Eye for an Eye: The Role of Armed Resistance ... - Freedom Archives

and enforced against Black humanity. Understanding the importance and central-
ity of the desire for basic human dignity the term "human rights" is often used in
this study.
"Mississippi freedom movement" is used in the title and text of this work .
In the 1950's and 1960's, activists and local Blacks referred to their struggle as
one for "freedom ." Major organizations and institutions (e .g . Mississippi Freedom
Democratic Party, Mississippi Freedom Labor Union, freedom school, Freedom
House, Freedom Summer, etc .) incorporated "freedom" in their names . To Black
folks in Mississippi and other parts of the South, the civil and human rights
campaigns were synonymous with the "freedom movement."
The terms "armed resistance," " armed struggle," "armed insurrection,"
"armed self-defense," "retaliatory violence," "spontaneous rebellion," and "terror-
ism" are all utilized in this work . "Armed resistance" is a broad term which is
inclusive of all other terms utilized above . "Armed struggle" refers to political
violence by insurgent groups or oppressed groups to achieve state power. "Armed
insurrection" is the conspiracy of insurgent groups to use force to overthrow the
ruling group . In the experience of people of African descent in the U.S ., the
orientation towards armed struggle and insurrection primarily existed, with some
exceptions, prior to emancipation . Armed struggle and insurrection will not be a
focus of this study during the period covering the Mississippi freedom movement .
Much of the armed resistance referred to in this work, during the period of
the 1950's and 1960's is "armed self-defense ." In this work, it is defined as
protection of human life, dignity, and property, through force, against violence .
The preparation and organization of force to diminish the threat of violence is