Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi Research Paper Example

Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi Research Paper Example Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi Paper Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi Paper Essay Topic: Letter From Birmingham Jail Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were civil right activists who took a form of action to obtain equal rights amongst their society. Gandhi moved to South Africa in 1893 to serve the Indian population after failing to establish a legal practice in Bombay. Subsequent to moving to South Africa, he recognized many laws that discriminated against Indians and initiated a change by taking action. Gandhi developed his theory of satyagraha (soul force), which implicates social justice through love as well as suffering the consequences. After meeting with a group of Indian nationalists he wrote down his theories in a pamphlet called Hind Swarf or Indian Home Rule. Martin Luther King Jr. did a non-violent campaign in Birmingham Alabama. Birmingham was one of the few cities where the fourth step in Kings non-violent campaign theory called direct action was necessary. Unfortunately, King was jailed on April 12-20, 1963 for violating a court injunction by leading a protest march in Birmingham. While King was in jail, eight Alabama clergymen published a statement criticizing the use of direct action and referred to this approach as unwise and untimely. While incarcerated, King politely responded to their statement in a letter titled Letter from Birmingham City Jail. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi developed theories that linked to a system that surpassed governmental laws. King and Gandhi had educational as well as logical reasoning for taking each approach towards unjust laws. Mohandas Gandhi based his document on defining the true meaning of civilization where as Martin Luther King Jr. based his document on recognizing the reason he wanted to cease injustice. Both Gandhi and King discussed reasons regarding the use of non-violent actions to fight for their rights.