Resources
Dr. King’s Principles of Nonviolence
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
• It is active nonviolent resistance to evil.
• It is assertive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
• It is always persuading the opponent of the justice of your cause.
2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
• The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
• The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.
3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
• Nonviolence willingly accepts the consequences of its acts.
4. Nonviolence holds that voluntary suffering can educate and transform.
• Nonviolence willingly accepts the consequences of its acts.
• Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation.
• Nonviolence accepts violence if necessary, but will never inflict it.
• Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
• Suffering can have the power to convert the enemy when reason fails.
5. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
• Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as of the body.
• Nonviolent love gives willingly, knowing that the return might be hostility.
• Nonviolent love is active, not passive.
• Nonviolent love does not sink to the level of the hater.
• Love for the enemy is how we demonstrate love for ourselves.
• Love restores community and resists injustice.
• Nonviolence recognizes the fact that all life is interrelated.
6. Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
• The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.
Learn More About Civil Rights
Dr. King’s Four Goals:
Eliminate racism in public accommodations.
Eradicate economic injustice.
End the Vietnam War.
Voting rights for all Americans.
Below, please find links to information regarding the Civil Rights movement.
Library of Congress- The Civil Rights Era
Videos
A Time to Speak: a speech by Charles Morgan
Please see this website for a lesson plan to use with this video.
Honoring Sojourn to the Past on its 10th Anniversary, Representative John Lewis
Jimmy Webb, Peaceful Demonstration
Additional Resources
wikipedia Article about James Reeb
John Lewis - National Archives
Reflections on A Dream Deferred by John Lewis
African American History Month.gov
Students read John Lewis’ book Walking With The Wind in preparation for their participation in Sojourn to the Past
Contact us
Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past
4117 Oak Knoll Dr.
Youngstown, OH 44512
Penny Wells, Director
(330) 207-4467
pennywwells@sbcglobal.net