Violence and civil rights struggle - Essay Example

Lecturer: Topic: Violence and Civil Rights Struggle Violence and civil rights struggle in the United d is not a recent problem for it links directly to the colonial and the post colonial events resulting in the black man segmentation. The blacks from the very beginning of their presence in the US as slaves contributed to their state of affairs in the society and today they are still the minority in the society receiving calmly the poor treatments from the white population who still feel superior. Martin Luther King and Malcom X arose to fight for the position of the blacks in the America community, and today they are acknowledged for the moves. What are the different takes on violence and civil rights struggles? Blacks suffered discrimination in America on housing and employment as well as abuse and lynching from whites and never exercised the right to vote. This was regardless of the fact that slavery in the United States ended in the late 19th century, as the struggle of the black population against the ill treatment brought about the early activists such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. However, although the two individuals among others shared the same thought of ending violence on African American, there takes on violence and civil rights struggle were different. Martin Luther, for example, advocated for peaceful demonstrations for he was against violence of any kind in the society. He believed that peaceful demonstrations would lead to opening up of a room for negotiation between martin whites and the African Americans. On the issue of the civil rights, martin Luther advocated for human rights where everyone in the nation had equal treatment regardless of race. In the times of Luther King, despite the fact that slave trade and forced labour were no long dead, discrimination and racism was very popular. Malcom X, on the other hand, was revolutionary and radical. He preached independence through the necessary means possible and hence advocated for violence. He is very much unlike Martin Luther King who preached non-violence and obedience philosophy; a similar approach to Gandhi’s during the struggle in India. A combination of the two activists approaches although quite contrasting brought a strong support on the black American movements in relation to violence and discrimination. They brought some life In the face of the struggle and hence why they are prominent and make a huge part of the African America. Malcom X was brought to the limelight as he was the leader of the demonstrating Muslims, the papers and the radio speaking of the events that had happened at the Lenox Avenue. He can be described as a non-violent man but on the other hand a strong willing man, ready to rally crowds through violence if need be, to protect the rights of other individuals. At the time of these happenings, the whites are said to have not been bothered by the revolution of the blacks unless it threatened the status quo. Movements for civil rights are the political movements that were uprising at the times of people like martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X that took the form of civil resistance. The main aim was to bring about nonviolent aims of resistance but they were accompanied by civil unrest and armed rebellion. What are the consequences of violence becoming part of civil right struggles? Maclom X was one of the renowned Muslim leaders and a Lenox avenue fraces brought him to light after being reported in The Amsterdam News to have told the police officials, “we do not look for trouble, in fact we are taught to steer clear of trouble. We do not carry knives or guns, but we are also taught than when one finds something that is worthwhile getting into trouble about, he should be ready to die, then and there for that particular thing.” This ensued after the police were holding back a man who had witnessed an incident at the Lenox Avenue and told the Moslems that one of their brother had been beaten by a police man. At the police station, a crowd of Muslims swelled led by Malcolm X who claims he was first denied access to the arrested man. As the whole incident took place there were witnesses who are said to have heard and were willing to testify of violence against the black as well as inflammatory remarks that the police uttered. Police, of which all were whites, one f them is said to have said that, “I’d have shot he nigger but the other cops kept getting in my way,” as another pointed at Malcom X and said, “ We should break the bastard’s head because he is their leader” (X, 1971). Although the black leaders in the movement like King preached non violence demonstrations, their lives in the American soil had their lives on the line. The black leadership primarily threatened the structure of the existing society by introducing the black’s demands on democracy and equal treatment as the whites. This was an unwelcome move that resulted to the eventual deaths of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X coupled with the increased human rights movements for the blacks. How far has violence become a part of black culture, and where does this come from? Violence contributes to a majority of the deaths of the young Americans aged between 15 and24. A 1989 survey shows that 8.7% per 100, 000 population; it indicated that homicide was prominent among the young black males more than the young in the industrialized nations. Fire arms were commonly used tools among the men in the united states in cities as Detroit, Washington DC, Baltimore, Dallas and Jacksonville among others. Violence was high in the neighbourhoods in which men had no jobs, children were raised without fathers and other social institutions are in dismay. Poverty and violence provokes violence among the black community and growing up for children in such horrible orientation and lack of parental guidance impacted the growth of the young children. This information asserts that violence is part of the black Americans epidemic public health issues as racial segregation, social isolation, drug and alcohol consumption and media violence contribute to aggressive violent behaviour (Scott nd). Poverty has been passed across generations, which have created the social –economic underclass. Social scientists assert that a single discipline cannot solve the years of social failure that reduced Americans in to destitute and feeling of helplessness and powerless. A majority of the African Americans young men suffer from black self hatred resulting from years of the poor conditioning in the social environment and these events date back to the events taking place in the reign of martin Luther King and Malcom X among other activists. The society then and now has no significant difference, as discrimination is still experienced in the communities. The white population is still biased and discriminate against the black community, an activity that cannot reflect liberation in the population seeking to promote equality among communities. However, the black assert a slight change on their civil rights today than in the past society where even the constitution provides for some of the black community rights advocated for by the past and present activists. Who are More Involved in Peaceful Rights Struggle and How Successful/ Beneficial are Such Strategies? The African American community lead by activist like Martin Luther King actively participated in the peaceful rights struggle, (Coretta, 2008). The major driving forces behind their move were the continual mistreatment and abuse by the white population long after the end of slave trade. For example, the blacks were using their own public transport and attended their own schools. However, they wanted equal treatment and to equally enjoy the country’s economic resources since they all were American citizens. The white man’s resistance and activists desire to maintain peace contributed to the peaceful rights struggle. The strategy was both successful and beneficial to the society at large. Finally, the government opened dialogue and the blacks accorded their wish on civil rights. They could use any transport system as well as attend schools of their choice. The African Americans now had a place and position in the society that was entirely irrevocable and were freed from slavery by law. Conclusion The African Americans struggle for a position in the American society did not only start with Martin Luther King and Malcom X, many others before them tried to voice the concern on civil rights and violence. However, the two made a significant move towards the common objectives; Martin Luther King was a peace loving man and worked towards uniting the black with the whites. Malcom X was generally violent and thrived in violent demonstrations in the search for unity and equal treatment in the community. Violence and civic rights fights relate to the colonial and pre-colonial time when the black man was just but a slave for the white in the society. After their independence, the whites failed in completely setting them free and hence the activists’ movements. Works Cited Scott King, Coretta, (2008). The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Second Edition. New market Press. X, Malcolm. (1971). The End of White World Supremacy: Four Speeches. 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