Introduction
The objective of the Civil Rights Movement was to eradicate discrimination against African Americans in the United States, including segregation laws. There was a wide variety of approaches taken by those involved in the movement, from direct action to peaceful protests, from the use of the law to the organization of the grassroots, and from creative expression to visual culture. The Jim Crow era, which began in the late 19th century and lasted until the mid-1960s, is cited as the period from which the Civil Rights Movement sprang.
The movement was characterized by various events, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery March, fueled by prominent figures’ activism and leadership (Wang 2263). However, many untold stories and lesser-known artifacts contributed to the movement and its impact. Through the examination of archival artifacts, such as the Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Selma to Montgomery March photograph, it is evident that nonviolent resistance and visual culture are significant in mobilizing millions of people and shaping public opinion.
Artifact 1: Letter from Birmingham Jail
“Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written by Martin Luther King Jr. while incarcerated, is a strong example of nonviolent resistance’s strategic and moral use in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote this letter in April 1963 in response to a statement made by eight white clergymen in Birmingham, Alabama (Schwartz 1). In the statement, the clergy members criticized King and his colleagues for participating in nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, urging them to pursue legal channels for their grievances.
In his letter, King defends nonviolent resistance as a legitimate and necessary tactic for challenging unjust laws and policies. He further argues that people of conscience must engage in direct action to transform the status quo by the moral and ethical principles of justice, equality, and freedom. According to the letter, “When injustice exists, it threatens the pursuit of fairness everywhere. We are bound together by an invisible thread of fate and friendship (Schwartz 4).” Martin Luther King further illustrates that “whatever affects one directly, indirectly impacts all… (Krishnamurthy 314).”
The letter from King also discusses the pressing need to fight for civil rights now. He contends that the downtrodden cannot wait any longer and that the situation calls for swift and firm action. In his words: “Wait! is a word I have been hearing for a long time (Reed).” He further contemplates that “we have waited more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights (Schwartz 6).” Whereas countries in Asia and Africa are making rapid progress toward political freedom, according to King, the US was still making painfully slow progress toward even the most basic lunch counter privileges.
In addition, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” illustrates how crucial moral and spiritual ideals were to the success of the Civil Rights Movement’s leaders. In addition to responding to the eight clergy members, King’s letter serves as a rallying cry for the millions of people striving for justice and equality. His use of biblical and moral terminology, as well as the rhetorical methods of appeal to authority (logos), appeal to emotion (pathos), and appeal to common sense, all help to make his point more convincing (Krishnamurthy 323).
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” inspires the exploration of the role of nonviolent resistance in the Civil Rights Movement and its effectiveness in achieving social change. King’s eloquence and ability to articulate ideas with clarity and conviction, despite the confinement’s challenging circumstances, is striking (Schwartz 8). Nonviolent resistance was a powerful political strategy and a profoundly moral one that appealed to the conscience of both oppressors and the oppressed.
Artifact 2: The Iconic Photographs of the Selma to Montgomery March
The Selma to Montgomery March was a series of three marches in March 1965 led by Martin Luther King Jr., Civil rights campaigners who went from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, the state capital, to demand the right to vote. State troopers and local law officers used clubs, tear gas, and rubber tubing to strike the demonstrators during the initial march, known as “Bloody Sunday” (Reed).
A court order prevented the second march from continuing, but the third march, guarded by federal forces, finally reached its objective on March 25 (Schmidt). King leads a group of demonstrators as they cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma in the famous shot of the Selma to Montgomery March (Reed). The photograph depicts the marchers’ tenacity and bravery as they overcame significant risks and challenges in pursuing justice (Cunningham 332). The photograph was frequently replicated and remembered in various media when it became a representation of the Civil Rights Movement. This picture is shown below:
For several reasons, the Selma to Montgomery March photograph is essential. First, it is a powerful visual depiction of the movement’s struggle for social justice and civil rights. The photograph beautifully captures the marchers’ strength and perseverance as they surmounted numerous challenges and threats, including assault, intimidation, and detention (Cunningham 336). People from all walks of life and regions of the country came together to demand justice and equality, and this photograph reflects their unity and sense of collective action.
The photograph also shows how vital visual culture was in influencing public perception and understanding of the Civil Rights Movement (Schmidt). Images such as this circulated widely, engaging a large audience and prompting conversations about race, justice, and democracy in the United States (Reed). The Selma to Montgomery March image became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring and mobilizing millions of people worldwide.
