The Struggle for Civil Liberties and Social Justice - Essay Example

The name of Martin Luther King is synonymous with the Black civil rights movement. The quintessential element of King's quest for civil rights was its allegiance to non-violence and its respect for human rights (D'Angelo 2000). That is why, even today, Martin Luther King is considered a human rights icon. Through his zealous and immaculately polished oratorical skills, King tried his best to sensitize the American masses to the universal quest for human respect and dignity. What King intended to do was to hit hard against racial discrimination and social injustice.

However, this essentially peaceful and non-violent champion of civil rights was brutally assassinated in 1968. Malcolm X's commitment to black pride and social justice had its origins in the racial harassment that he and his family had to bear with in his growing up years. Being a smart and brilliant student, he soon realized that though violence was certainly not the right strategy to combat racial injustice, yet it was important to be ardently vociferous in one's struggle for social justice (D'Angelo 2000).

Hence, he became an active member and spokesperson of the Nation of Islam. However, this non-violent but fiery crusader for social justice had to meet a tragic death because of his moral opposition to the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Mohammad. One another prominent name in the universal struggle for civil rights and social justice is Chico Mendes. Chico was a regular Brazilian rubber tapper who also happened to be an avid environmental activist and a guardian of the rights of native rubber tappers.

Chico's struggle for saving environment eventually metamorphosed into a fight to save the Brazilian rainforests and in turn to save the future of humanity. Tragically, this peaceful adherent of social justice was violently silenced by his more radical opponents. Rosa Parks also known as the mother of Modern Civil Rights Movement was an African American civil rights activist (D'Angelo 2000). Parks' gestures of blatant defiance to the festering symbols of racial injustice bestowed on her an iconic status.

Courtesy her jest for social justice, she received many national and international honors and accolades. The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo was a group of Argentinean mothers and concerned citizens who peacefully and non-violently protested against the disappearance of many children and youngsters during the military dictatorship that lasted roughly seven years. Several members of this group were abducted and assassinated. Hence, the one thing common to all the above-mentioned civil rights movements and activists is that they were predominantly non-violent and their peaceful struggle enabled them to win a conclusive and lasting victory over their more violent adversaries.

References D'Angelo, Raymond. The American Civil Rights Mov