The burden of Hate

"Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated." -Coretta Scott King

I believe this quote sums up the Civil Rights Movement, especially the feats by individual members of SNCC and the SCLC. Dr. Martin Luther King constantly preached nonviolence, but his message didn't necessarily answer the question of why using actions and words instead of fists and guns is better. Mrs. Scott King's justification not only responds to this point, but it also targets some of the principles of Malcom X and many white radicalists during the 50s, 60s, and the 70s. Their promotion of violence would never work - violence stems from hate. Violence stems from rage - it stems from acting on hate and anger, and this is what leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were morally apposed to. Hate is, in essence, strategically suicidal. Not only would it corrupt the soul, but it wouldn't get you far. There were many moments when African Americans wanted to grab their guns from their homes and start a violent backlash, especially after Bloody Sunday. But if that began, the opposing side would only retaliate with larger weapons and a mass of people with those larger weapons; African Americans and their allies would only lose the battle. Blows from a bat injured someone physically, but the policeman at the end of that weapon hurt themselves internally, a part far more invaluable.

I've always known this, but discussing the emotions of anger and violence with leaders of the Movement allowed me to understand it both intellectually and emotionally. Both Sybil Jordan Hampden and Andrew Young forgave the cruelty they faced; they could understand it. They said to us that we should never act upon our emotions - upon our anger - but we should rather respond logically and leave the emotions behind. Like I've said, I've always known this; it's embedded in childhood fables and stories of teachers and parents. It just makes sense. But something about this became clearer on this trip. When I asked our special guests questions, prodded their minds further, their answers were always clear and simple and well thought out. They've lived through some of the hardest struggles, but they never fought back. This courage, this internal strength, is something I'll always remember. I will always look towards them when I face my own hardships and problems. Why get angry and emotional in any situation? What good would that do?

Also, Coretta Scott King was an underrated, highly intelligent woman, so I thought we needed to mention her name at least once.

Sabina Diaz-Rimal

12^th grade, The Park School