Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement known for advocating nonviolent resistance?

The correct answer is Martin Luther King Jr., who is widely recognized as the leader of the Civil Rights Movement that championed nonviolent resistance as a strategy for achieving social change. His philosophy was heavily influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, which emphasized the power of peaceful protest to confront and dismantle systemic racism and segregation.

King played a pivotal role in many significant events during the Civil Rights Movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Selma to Montgomery marches. Through his speeches, such as the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, King called for racial equality and harmony, advocating for civil disobedience while urging followers to avoid violence, even in the face of brutality.

While Malcolm X and other figures certainly contributed important perspectives to the movement, they primarily advocated different methods that included a more militant stance for some. Rosa Parks is often celebrated for her pivotal act of defiance that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and John Lewis was a key leader in the movement who supported King’s nonviolent philosophy, but it is King who is more specifically recognized for his overarching nonviolent approach and leadership.