The photograph also shows the complex interaction between the Civil Rights Movement and the mainstream media. In contrast to the widespread circulation and praise for the photograph documenting the Selma to Montgomery March, the media ignored or distorted many other photographs from the event. For instance, rather than focusing on the fundamental social and political issues that the movement was addressing, the media frequently highlighted the spectacle of violence and conflict (Cunningham 337).
However, the photographs shared with the public were frequently filtered and controlled by the mainstream media and only sometimes accurately represented the richness and diversity of the movement itself. Additionally, the Selma to Montgomery March photograph serves as an example of the ability of visual representation to tell a nuanced story of struggle, resistance, and optimism (Otfinoski 5). The photograph shows a movement that upended and changed the existing quo, inspiring generations of activists and leaders worldwide. The photograph highlights the movement’s human faces and voices and serves as a reminder of the efforts and sacrifices made to bring about development and change.
The photograph of the Selma to Montgomery March is a powerful artifact that exemplifies the role of visual culture in the Civil Rights Movement. This photograph captures an iconic moment in the movement’s evolution and conveys a sense of collective work, solidarity, and perseverance (Reed). The photograph also illustrates the troubled history of the Movement’s interaction with the press.
It is a timely reminder of the power of art to change how people think about and talk about the struggle (Otfinoski 16). The Selma to Montgomery March photo encourages research into the Civil Rights Movement’s visual culture and photography’s impact on public perception and understanding of the movement (Cunningham 340). The photograph is compelling because it tells a nuanced story of hardship, resistance, and hope, all of which became emblematic of the movement. The photograph is essential in preserving the movement’s history and participants and spreading its message to a broader audience.
The Importance of Peaceful Protest and Visual Representation in the Civil Rights Movement
The two archival artifacts that were presented above, the Letter from Birmingham Jail and the iconic photograph of the Selma to Montgomery March, led to the exploration of two distinct but interconnected topics. These subjects encompass the importance of nonviolent resistance and visual culture in shaping the Civil Rights Movement. These topics offer a fresh perspective on the movement and its impact, highlighting activists’ complex strategies and tactics to challenge and transform the status quo.
Significance of Nonviolent Resistance in the Civil Rights Movement
During the Civil Rights Movement, millions came together to confront and ultimately alter the racist attitudes and behaviors that had been institutionalized in the United States for decades, if not centuries. A commitment to nonviolent resistance was central to this movement because it was considered a profoundly moral and spiritual means to combat injustice and build a valued society based on mutual respect and equality (Krishnamurthy 325). A concrete monument to the need for nonviolent resistance to political and social change is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 letter from a Birmingham jail, titled A Letter from Birmingham Jail.
A key Civil Rights Movement tactic was nonviolent resistance, which was crucial in organizing millions of people nationwide and building a moral force to oppose the racist ideologies and actions of the time. Nonviolent resistance was a powerful, moral, and spiritual strategy for accomplishing political objectives. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King stated, “Nonviolent protest does oppose; it is not a cowardly tactic” (Krishnamurthy 333).”
Similarly, one is not genuinely nonviolent if one resorts to this tactic out of fear or simply because one lacks the means of violence. Gandhi frequently remarked that fighting rather than being a coward was preferable if that was the only option, instead of using violence (Livingston 709). The power of nonviolent resistance lay in its ability to create a moral force that challenged the racist beliefs and practices of the time. It mobilized millions nationwide and inspired a generation of activists and leaders to challenge the status quo and work towards a more just and equitable society.
In the letter, King addresses the concerns of a group of white clergymen who had previously voiced opposition to the Civil Rights Movement’s nonviolent tactics and intolerant stance. King contends that nonviolent resistance is a deeply ethical and spiritual approach to pursuing political objectives, touching the conscience of both the oppressors and the oppressed (Livingston 710). In his own words: “We will remember the silence of our friends long after we have forgotten the words of our foes. As a generation, we will have to atone not only for the vile rhetoric and deeds of the evildoers but also for the deafening silence of the righteous (Krishnamurthy 326).”
King also emphasizes that nonviolent resistance is not a tactic for weaklings because it demands self-discipline, bravery, and dedication. He states, “Nonviolent protest does oppose; it is not a cowardly tactic. One is not truly peaceful if he resorts this way out of cowardice or because he does not have the means to resort to violence (Wang 2264).” Because of this, Gandhi often remarked that one should choose violence over cowardice if the latter were their only option.
