Understanding the Philosophy and Principles of Nonviolence under Martin Luther King, Jr.?s Leadership

The rich social and political philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr., is encompassed in his nonviolence philosophy and principles. Since the very first day he became a world icon in 1955 until his brutal assassination by James Earl Ray in 1968, King had preached and practiced the nonviolence philosophy with all his might. Scholars might write voluminous books on King's nonviolence philosophy alone because he dedicated his whole life on it. He tried to convince his fellow Americans into espousing this philosophy through eloquent speeches and attracting articles. He perceived violence as a spiral of evil forces underpinned by bitterness and hate that only results in chaos, whereas he conceived nonviolence as a solution that offers peace of mind and heart in a beloved community. This paper highlights that King was an arduous proponent of nonviolence by principles in both his way of life