Quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.
I feel that we will continue to have a non-violent movement, and we will continue to find the vast majority of Negroes committed to non-violence, at least as the best tactical approach and from a pragmatic point of view as the best strategy in dealing with the problem of racial injustice. Realism impels me to admit, however, that when there is justice and the pursuit of justice, violence appears, and where there is injustice and frustration, the potentialities for violence are greater, and I would like to strongly stress the point that the more we can achieve victories through non-violence, the more it will be possible to keep the non-violent discipline at the center of the movement. But the more we find individuals facing conditions of frustration, conditions of disappointment and seething despair as a result of the slow pace of things and the failure to change conditions, the more it will be possible for the apostles of violence to interfere.
Summary
In this quote, Martin Luther King Jr. reflects on the importance of non-violence as a tactical approach in the fight against racial injustice. He recognizes that the majority of African Americans are committed to nonviolent means, seeing it as the most effective strategy. However, King also acknowledges the reality that violence may emerge in situations where justice is lacking and frustration grows. He emphasizes the need for achieving victories through non-violence to maintain its centrality in the movement. At the same time, he warns that in the face of ongoing inequality and despair, individuals may be susceptible to the influence of violent ideologies.
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