Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accomplished more than
perhaps any individual in the struggle for African American
rights. In the early stages of the civil rights movement,
though, King struggled to reconcile the Christian doctrine
of love with the immense challenge of achieving economic
and social rights for African Americans. During this time
of soul-searching, King was introduced to the teachings of
a Hindu man who had fought on the other side of the
1 world—for the rights of the oppressed, Mahatma
Gandhi. Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent resistance
2 was the primary influence that helped King build
momentum in the American civil rights movement.
3 As early as 1919, Gandhi fought against the British
government, which held India as a colony and subjected its
people to unfair laws. Gandhi used methods such as the
boycotting of British goods, peaceful marches, and fasting.
His ongoing campaign of nonviolent resistance eventually
led to a major change in 1947 when Great Britain passed
a resolution that outlawed 4 prejudicial discrimination
against “untouchables”—India’s lowest caste of people. In
1950, King was introduced to Gandhi’s teachings through a
sermon by Mordecai Johnson, who had just returned from
a trip to India. After studying Gandhi’s achievements, King
5 concludes that Gandhi was the first person in history to
use the Christian ethic of love as a “potent instrument for
social and collective transformation.”
In 1955, King was given an opportunity to 6 bestow
Gandhi’s techniques during the Montgomery, Alabama, bus
incident. After Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her
seat on a public bus, King organized a year-long boycott
7 upon Montgomery buses, which ended with the U.S.
Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was
unconstitutional. Over the next decade, King continued to
rely on methods of nonviolent resistance by organizing
8 marches; and giving speeches; and instituting boycotts;
and leading “sit-ins” at public establishments that refused to
serve African Americans. King’s efforts led to the passage
of significant laws such as the 1964 Civil Rights
9 Act. This law prohibits discrimination based on race,
color, religion, or national origin in public establishments.
King eventually made his own trip to India in 1959,
10 but he would never meet the man who influenced him
so deeply. Even before King began to learn of his principles,
Gandhi had given his life for his cause. King once called
Gandhi’s teachings “the guiding light of our nonviolent
technique of social change.” 11
perhaps any individual in the struggle for African American
rights. In the early stages of the civil rights movement,
though, King struggled to reconcile the Christian doctrine
of love with the immense challenge of achieving economic
and social rights for African Americans. During this time
of soul-searching, King was introduced to the teachings of
a Hindu man who had fought on the other side of the
1 world—for the rights of the oppressed, Mahatma
Gandhi. Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent resistance
2 was the primary influence that helped King build
momentum in the American civil rights movement.
3 As early as 1919, Gandhi fought against the British
government, which held India as a colony and subjected its
people to unfair laws. Gandhi used methods such as the
boycotting of British goods, peaceful marches, and fasting.
His ongoing campaign of nonviolent resistance eventually
led to a major change in 1947 when Great Britain passed
a resolution that outlawed 4 prejudicial discrimination
against “untouchables”—India’s lowest caste of people. In
1950, King was introduced to Gandhi’s teachings through a
sermon by Mordecai Johnson, who had just returned from
a trip to India. After studying Gandhi’s achievements, King
5 concludes that Gandhi was the first person in history to
use the Christian ethic of love as a “potent instrument for
social and collective transformation.”
In 1955, King was given an opportunity to 6 bestow
Gandhi’s techniques during the Montgomery, Alabama, bus
incident. After Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her
seat on a public bus, King organized a year-long boycott
7 upon Montgomery buses, which ended with the U.S.
Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was
unconstitutional. Over the next decade, King continued to
rely on methods of nonviolent resistance by organizing
8 marches; and giving speeches; and instituting boycotts;
and leading “sit-ins” at public establishments that refused to
serve African Americans. King’s efforts led to the passage
of significant laws such as the 1964 Civil Rights
9 Act. This law prohibits discrimination based on race,
color, religion, or national origin in public establishments.
King eventually made his own trip to India in 1959,
10 but he would never meet the man who influenced him
so deeply. Even before King began to learn of his principles,
Gandhi had given his life for his cause. King once called
Gandhi’s teachings “the guiding light of our nonviolent
technique of social change.” 11