Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior is without a doubt one of the most influential figures in the 20^th century due to his role in the civil rights movement. Rev. King fought for the rights of black Americans who suffered prejudice and oppression in the widely accepted segregation movement of that time, separating Caucasian Americans and “Colored” Americans because of their skin color.  Rev. King fought this racist and oppressive system the way that he believed in: the peaceful way.

To understand the struggles of Rev. King and African Americans, we must understand that there is an obvious mistreatment towards African Americans, especially in the 1950s and 60s. In those years, African Americans living in the south had several rights removed, including the rights to vote, go to the same schools and use the same facilities as white Americans. This oppression  caused tensions between people groups and caused the rise of two prominent leaders who used conflicting ideologies to tackle the problem at hand.

Rev. King used pacifism as a means of reaching peace between the conflicting people groups. Many other successful leaders of reform movements have also used the route of pacifism to unite people, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. This conflicted the teaching of Malcolm X, another African American leader in the civil rights movement, who asked his followers to arm and defend themselves as well as stand their ground in the face of the violent adversity. Malcolm X followed the teachings of Islam and believed that for black Americans to achieve peace, they must be able to defend themselves against the violence that they experience. While both teachings merit pros and cons, Rev. King managed to garner support from a united America, not just black Americans, becoming a witness and respected pastor to many Christians throughout the world.

We all know the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Rev. King in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. But we also need to know that Rev. King has contributed to many acts of the Civil Rights movement. These actions include leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where Rev. King lead the effort to remove the law in which African Americans were forced to sit at the back of city buses. He also repealed and pressured the American government to create and revise existing laws that were discriminatory to better suit the Civil Rights Movement such as:

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 – This banned discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on “race, color, religion, or national origin”.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965 – This act introduced and protected the right to vote for African Americans living in the Southern states, where it was previously very difficult for them to vote.
• Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965 – This allowed immigration from groups other than those from European countries.
• Fair Housing Act of 1968 – This banned housing discrimination for sales or rentals.

Beyond affecting the government, Rev. King gave an important gift throughout his life: a voice for the oppressed. Rev. King’s ideology of pacifism is not something new, as many historical figures have used pacifism as a means of achieving peace. Rev. King, however, set an example for the world, proving that peace in the face of oppression will always win. Even in his death, his voice and wish for peace inspired many oppressed people in the world to fight for peace by avoiding violence and implementing diplomatic pacifism.