Non-violence & The Civil Rights Movement In The USA:

Mahatma Ghandi of India was able to use non-violence as a collective front against British colonial occupation, because he knew at that time that Indians were no match against the British occupiers, should they use violent means.

The overwhelming firepower of the British Raj would have annihilated them by the thousands. And they would not have achieved anything possible with that strategy. So he encouraged and used the non-violent strategy, as his rallying cry for national and international support, leading eventually to Independence.

Rev. Martin Luther King saw the wisdom in that strategy. Because he realized that if the Blacks here in America used violent opposition against the unjust southern laws, then they too would have experienced overwhelming force from the White military authorities. And that would give the Whites license to continue the slaughter, murders, hangings, and wanton killing of Blacks in the American southern states.

The decision to use this strategy was not an easy one for Dr. King. He was advised against this by his own family, congregation, and supporters alike. But he insisted that if not now, when, and if not us, who would give us our civil and constitutional rights.

And for this, he will always be remembered, as the first Black Civil Rights leader who stood for non-violent action, to attain our civil liberties. Unlike his contemporary Malcolm Little (alias Malcolm X), who believed and advocated for the owning of firearms, for self & property protection, against attacks by Whites.

It was when he became a Moslem and visited the Kaaba at Medina, during the annual Moslem 'Haj' and saw the thousands of Moslems of all colors and ethnicities gathered there as Moslems in prayer to one God/Allah. Then he realized that racism, segregation, or discrimination of any sort was an evil, that had to be fought against with love, understanding, knowledge, forgiveness, education, and legislation.

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were both assassinated for what they believed and fought for. But they were both striving for the civil rights of Black people in America. Even though at times their methods seem to conflict, and even though the were never able to join forces as united front in the struggle. The results of the efforts made by them, and thousands like themselves, will always be remembered and revered.

Om Shanti.
Derryck S. Griffith.