Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech Summary and Analysis

On behalf of Negroes fighting a creative battle for racial justice, Dr. King accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. He wondered how and why he received this honor at this time when people were met with fire hoses, dogs, brutality and death. Upon contemplation, he concluded that the award came in recognition of the nonviolent response to the crucial and moral need to overcome violence without using aggression and domination.

In honoring Dr. King and the Civil Rights leadership, the Prize Committee recognized the many men, women and children who faced brutality in their peaceful struggle for justice, because they are "humble children of God . . . willing to suffer for righteousness' sake" (p. 225). He accepted the award convinced of the hope of justice in an alliance to overcome problems and a faith that mankind would choose peace...