Activism Without Borders: from MLK to Gandhi
Photo of a drawing of MLK Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi Source: Matt Lemon
On Monday, January 20, 2025, the world joined the United States in celebrating a global civil rights icon — Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. Celebrated on the third Monday of January each year, Martin Luther King Day is a time to honor MLK’s vision for civil rights. He inspired and was inspired by many global civil rights leaders, from Nelson Mandela to Wangari Maathai to Mahatma Gandhi.
King was a model global citizen. His dream of a world where people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character has echoed throughout the world. MLK Jr.’s influence of activism without borders has outlived him and continues to inspire global protests against racial injustice. He showed us that global civil rights activism is a worthwhile path, among many other global careers and opportunities to serve, learn, and contribute to amazing global causes.
A century ago, thousands of miles across the Atlantic and near the Indian Ocean, Mahatma Gandhi used ahimsa (nonviolence) in the struggle for India’s independence and the fight for human rights. Gandhi’s blueprint for peaceful resistance brought about monumental change in India and inspired other movements across the world.
Inspired by Gandhi, MLK Jr. used nonviolent resistance in his civil rights activism in the U.S., addressing police brutality, racial inequality, and poverty. His actions proved that the fight for equality and justice transcends borders. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the March on Washington, King’s legendary and unwavering commitment to nonviolent civil rights activism, much like Gandhi’s before him, serves as an example to emulate. King’s efforts contributed to the dismantling of institutionalized racism and led to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the U.S.
He codified the fact that civil rights are a universal struggle for human dignity.
The global tapestry of civil rights movements can, and do, share common goals of dignity, freedom, and equality. In South Africa’s fight against the brutal system of racial segregation known as apartheid, Nelson Mandela switched from armed resistance to reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness — mirroring King’s belief in peace and unity.
Moreover, another South African, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, championed human rights and worked to dismantle apartheid through faith-driven activism that emphasized peaceful means. MLK, Mandela, and Tutu exemplified great moral courage and impeccable global leadership, making it no surprise that each was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their impactful work.
Another Nobel laureate and global icon, Kenyan professor Wangari Maathai, advanced civil rights through environmental activism with the Green Belt Movement. By promoting sustainable community development and empowering women, Maathai demonstrated that civil rights are deeply intertwined with issues such as land, resources, and community welfare.
While MLK Jr. is often seen as the face of the civil rights movement, many other voices contributed to the global struggle for justice, offering diverse approaches to the fight. Contrarian activists such as Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey offer a contrasting viewpoint to King’s nonviolent approach. Malcolm X, in particular, advocated for Black empowerment and self-determination, famously endorsing the pursuit of justice by “any means necessary.”
On the other hand, Marcus Garvey, who inspired Malcolm and was posthumously pardoned on Sunday, January 19, 2025, by President Biden, championed pan-Africanism, urging people of African origin to celebrate their shared global heritage. Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association was a symbol of global Black pride and laid the foundation for many liberation movements across the globe — especially in the African continent.
Civil rights struggles are not confined to one region, or continent or country. They are global. From indigenous rights movements in Canada, Australia, and the United States, to the global fight against poverty and for women’s equality and LGBTQ+ rights, people all over the world have risen to challenge oppression and demand freedom, equality, justice, and dignity.
Oppression may take different forms in different places, but the call for justice remains the same. Global civil rights leaders like MLK Jr., Gandhi, Mandela, Maathai, Malcolm X, and Garvey remind us that their fight is now our fight and that change is possible when people break walls between them through simple exchanges and unite under a common purpose.
As we honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and that of his peers, it’s important to recognize that the struggle for civil rights is an ongoing global endeavor. These global icons are an inspiration to everyone who fights for a shared destiny, dream, and reality of a world that respects human rights, human dignity, and human freedom.
Connect, explore, and become even more worldly at Carpe Global, where you can learn about great resources and opportunities like those shared above! Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media @carpeglobal.
Michael Araka is a communications consultant with Carpe Global. Michael writes extensively on policy issues and current affairs. He holds an Msc in Management Science in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University where he was a Schwarzman Scholar, and a BA in Ethics and Politics from Bard College Berlin.
