passionate about the cause and have been oppressed for so long that they targeted anyone that was white: men, women and children. In Donn C. Worgs ““Beware of the Frustrated”: The Fantasy and Reality of African American Revolt”, the author examines African Americans’ need to use violence when it comes to revolting against their oppressors. On an opposite note, in “Civil Rights Success and the Politics of Racial Violence”, Joseph E. Luders emphasizes on the positive effects on nonviolent protests. Both authors justify these opposing strategies while making some valid points. This research paper will examine the strong arguments of both Worgs and Luders while attempting to understand how each strategy has individually shaped the mind of African Americans in today’s America. Worgs argues that violence is a part of American history: they’ve been using that method of protesting since the beginning of the history of the United States of America. Since they’ve brought Africans to America from Africa, African Americans have become a part of American history so it’s only right for them to follow suit. After long years of enduring violent oppression and constant physical and mental abuse, as human beings, it’s only natural for slaves to release the animosity and anger that they had built-up inside against their white
Violent vs. Non-Violent Protests in America
African-Americans have been oppressed since their arrival in America in 1619. Due to their differences in physical characteristics, Whites considered them an inferior race and therefore treated them as property, disregarding their human rights. After many years of exploitation and abuse, in 1791, slaves on the small island of Hispaniola revolted against French rule and successfully gained their freedom in 1804. It gave hope to African American slaves who, in turn, decided to stand against their masters and gain their freedom. Every one of those rebellions was extremely violent. They were so passionate about the cause and have been oppressed for so long that they targeted anyone that was white: men, women and children. In Donn C. Worgs ““Beware of the Frustrated”: The Fantasy and Reality of African American Revolt”, the author examines African Americans’ need to use violence when it comes to revolting against their oppressors. On an opposite note, in “Civil Rights Success and the Politics of Racial Violence”, Joseph E. Luders emphasizes on the positive effects on nonviolent protests. Both authors justify these opposing strategies while making some valid points. This research paper will examine the strong arguments of both Worgs and Luders while attempting to understand how each strategy has individually shaped the mind of African Americans in today’s America. Worgs argues that violence is a part of American history: they’ve been using that method of protesting since the beginning of the history of the United States of America. Since they’ve brought Africans to America from Africa, African Americans have become a part of American history so it’s only right for them to follow suit. After long years of enduring violent oppression and constant physical and mental abuse, as human beings, it’s only natural for slaves to release the animosity and anger that they had built-up inside against their white