This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. encapsulates a fundamental principle of social justice and civil rights movements. King was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s, advocating for racial equality and an end to segregation and discrimination.
In this quote, King is expressing the idea that those who hold power and oppress others are unlikely to relinquish that power willingly. Freedom and justice are not typically granted out of the goodness of the oppressor's heart; instead, they must be actively pursued and demanded by those who are oppressed.
By saying "it must be demanded by the oppressed," King emphasizes the importance of marginalized communities organizing, protesting, and advocating for their rights. He believed in the power of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as effective means to demand change and challenge systems of oppression.
Overall, this quote highlights the necessity of collective action and the agency of oppressed people in the struggle for freedom and equality. It underscores the idea that progress is often achieved through struggle and perseverance in the face of resistance from those in power.
