Non-violent methods such as those employed by great men like Mohandas (later Mahatma) Gandhi, Martin Luther King Junior and Nelson Mandela are absolutely crucial to solving the problems of racism , as other stratagems can do. will only reap a harvest of renewed hatred and will ultimately lead to continued violence. Peaceful means of protesting unjust and racist laws are often the only plausible solution, even in the face of hatred and oppression. Peace is not only the absence of violence, but also a state in which there is no aggression and the government does not control by force. Negative peace is order, while positive peace is justice. Positive peace is truly the goal of every individual who advocates coexistence. In South Africa, Mohandas Gandhi witnessed racism against Indians. He mobilized this minority to join forces in organized protests by crossing borders (which was illegal without a special pass) and burning government registration certificates. These protests resulted in the acceptance of Hindu ceremonies and less severe restrictions for Indians. Nelson Mandela later worked to solve the problems of black people in the same region. Satyagraha, meaning "Strength of the Soul" or "Force of Truth", is a term coined by Gandhi to denote peaceful protest. Satyagraha protesters often participate in hartal, a form of protest involving prayer and marching. Satyagraha involves using your soul to look beyond violence and anger, even when you are violently provoked. Practitioners of Satyagraha strive to have peace with aggressors. Many strategies must sometimes be used to achieve their goals, as the story of Nelson Mandela shows. Peaceful protests may in turn give way to picketing, rallying, marching, and sabotage when each is prohibited. T...... middle of paper ...... systems have persisted to the present day. Peacemakers have given us the opportunity to live in a state of true peace, risking their lives to end major problems such as racism and poverty. Works Cited Bolden, Tonya. MLK Journey of a King. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, 2007Bull, Angela. Finally free! The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. New York, New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2000DeVillier, Christy. Martin Luther King Jr. Edina, Minnesota: ABDO Publishing Company, 2001 Haskins, Jim. I Have a Dream in New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishing, 1992 Kramer, Ann. Nelson Mandela Austin, Texas: Steck-Vaughn Company, 2003Lynch, Emma. Martin Luther King Jr. Chicago, IL: Reed Elsevier Incorporated, 2005 Wilkinson, Philip. Gandhi, the young protester who founded a nation Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2005