Nonviolence before King

The Politics of Being and the Black Freedom Struggle

By Anthony C. Siracusa | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

In the early 1960s, thousands of Black activists used nonviolent direct action to challenge segregation at lunch counters, movie theaters, skating rinks, public pools, and churches across the United States, battling for, and winning, social change. Organizers against segregation had used litigation and protests for decades but not until the advent of nonviolence did they succeed in transforming ingrained patterns of white supremacy on a massive scale. In this book, Anthony C. Siracusa unearths the deeper lineage of anti-war pacifist activists and thinkers from the early twentieth century who developed nonviolence into a revolutionary force for Black liberation.

Telling the story of how this powerful political philosophy came to occupy a central place in the Black freedom movement by 1960, Siracusa challenges the idea that nonviolent freedom practices faded with the rise of the Black Power movement. He asserts nonviolence’s staying power, insisting that the indwelling commitment to struggle for freedom collectively in a spirit of nonviolence became, for many, a lifelong commitment. In the end, what was revolutionary about the nonviolent method was its ability to assert the basic humanity of Black Americans, to undermine racism’s dehumanization, and to insist on the right to be.

Editions of Nonviolence before King

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469662992
Paperback
ISBN 9781469663005
EBook
ISBN 9781469663029
EBook
ISBN 9798890860989
EBook
ISBN 9781469663012
PDF
ISBN 9798890860972

Read an Excerpt

In the early 1960s, thousands of Black activists used nonviolent direct action to challenge segregation at lunch counters, movie theaters, skating rinks, public pools, and churches across the United States, battling for, and winning, social change. Organizers against segregation had used litigation and protests for decades but not until the advent of nonviolence did they succeed in transforming ingrained patterns of white supremacy on a massive scale. In this book, Anthony C. Siracusa unearths the deeper lineage of anti-war pacifist activists and thinkers from the early twentieth century who developed nonviolence into a revolutionary force for Black liberation.

Telling the story of how this powerful political philosophy came to occupy a central place in the Black freedom movement by 1960, Siracusa challenges the idea that nonviolent freedom practices faded with the rise of the Black Power movement. He asserts nonviolence’s staying power, insisting that the indwelling commitment to struggle for freedom collectively in a spirit of nonviolence became, for many, a lifelong commitment. In the end, what was revolutionary about the nonviolent method was its ability to assert the basic humanity of Black Americans, to undermine racism’s dehumanization, and to insist on the right to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nonviolence before King about?

In the early 1960s, thousands of Black activists used nonviolent direct action to challenge segregation at lunch counters, movie theaters, skating rinks, public pools, and churches across the United States, battling for, and winning, social change. Organizers against segregation had used litigation and protests for decades but not until the advent of nonviolence did they succeed in transforming ingrained patterns of white supremacy on a massive scale. In this book, Anthony C. Siracusa unearths the deeper lineage of anti-war pacifist activists and thinkers from the early twentieth century who developed nonviolence into a revolutionary force for Black liberation.

Telling the story of how this powerful political philosophy came to occupy a central place in the Black freedom movement by 1960, Siracusa challenges the idea that nonviolent freedom practices faded with the rise of the Black Power movement. He asserts nonviolence’s staying power, insisting that the indwelling commitment to struggle for freedom collectively in a spirit of nonviolence became, for many, a lifelong commitment. In the end, what was revolutionary about the nonviolent method was its ability to assert the basic humanity of Black Americans, to undermine racism’s dehumanization, and to insist on the right to be.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Nonviolence before King?

History and Archaeology > History > History: specific events and topics > Social and cultural history

Where can I read a sample of Nonviolence before King?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469662992

How long is Nonviolence before King and how many pages does it have?

Nonviolence before King has 290 page(s)

Is Nonviolence before King part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Justice, Power, and Politics

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Nonviolence before King?

Anthony C. Siracusa

Who is the Publisher of the book Nonviolence before King?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Nonviolence before King is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469662992) and paperback(ISBN 9781469663005) and ebook(ISBN 9781469663029) and ebook(ISBN 9798890860989) and ebook(ISBN 9781469663012) and pdf(ISBN 9798890860972)

Where can I buy Nonviolence before King online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Nonviolence before King from below

Where can I buy Nonviolence before King?