During the civil rights movement, critics sometimes characterized nonviolent direct action as a form of passive submission to racial injustice. How did proponents of nonviolence, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), counter this criticism?
- They argued that nonviolent direct action was an active, confrontational strategy designed to create social tension and force opponents to negotiate.Answer
- BThey agreed that nonviolence required patiently enduring racial abuse and avoiding any confrontational actions that might cause social tension.
- CThey argued that African Americans should abandon political protests and focus solely on agricultural education and vocational training to build economic independence.
- DThey asserted that the only way to challenge oppression was to form paramilitary groups to enforce racial segregation in favor of Black communities.
Answer
Proponents of nonviolence countered the criticism of passivity by arguing that nonviolent direct action was an active, confrontational strategy designed to create social tension and force opponents to negotiate.
The correct answer is correct because proponents of nonviolent direct action, such as Martin Luther King Jr., explicitly emphasized that their strategy was not passive. Instead, it was an active and confrontational method of resistance designed to disrupt society (e.g., through boycotts and sit-ins) to expose injustice and force white leaders to negotiate.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The philosophy of nonviolent direct action is an active and confrontational form of resistance, rather than passive submission.
Estimated Time:45s