Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Six Principles of Nonviolence Series from 60-Second Civics
In this special series, we discuss Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s six principles of nonviolence. By emphasizing virtues such as understanding, love, peace, and learning, King laid out a vision for collective action as the moral and necessary path toward achieving justice. Each episode of this series covers the following principles with direct reference to Dr. King's thoughts on the issues:
- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
- Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
- Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
- Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.
- Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
- Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
- Select an episode from the list below.
- Play the video for your class by projecting it on the board.
- Ask students to answer the Daily Civics question as a class.
- Debrief the activity by asking students why the correct answer is true.
Nonviolence Requires Courage: Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 1
In the first episode in our series on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s six principles of nonviolence, we focus on his first principle: Nonviolence requires courage. Listen to learn more!
Nonviolence Seeks Reconciliation: Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 2
In this episode, we discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s second principle of nonviolence, which holds that nonviolence seeks reconciliation, not the defeat of an adversary. Listen to learn what Dr. King meant by this principle!
Nonviolence Seeks to Defeat Injustice, Not People: Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 3
In this episode, we discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s third principle of nonviolence, which holds that nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people. Nonviolent action, King said, is directed at eliminating evil, not destroying an evildoer. Learn what was meant by this principle in this episode!
Nonviolence Educates and Reforms: Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 4
In this episode, we discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s fourth principle of nonviolence—that nonviolence educates and reforms. King believed that the experience of acting nonviolently in the face of injustice transformed people. Learn more about this principle in this episode!
Love, Not Hate: Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 5
In our fifth episode, we discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s next principle of nonviolence—that nonviolence chooses love instead of hate. King emphasized that nonviolence meant not only renouncing physical violence, but also the avoidance of hatred—what he called the “internal violence of the spirit.” Listen for more!
The Universe Is on the Side of Justice: Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 6
In our final episode of this special series, we discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s sixth principle of nonviolence—that the universe is on the side of justice. King believed that “every person who believes in nonviolent resistance believes somehow that the universe in some form is on the side of justice.” Learn more about this final principle in this episode!
Six Principles of Nonviolence Playlist
We hope you've enjoyed the Six Principles of Nonviolence series from 60-Second Civics. Please check out our YouTube playlist to access all episodes in this series!