Visual Culture in the Civil Rights Movement
As a watershed point in the Civil Rights Movement, the Selma to Montgomery March was instrumental in the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. African-American voting rights in the South have been brutally suppressed. Local activists and leaders like John Lewis and Amelia Boynton organized the march to bring attention to the issue. To prevent African Americans from registering to vote, many southern states implemented measures like poll fees and literacy tests (Otfinoski 39).
The Selma to Montgomery March and its aftermath demonstrate the significance of visual culture to the Civil Rights Movement. Photographs showing the marchers being attacked and beaten, and their bravery and resolve in the face of danger, helped shed light on the pervasive racism and discrimination underpinning it (Srivastava 2288). Activists for civil rights used visual culture to contest established narratives and shake up the current quo, eventually leading to significant political and social shifts.
A well-known photograph from the Civil Rights Movement is Dr. King leading the demonstrators across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This image symbolizes the struggle for racial equality and justice because it captures the marchers’ strength, determination, and solidarity (Otfinoski 34). There was more to the impact of visual culture on the Civil Rights Movement than just specific images and symbols. Visual media such as photography, film, and the like were crucial in spreading the movement’s message and preserving its history for future generations.
The iconic Selma to Montgomery March photo is crucial for many reasons. It is a striking visual representation of the movement’s fight for equality and fair treatment under the law. Amidst the violence, intimidation, and incarceration, the marchers’ bravery and determination are eloquently captured in this shot (Cunningham 336).
This photograph represents the solidarity and spirit of collective action felt by people from all walks of life and all corners of the country who came together to demand justice and equality. The significance of visual culture in shaping the way the public viewed the Civil Rights Movement is further shown by this photograph (Schmidt). Pictures like this spread rapidly online, capturing widespread attention and igniting debates about race, justice, and democracy in the US.
Despite its benefits, visual culture has its limitations. Media coverage of the movement focused on acts of violence and conflict rather than the underlying social and political concerns it sought to solve (Cunningham 341). In addition, the public’s perception of the movement was shaped by photographs often filtered and controlled by the mainstream media, leading to an inaccurate portrayal of the movement’s variety and complexity.
Visual culture was essential in raising awareness and changing people’s minds during the Civil Rights Movement (Srivastava 2288). In particular, photography emerged as a potent tool for recording participants’ activities in the movement and spreading the word to a larger audience (Schmidt). The iconic photograph of the Selma to Montgomery March exemplifies the ability of visual representation to capture and express a nuanced story of resistance, hope, and hardship.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the two archival artifacts discussed above represent the various approaches the Civil Rights Movement took to alter the existing rule of law. The famous Selma to Montgomery March photograph and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” capture pivotal moments and ideas from the American Civil Rights Movement. As revealed by the archival artifacts, nonviolent resistance and visual culture shed new light on the significance of the Civil Rights Movement. They also underscore the importance of these tactics in rallying large numbers of people, shifting public perceptions, and giving rise to a moral force that fought against prejudice in its day. By delving into these topics, researchers can learn more about the Civil Rights Movement and be inspired by its legacy of activism and leadership.
Works Cited
Cunningham, Renee M. “The march from Selma to Montgomery and the nonviolent movement in analysis.” Psychological Perspectives, vol. 61, no. 3, 2018, pp. 331–343.
Krishnamurthy, Meena. “Martin Luther King Jr. on Democratic Propaganda, Shame, and Moral Transformation.” Political Theory, vol. 50, no. 2, 2022, pp. 305–336. Web.
Livingston, Alexander. “Power for the powerless: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s late theory of civil disobedience.” The Journal of Politics, vol. 82, no. 2, 2020, pp. 700–713. Web.
Otfinoski, Steven. The Selma Marches for Civil Rights: We Shall Overcome. Capstone, 2018.
Reed, Roy. “Dr. King Leads March at Selma: State Police End It Peaceably Under a U.S.-Arranged Accord.” New York Times Magazine, 1965. Web.
Schmidt, William. “Selma Marchers Mark 1965 Clash.” New York Times Magazine, 1985. Web.
Schwartz, Earl. “Letter from Birmingham Jail”: From World to Word.” Word & World, vol. 38, no. 4, 2018. Web.
Srivastava, Simran. “Selma: A Dream Come True.” Issue 3 Int’l JL Mgmt. & Human, vol. 4 2021, pp. 2288. Web.
Wang, Mushi. “Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement in America.” Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 8, 2023, pp. 2262–2265. Web.