But Langston Hughes articulated a very different rationale for history --- and a much more radical one. For Langston Hughes, the real purpose of history was to change America --- not just to celebrate it.



Watch the full version of Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech.

In his first book Stride Toward Freedom (1958), King laid out six key principles of nonviolence.

First, nonviolence is not passive, but requires courage. Second, nonviolence seeks to win the "friendship and understanding" of the opponent, not to humiliate him. Third, evil itself, not the people committing evil acts, should be opposed. Fourth, those committed to nonviolence must be willing to suffer without retaliation as suffering itself can be redemptive. Fifth, a rejection of hatred, animosity or violence of the spirit, as well as refusal to commit physical violence. The resister should be motivated by love in the sense of the Greek word agape, which means "understanding," or "redeeming good will for all men." The sixth principle is that the nonviolent resister must have a "deep faith in the future," stemming from the conviction that "the universe is on the side of justice."