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Martin Luther King Jr's experience highlights important lessons for Zimbabwe, Africa
US Embassy in Harare
January 19, 2007

The experience of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in leading non-violent protests in the U.S in the 1960s provides important lessons for Zimbabwe and Africa, several participants to a film presentation on his life said.

The film presentation was held in Harare on January 16th and featured three films on Dr. King Jr. The films, "The March", "Man of Peace" and "From King to Congress", were part of an event organized by the U.S. Embassy to celebrate the life of Dr. King Jr. The event also featured a book and poster exhibition. (See related article)

A group wrote essays on their reflections of Dr. King Jr.’s life after watching the film. Most of the responses** focused on the life and experience of Dr. King Jr. in relation to the situation in Zimbabwe and Africa in general. For many, the experience of Dr. King Jr. provided an inspiration to Zimbabweans working to promote civil liberties. Some echoed a similar view but also hoped something similar to the "1963 March on Washington" is possible locally. Others saw parallels to Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence and the campaign to restore human rights and democracy.

A sampling of the comments includes:

• "His [King] story was frankly inspiring. It shows that if a single man is driven by passion so deep he is a majority. The American political atmosphere is more open and is clearly built on the virtue of servant hood- a property that lends itself to a great nation. This is the kind of spirit that the African leadership has failed to cultivate at home hence…there is unnecessary poverty."
• "Given our experience in Zimbabwe, I would suggest that King’s ideas of equality should be employed in Zimbabwe."
• "It is amazing seeing how big revolutions start from humble and somewhat insignificant steps. It is to be kept in the memory of the many suffering brethrens of Africa, that not all is lost. No, not yet. We can still make changes."
• "The life and work of Dr. King Jr. should serve as an epitome of how people, especially Africans should fight for their own freedom and free themselves from the pangs of various African despotic governments."
• "…Someone in [Zimbabwe] that has the same dream and will have the courage and determination to fight against racial discrimination, whether it is white against black or black against white. If only other influential people could rise above the fears of their time and commit energies to the service of mankind, the universe could be transformed."
• "Watching scenes of Americans of all backgrounds working together has reinforced my sincere hope that we as Zimbabweans can in the same way, work together regardless of ethnicity, tribe or creed for our common future."
• "I think we have to remember our heroes and celebrate what they helped us to achieve. Here I mean non-violence and peace…I have a dream that one day whites and blacks in Zimbabwe will live peacefully together. This is being celebrated in USA and is happening all over the world. However, it is still a need in different places including Zimbabwe. In my opinion we have to work together and step in King Jr.’s footsteps."
• [Dr. King was] "a man of Great Spirit, without fear or anxiety he was a man who stood for his integrated principles…Zimbabwe needs such spirited people, who will stand without fear or second thoughts to stop and condemn what is not right even if it cost life."

The videos emphasized that the achievements did not belong to Dr. King alone, but to the whole civil rights movements in America. As one of the shortest comments provided in the impromptu survey noted, "Unity of purpose can achieve a lot."

Dr. King was one of the most eloquent voices in the U.S. civil rights movement during the 1950s and ‘60s. As a political organizer, supremely skilled orator and advocate of nonviolent protest, King was pivotal in persuading his fellow Americans to end the legal segregation that prevailed throughout the South and other regions, and in sparking support for the civil rights legislation that established the legal framework for racial equality in the United States.

Americans celebrate his life with a holiday on the third Monday of each January.

** Even where respondents provided their names, these have been withheld because the individual’s consent was not sought specifically for the publication of this article. 

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