Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population. Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade. Indeed, even today we have not permitted ourselves to reject or to feel remorse for this shameful episode.
Martin Luther King, Jr.Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world. This is the calling of the sons of God, and our brothers wait eagerly for our response. Shall we say the odds are too great? Shall we tell them the struggle is too hard?
Martin Luther King, Jr.I will always remember my delight when Mrs. Georgia Gilmore - an unlettered woman of unusual intelligence - told how an operator demanded that she get off the bus after paying her fare and board it again by the back door, and then drove away before she could get there. She turned to Judge Carter and said: "When they count the money, they do not know Negro money from white money.
Martin Luther King, Jr.A riot is the language of the unheard. On blacks in America; address at Birmingham AL
Martin Luther King, Jr.Power is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice is love correcting everything that goes against love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.Violence never really deals with the basic evil of the situation. Violence may murder the murderer, but it doesnโt murder murder. Violence may murder the liar, but it doesnโt murder lie; it doesnโt establish truth. Violence may even murder the dishonest man, but it doesnโt murder dishonesty. Violence may go to the point of murdering the hater, but it doesnโt murder hate. It may increase hate. It is always a descending spiral leading nowhere. This is the ultimate weakness of violence: It multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesnโt solve any problems.
Martin Luther King, Jr.