What Whistleblowers Can Learn From DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

Apart from being one of history’s greatest civil rights activists, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is also revered for his many majestic words of social wisdom. He was an orator, through and through, with strong conviction to amplify the messages behind his quotes. Some of these quotes include:

“Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate;  only love can do that.”

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

“Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty. We’re free at last.”

Dr. King spoke for the voiceless, for oppressed minority groups who could not stand up for themselves, and he did so with the subtle, yet profoundly impactful approach of peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience. For whistleblowers, a minority group on its comparative own, perhaps none of Dr. King’s inspirational quotes rang truer than this:

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Having been subjected to the rampant racism and segregation that has plagued America for decades, King would witness African-Americans being denied civil rights that their white neighbors were privileged with. They included voting and getting work, among countless others. 

In his own unique way, King himself was a whistleblower. He called out what he saw as social injustices, and he did something about it, through the use of nonviolent, peaceful civil disobedience. 

He was historically renowned for his use of nonviolent, peaceful civil disobedience, an approach inspired by famous pacifists as the Mahātmā Gandhi and also his father, Baptist minister Martin Luther King, Sr. Consequently, King would be met with hostile, and at times violent opposition, from politicians, law enforcement officials, and others who were determined to maintain racist Jim Crow Laws and a segregationist status quo. Dr. King was motivated to right wrongs and end social injustice through peaceful protests. He participated in massive peaceful sit-ins to protest segregations of lunch counters in Atlanta, GA. Propelled by Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, AL bus, King effectively staged a bus boycott in the city which lasted a whole year–and he was arrested for the effort.

Nevertheless, King was undaunted. Along with his countless followers, colleagues, and white allies, King valiantly, yet peaceably, stood tall in his quest to improve civil rights towards African-Americans and all peoples of color who were oppressed during these turbulent times. His courage emboldened thousands to rise up, which helped enhance significant momentum for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. 

All this happened because Dr. King would not sit by any longer and be oppressed. He did something about it.

Whistleblowers can learn something from the examples that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had set. In order to speak up against wrongdoings that are happening within certain environments, aspiring whistleblowers must muster up the proper courage to speak out and take action. King refused to sit idly by and let hate-induced oppression continue upon African-Americans. He used this refusal to fuel his strength to get the civil rights movement’s messages out to the world. Whistleblowers must try to do the same, by not letting unjust acts go by without being addressed and resolved to the fullest.

Another strong attribute from King was his perseverance. He would not let physical violence or even incarceration get in the way of his cause. Whistleblowers should also use this attribute and persevere in their quest for unveiling the truth, even if it means retaliation from employers or other antagonistic parties. They must not give up, just as Dr. King didn’t.

King was also not afraid to take action, albeit in his celebrated approach of nonviolent resistance. Whistleblowers must commit to unveiling their desired truths to the most of their ability. Whether it involves making necessary reports to the proper channels or government authorities, or staging employee get-togethers to protest work issues such as unfair pay and unsafe conditions, whistleblowers should do everything in their power to get their voices heard. 

Just like Dr. King did.

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we at Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival will always salute the man himself for his undying legacy and positive actions that have transcended eras. We encourage both would-be and veteran whistleblowers to follow Dr. King’s examples and to voice out social injustices effectively and safely.

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