The Power of Nonviolent Resistance

Martin Luther King's Philosophy
The Power of Nonviolent Resistance

During the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. captured the attention of the nation with his philosophy and commitment to the method of nonviolent resistance. According to Dr. King, this was the only solution that could cure society’s evil and create a just society.

Upon entering the theological seminary in 1948, King began to concentrate on discovering a solution to end social ills. Initially, he came to the conclusion that the while the power of love was a powerful force when applied to individual conflicts, it was not an effective solution that could resolve social problems. He believed the philosophy of "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies" applied only to conflicts between individuals and not racial groups or nations. However, after reading about Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings, he changed his mind. King was struck by the concept of satyagraha, which means truth-force or love-force. He realized that "the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom." But it was not until the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that King's intellectual realization about the power of love was put into action. As nonviolent resistance became the force behind the boycott movement, his concerns were clarified, he committed himself to this method of action, and he realized that it was a powerful solution.

King believed that there were six important points about nonviolent resistance. First, he argued that even though nonviolence may be perceived as cowardly, it was not, and was in fact a method that did resist. According to King, the nonviolent protester is as passionate as a violent protester and that despite not being physically aggressive, "his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken."

Second, the point of nonviolent resistance is not to humiliate the opponent, but instead to gain his friendship and understanding. Further, the use of boycotts and methods of non-cooperation, were the "means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent." The result was redemption and reconciliation instead of the bitterness and chaos that came from violent resistance.

The third point King advanced, was that the battle was against the forces of evil and not individuals. Tension was not between the races, but was "between justice and injustice, between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. And if there is a victory it will be a victory not merely for fifty thousand Negroes, but a victory for justice and the forces of light." Thus, tension only existed between good and evil and not between people.

Fourth, nonviolent resistance required the willingness to suffer. One must accept violence without retaliating with violence and must go to jail if necessary. Accordingly, the end was more important than safety, and retaliatory violence would distract from the main fight. King believed that by accepting suffering, it led to "tremendous educational and transforming possibilities" and would be a powerful tool in changing the minds of the opponents.
King's fifth point about nonviolent resistance was that the "universe was on the side of justice." Accordingly, people have a "cosmic companionship" with God who is on the side of truth. Therefore, the resister has faith that justice will occur in the future.

King's sixth point was central to the method of nonviolent resistance. He believed the importance of nonviolence rested in the fact that it prevented physical violence and the "internal violence of spirit." Bitterness and hate were absent from the resisters mind, and replaced with love. However, the kind of love King was talking about, was not the affectionate type, but instead the type that meant "understanding, redeeming good will for all men." He further explained that in the Greek New Testament, there were three words for love and each had a different meaning. Eros was romantic love and philia was a reciprocal love. Neither of these two types of love were the kind that King advanced. Agape, which was not a passive love was the kind of redemptive love he referred to. According to King, "It is an overflowing love which is purely spontaneous, unmotivated, groundless, and creative. It is not set in motion by any quality or function of its object. It is the love of God operating in the human heart."

Additionally, it was a love that was disinterested. The act of loving was not for one's own good, but for the good of another. It did not distinguish between worthy and unworthy people or friends and enemies. Furthermore, it was love that fulfilled the need of another person. A person was in greatest need of love when a sinner. Therefore, he believed that” since the white man's personality is greatly distorted by segregation, and his soul is greatly scarred, he needs the love of the Negro. The Negro must love the white man, because the white man needs his love . . .". Therefore, one should love in order to help those in need.

King also believed that agape love sought to preserve and create community. As a result, no distance was too far to travel in the attempt to restore community. Agape was,

... a willingness to forgive, not seven times, but seventy times to restore community. The cross is the eternal expression of the length to which God will go in order to restore broken community. The resurrection is a symbol of God's triumph over all the forces that seek to block community. The Holy Spirit is the continuing community creating reality that moves through history. He who works against community is working against the whole of creation

Thus, hateful responses promote a broken community and instead one must respond to hate with love in order to avoid becoming depersonalized and to fix a broken community.

Lastly, agape means that every aspect of life is interrelated. All men are brothers and by harming another, it is to harm oneself.

Martin Luther King was a man who believed that the power of love could be the most effective weapon against the social ills of society. He promoted resistance that was nonviolent, and in the end it proved to be the most successful method against an unjust system of segregation.

Books by Martin Luther King:
“Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story“, (New York: Harper & Row, 1958).
“The Measure of a Man“, (Philadelphia: Pilgrim Press, 1963).
“Why We Can't Wait“, (New York: Harper & Row, 1963).
“Strength to Love“, (New York: Harper & Row, 1963).
“Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” (New York: Harper & Row, 1967).
“The Trumpet of Conscience“, (New York: Harper & Row, 1968).