Equality: MLK Flashcards
(11 cards)
MLK: context
baptist minister Saw civil rights as a theological mission Came to promenance in the bus boycotts Assassinated in 1968
MLK: three key ideas
racism was ingrained deeply in society due to slavery Racism can be stopped through non-violence Racism is interconnected with other issues like poverty
MLK: racism in deep rooted in society
white Americans have a historic preconception of black people due to slavery Claimed racism was an inherited diseases from the founding fathers
MLK: non-violence
influenced by Ghandi’s non-violent protests in India and their success Strongly disagreed with the Black Power movementBelieved in intensified black hate among the white community However, didn’t think the movement should be passive or to emulate the violent history
MLK: poverty
believes black Americans were trapped in poor socio-economic conditions after slavery Campaigned for a universal black income Condemned the government An accounting error in the Vietnam war cost 10 billion The budget for poverty reduction was only 2 billion
MLK: Quote
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Arguing that injustice cannot be isolated, harm done to one group threatens the whole society Reflects the Christian Idea of the Body of Christ- if one part suffers, all suffers Connects to the idea of a Christian duty Strengths: power moral universalism, supporting solidarity Weakness: some argues it dilutes immediate local actions and overwhelms individuals morally
MLK: Quotes
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice“
Speech to the southern Christian leadership conference 1967overtime, justice will prevail Rooted in Christian beliefs of gods ultimate justice Application:Long term ethical changes, why non-violence and patient matter Natural law Aquinas: natural moral order will always prevail Strengths: moral resilience Weakness: justifies being passive LINK: Satre and extensislist ethics, justice relies only on human action not divine destiny
MLK: Quote
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character”
envisioning a society where moral worth is judges by charecter not external features Rooted in Christian anthropology: Imageo Dei Combines religoiuse and ethical equality Ties to virtue ethics: moral assessments should focus on someone’s inner qualities LINK:Paul’s teachings Christianity supporting the idea of external differences are irrelevant to god Stregths:Encourages merit based ethical society Fits into ethical Christian teachings like justice, love, and forginveness Weaknesses:Some say it ignored ongoing systematic inequalities -> like institutional racism Arguing that institutional reforms are needed, charecter-based justice is not enough
MLK Evaluation: Strengths
Political Effectiveness:Led to tangible achievementsCivil Rights Act 1964Voting Rights Act 1956 Non violence: Took a moral high ground Exposed the brutal treatment of Black American people Forced change by appealing to conscience of the moderate majority Deminstated a practicle application of Christian virtue ethics- developing the ‘good person’ Rooted in Christian Ethics:Demonstrated that Christian moral principle as are not just private, but have social and public consequences Embodied ehr Christian ideal of forgiveness
MLK Evaluation: Weaknesses
Too slowThe Black Power movement and figures like Malcom X demanded more forceful action Criticised for releying on appeals to the oppressor However, some argue that the government worked with MLK out of fear of the Black Power MovementOver relience on Christian morality Assumed America would response to Christian appeals to justice Increasing secularism ment not everyone shared this framework Limited appeal in a multi-faith context Structural change Focused to much on individual changes of mind, and not changing of institutional structures that oppress -> Vietnam spending however
MLK Evaluation: Nuance
He understood that change would be slow and costly, seen though his willingness to face jail and death threats His dream was idealistic and strategically realistic Combined a religoiuse vision and political pragmatism -> ma denim unique in the fight
