YUSEF IMAN’S DISPUTE ON PACIFISM VS. AGGRESSION IN WHITE AMERICA

This exhibit expresses the responses to the segregation and abuse that Black Americans faced in the 1960s. These responses stemmed from the necessity of Black Americans to stand up for themselves and fight against the discrimination invoked by the government, law enforcement, and white civilians. Through the use of photographs, anecdotes, videos, interviews, and news articles, the dispute on pacifism or aggression as the most effective method to respond to racism will be analyzed. Through further analysis of Yusef Iman’s “Praise the Lord, but Pass the Ammunition,” we see the example of how sitting idly by, praying, “while they kill you like dogs” (Iman, 3) does not work for the characters that are trying to fight against the KKK. They felt inclined to respond with violence in order to achieve equality, however, as depicted in our history of the , the philosophy of nonviolence as practiced by Dr. Martin Luther King prevails after all. Thus, these artifacts will demonstrate the struggle and then success of pacifism and peaceful protests in White America during the Civil Rights Movement, and even in the Black Lives Movement today. Yusef Iman Praise the Lord, but Pass the Ammunition 1967 Play script This small and colorful script portrays the lives of Sarah, David, Luke, and the Reverend, as their relentless abuse from the KKK forces them to retaliate with violence. The playwright, Yusef Iman, invokes his view on the debate between violence and nonviolence through Luke who continuously questions why Blacks must stay silent and polite as the segregation in the south grows. Luke’s strong contrast is the Reverend who acts as the voice of reason, and reminds us of the effective, though complicated, philosophy of nonviolence. Even though the story is short and seemingly oversimplified, it depicts the raw emotions of trying to meaningfully stand up for themselves after being oppressed for too long. Instances like this would infuriate many African Americans who were already against the nonviolent approach. These school aged teenagers were clearly unarmed, and were most likely attacked for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet, is this a feasible excuse for the attack? At the time, segregationists would go to any length to maintain their power and control over blacks, which is what fueled the flame in the growing fire in the souls of these angered African Americans. The blacks would argue that they were lawful citizens, yet the laws that were institutionalized at the time were far from the justice they deserved. Thus, they needed to fight against these laws and protect their homes and children. Not striking back while participating in a protest was deemed different from defending one’s home, church, or community center, which is why black communities set up around the clock surveillance for Anonymous further protection and to establish that they were not going Untitled to tolerate the hatred and abuse any longer. 1963 Black and White Photograph In October 1957, Martin Argonsky conducted a thought provoking interview with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery, Alabama after the success of the bus boycott. With references to his great influence, Mahatma Ghandi, Dr. King explains the importance of HTTPS://WWW.YOUT practicing nonviolence and even that there are three ways that UBE.COM/WATCH?V= oppressed people can deal with their oppression: 1. Rise up, 2. 74XJJ3TQ5EW Open violence and 3. Resignation. We can understand from this interview that Dr. King believes that violence starts many more msremmu social problems than it solves. Yet it is interesting to note that Dr. Dr. King: Nonviolence is the Most King does believes that being overly optimistic in the greater good of mankind, can lead to one’s death as one must also understand the Powerful Weapon capacity of evil their oppressors hold. Although nonviolence is 2008 extremely powerful, one must be realistic, which is why the tactful YouTube Video use of police force must also be established when trying to sustain a successful movement. Front page of the Los Angeles Times showing the gruesome details of Firefighters taking out a fire set in a shoe store that collapsed in flames during the the Watts Riot. riots on August 14. Anonymous Anonymous Untitled Untitled 1965 1965 Black and White Photograph Black and White Photograph THE WATTS RIOT

The Watts Riot erupted when Marquette Frye, an African American motorist, was arrested by Lee W. Mnikus, a white patrolman, for suspicion of driving while intoxicated on August 11, 1965. A crowd of onlookers grew at the scene of Frey’s arrest, and the outbreak of violence that followed due to tensions between police officers and the crowd sparked the largest and costliest riot of the Civil Rights Era. The riot took place in a deeply impoverished African American neighborhood, Watts, in South Central Los Angeles and for several days, rioters burned cars and damaged grocery stores, department stores, and more. The riots claimed thirty-four lives, injured more than one thousand people, almost four thousand arrests were reported, and over forty million dollars worth of property damage was made. This is strong evidence that retaliating with violence will only result in more damage being done to the oppressed instead of the oppressors. Instead of strategically speaking about the problems between police and the black community and holding peaceful protests, the anger erupted in disastrous riots that only left the black community in a worse state. Nothing was accomplished after this riot as city leaders and state officials failed to implement measures to improve social and economic conditions in the Watts neighborhood. Leffler, Warren K. African American Protest for Equal Rights 1963 Black and White Photograph

