In mathematics and statistics, the term arithmetic mean is preferred over simply mean because it helps to differentiate between other means such as geometric and harmonic mean. Statistical mean is the most common term for calculating the mean of a statistical distribution.
There were, in my opinion, two main reasons for this: 1  I believe that Dr. King believed that nonviolence was a more moral strategy than one that included violence. 2  King also believed that nonviolence was a more effective way to get people on the side of the protestors.
Set the stage for this lesson by having students read a brief selection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s writings on nonviolence, available through EDSITEment at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project website: 1  Nonviolence and Racial Justice. 2  Letter from Birmingham Jail.