Many people think the best way to achieve equality in the face of discrimination is to fight back violently because, as emphasized by Malcolm X: “Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” However, through nonviolent protesting both MLK and Cesar Chavez advocated for, we see that you achieve more on the long road when you turn the other cheek. Throughout Cesar Chavez’s MLK article, which was of the lead civil rights leaders during the labor union movement, he connects the importance and successes of nonviolence to his audience, hoping they adopt this strategy. By enforcing a tone that is simultaneously provocative and exhortatory and using metaphors and paradoxes,…show more content… This makes the audience feel acknowledged that their actions weren’t for nothing and that they matter. This builds credibility between the audience and the author because he is letting them know that they are doing the right thing for the greater good of society, even though maybe people told them otherwise. This helps achieve the overall goal of the author because it allows people to be comfortable in peaceful protesting. After all, they know what they’re doing will make society better. Towards the end of his speech, Chavez uses a paradox: “When victory comes through violence, it is a victory with strings attached” (paragraph 10). In this paradox, he's trying to get his fellow activists to realize that if they become violent then the victory, if achieved, will not be a full victory. Having the thought that your victory came from hurting others, even those who may be innocent, isn’t a real victory and shouldn't be celebrated because people have to die in vain for your success. That isn’t right and by people realizing this he gets them to lead toward his side of peaceful protesting. The author uses paradox to challenge the audience's thinking about their old ways of