Black women photographed in a peaceful protest for equal rights, clearly upset and ready to do what it takes to make a difference. These educated, empowered and civil women are a strong contrast to the image that White Americans created for Black women. They hold their signs yearning for freedom, equal rights, decent housing, end to bias, and end to segregation up high with pride and a certain decency that portrays the notion that they will march until they receive what they rightfully came for. There are no signs of arms, weapons, or aggression that further reiterates the nonviolence philosophy. Instead, they are using their words to make a stance, and their determination to make a change. In this photograph, unarmed and peaceful protestors are arrested and wrongfully manhandled during the Selma to Montgomery marches. In addition to mass arrests, violence persisted through violence, jail beatings, lynchings, and church bombings. However, national public exposure brought about change because as the media captured these incidents, progress in the movement became real. "The violence was being perpetrated by the oppressors, not the oppressed and that was an incredibly powerful message and an incredibly important tool during the movement," said Richard Cohen an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The world, and even the rest of the U.S. needed become aware of the brutalities that were going on in the South. Fortunately, President Lyndon Johnson worked to put a halt on a portion of the violence by Anonymous supporting the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Selma Police Arrest Peaceful Protestors 1965 Black and White Photograph This speech focuses on the deeper connotations behind the nonviolence approach that Dr. Martin Luther King strongly believes in “Love these people who are beating on us and bombing our houses and kicking our children around, what in HTTPS://WWW.YOUT the world you mean when you say love such people?” Here, Dr. UBE.COM/WATCH?V= King reiterates the thoughts of many Black Americans towards DJLSZXXY144 the nonviolent approach- why should they be peaceful while their oppressors continue to be violent? Dr. King urges his audience to Revluzionnotelevised love every man because it is far more beneficial to hate the MLK Speech on Nonviolence system, rather than the individual that is caught up on the evil 2011 deeds of the system. Through references from the Bible, Dr. King YouTube Video shares that pacifism will be most effective way to get bring an end to the racism and segregation. Together, black Americans will stand up for justice with their lives but they will never stoop down to the level of fighting back with violence and hatred. Police restrain an injured rioter during race Newark fireman move in on a burning building as police stand A young boy carefully steps over a damaged gate that rights riot in Newark. guard. had guarded the storefront in Newark.

Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Untitled Untitled Untitled 1967 1967 1967 Black and White Photograph Black and White Photograph Black and White Photograph NEWARK RIOTS

The 1967 Newark Riots spurred as a result of police racial profiling, (denying services to residents of certain areas based on the racial makeup of those areas), and lack of opportunity in education, training, and jobs for African American residents. This left the residents feeling powerless, deprived of their rights and privileges, and without any real voice for meaningful political representation. The riots essentially erupted after the arrest and abuse of a black cabdriver, John Weerd Smith who was wrongfully charged with assaulting the officers who had pulled him over. The six days of rioting, looting and destruction left twenty-six residents dead and hundreds injured, yet no progress in the movement for equal rights. This is another example of how violence and uncontrolled anger only results in further pain and suffering. The city of Newark remained poor and feeling underrepresented, and had they approached the situation with a non-violence technique, the city could have flourished sooner. This short essay provides an in-depth comprehension of the philosophy of nonviolence, the three nonviolent resisters, and the nonviolent tactic. Here, we can see a clear definition of what it means to fight for a cause using nonviolence. In fact, it is an active way of living which may seem impossible for many. However, they refute this thought of doubt by sharing the lives of Jesus Christ, Mahatma Ghandi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr- all of whom successfully practiced nonviolence resistance. “Love your enemy,” and “Turn the other cheek” they preach. If their methods were not useful, would they be considered one of the most influential people to live on the Earth and have an incredible plethora of followers? Finally, the speech covers the tactics which include Investigation, Negotiation, Education of the Public, Southern Christian Leadership Conference Spiritual Preparation, and Direct Action – all of The Philosophy of Nonviolence and the Tactic of Nonviolent Resistance which were used during the Civil Rights Movement No Date in order to achieve freedom and equality. Essay Anonymous Untitled 2016 Color Photograph

History repeats itself as police arrest and manhandle peaceful protestors.

Woman standing by during a Black Lives Matter Protest as police come rushing to halt her Anonymous Untitled 2016 Color Photograph Anonymous Untitled 2016 Man runs to stop the violent eruption of protestors as police Color Photograph continue to push their peace with aggression. BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

These three photographs spawned during the Black Lives Matter protests in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in light of the recent shooting and death of Alton Sterling of July 2016. In the past few years, the United States has faced a disastrous plague of and the shooting of innocent, unarmed Black men. African Americans from all across the country refused to sit back and let their brothers die, however, they also remain from retaliating with force- a concept instilled by Dr. Martin Luther King so long ago. Unfortunately, we see that history truly does repeat itself. Blacks rise with peaceful protests, marches, and sit ins to make a point, but are seen as dangerous thugs that need to be met with aggression and weaponry. Yet, the nonviolence philosophy is still strong in the Black Lives Matter as activists simply stand their ground, use their voices to get heard, and continue demanding equal rights and an end to racial discrimination.