A Call for Nonviolence

On October 9th, 2014 the Reverend Jim Lawson spoke to a full house of students, teachers, and faculty in the Agricultural Sciences Building. Many people do not know about the Reverend, but his impact on American society can still be seen today. 

Flashback to December 1st, 1954 in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus. Following this, a 13 month bus strike began, protesting the unconstitutional treatment towards blacks thus paving the way for the era of the Civil Rights Movement. Reverend  Jim Lawson could remember these events vividly. Not because he’s read dozens of book relating to the time period or did research of the Civil Right Movement. Jim Lawson knew these events because he lived through them. However, Jim Lawson didn’t speak to us to give us a history lesson. We could do that on our on. What he came to Penn State he spoke about what the Civil Rights Act entails and the reality that fighting for civil rights is not over.

Jim Lawson was proclaimed by Martin Luther King as the greatest theoretician and tactition of nonviolence. Jim Lawson has devoted his life to creating peaceful ways to ensure rights to all people.

Reverend Lawson began his talk with telling us that we cannot  truly celebrate the 1964 Civil Rights Act unless we know what the Act truly means. He told us that while many people think that the Civil Rights Act gave African-American rights, he told us that it was much more than that. Not only were African-Americans granted more rights, but rights were given to all regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or origin. He told us that if we want to truly fight racism we also need to fight sexism and violence too.

His main point to all of us was the the fight for civil rights is not over. He believes that we are further from gaining civil rights for all than we ever have been. He argued that instead of spending so much time and resources on fighting, money should be going to education. He did not leave us with with all of this information to keep for ourselves. He challenged us to make a change in our community. He asked us to work for improving rights for all people.

He then said something that suck out to me. He told us to look around and notice the diversity in the room. He mentioned that in 1960 this was not possible. We have come far but we are not done yet.

2 thoughts on “A Call for Nonviolence

  1. Leigh Erin Bernetich says:

    This was a very informative post. I loved how you incorporated a little background information on Reverend Jim Lawson and his role in the civil rights movement in the 60s. Even though we did not live during that time, I still think that this topic is relatable to everyone. And the reverend is right: in the 1960s, this wouldn’t have been possible. Just remember where WE ARE PENN STATE came from!

  2. Jacky says:

    It is amazing to be able to meet someone who went through that period of time and experience the hardships that occurred. It is great to see how far the world has come since the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

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