Martin Luther King Jr. was much more than just a Baptist preacher. He was the leader of the civil rights movement. In the 1960’s he left his mark on America by changing it forever. He inspired millions of people not just in the United States, but also across the world. I believe Martin Luther King Jr. was an iconic figure in the civil rights movement because of his nonviolence contributions; leading nonviolent marches, his disapproval of the Black Nationalist party and for being recognized by the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament.
During the early 60’s Martin Luther King Jr. led many on violent protests and marches. In 1963 King led two marches one in Birmingham and one on Washington. The first march failed when police used high-pressured hoses, dogs, and clubs to disperse the crowd. Yet the second march on Washington was a success, which led to the meeting of King and other civil rights leaders with the President and Vice President. Later on in 1964 King led
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This is what King was trying to show the people of the world and America. Furthermore, Malcolm X later shared words about his thoughts on King and said, "I'll say nothing against him. At one time the whites in the United States called him a racialist, and extremist, and a Communist. Then the Black Muslims came along and the whites thanked the Lord for Martin Luther King." King was able to use the violent motives of the Black Nationalist Party to further his cause. Many people believed that towards the end of Kings civil rights fight he was becoming more like Malcolm X, more aggressive and violent. Yet, Kings contrast with Malcolm X and the Black Nationalist Party allowed King to be seen as the “acceptable” face of the civil rights movement with led to even greater heights when he got nominated for a chance at the Noble Peace Prize in
and Malcolm X, both employ similar rhetorical devices, the tone of their work and messages they are conveying is quite different for what should be done. King targets on hopeful ideals in his speech by using diction such as “now,” “dream,” and “freedom.” His purpose was to give as much positivity and pride to the cause, as to not leave a foul residue at the end of American history. He believes that a non-violent cause would allow the people to ascend, rather than be associated to the very same notion they wished to nullify. Malcolm X in the same fashion, had a contrasting purpose and speech. He focused on racial oppression to fuel his followers desire to be freed from such things. By doing so, he uses words such as “the time is running out,” “treachery,” and “the ballot or the bullet.” He wanted to embolden hatred towards their oppressors for the quickest change possible. In his own ways, he believed that they didn’t see anything wrong in their actions, therefore he wanted to fight the same way they were fighting. King wanted to approach the problem as humane as possible without anyone getting hurt, yet getting something done. While X used any means to get what he wants, forcing the change no matter who gets
During 1955-64 USA was still going through racial inequality between whites and blacks. Black campaigns such as Student non-violent coordinating committee, felt that the civil rights movement was too slow and hence needed something to boost them up in order to succeed what they first rose up for, which was desegregation and equality for all. King was a highly charismatic and a gifted orator who helped promote non-violent tactics. His first use of this ‘non-violent theory’ was shown through the sit-ins and hence positively influenced a lot of the black campaigners. Leaders, countless activists, campaigners and ordinary black
Martin Luther king Jr, and his followers stood for non-violent protests, despite being victims of threats. Although King was highly recognized, and praised amongst the black community not all African American’s agreed with his ideology of obtaining their civil rights through peaceful non-violence protest. Therefore other movements were created such as the Black Power Movement which was a group that emphasized that blacks should claim their civil rights through violence. Overall Martin Luther King Jr had an major impact on the civil rights movement, and will always be remembered for his famous impactful “I have a dream speech” which was his vision of black & white people coinciding with one another, and ultimately living in peace together where blacks do not have to worry about being judged by their skin color, but instead their actions. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Martin Luther King was a great historical figure in our society. However, there wasn't just one, as the fight for African American rights was an ongoing struggle in our society. Many people stood up for the injustice against African Americans since many were oppressed during this time period of the 1960s due to their skin color. That's when Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X stood up and became two important historical figures in our society as they fought against these issues. That being said, after examining the philosophies of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X on the issues of segregation of American society, economic opportunities for black people, and the use of nonviolence as a method of making change, it’s clear that Martin
Another demonstration led by Martin Luther King was The March on Washington' which took place on 29' August 1963. Over 250,000 demonstrators attended The March on Washington, in attempt to gain civil rights for all. rights for all. During this demonstration, Martin Luther King made his famous "I have a dream" speech in which he expressed his
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 which led to the ban on segregation in southern states such as in Albany, Georgia, Birmingham and Selma, Alabama has passed and early in 1965 African Americans were protesting against voting rights registration. Martin Luther King Jr. plans to coordinate a mass protest against voter registration drive which will secure voting rights for African Americans. Jim Bevel was a member in SCLC which suggested that the campaign should take place in Selma, Alabama, where an unsuccessful voter registration drive had been going on for months. In February 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. with other SCLC members visited Selma and led a match to protest in the Courthouse against voter registration. People protests in Selma which
Without Martin Luther King, there is no Malcolm X. Without Malcolm X, there is no Martin Luther King. There couldn’t have been one without the other. They were complete opposites; they were two of the most different men. Nevertheless, they were fighting for the same thing. They were fighting for the civil rights of African Americans in a country thought to have been based on “freedom” and “equality”. These two men were brave enough to stand up for what they believed in, for what was right. They were brave enough to take on the weight of the responsibility and burdens they were about endure to make what was wrong, right. Equality and fairness among all types of people. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are probably the two best known African-American leaders of the last century. Since their deaths in the 60’s no one has been able to fill the shoes that these men wore in striving for the civil rights of African Americans. Both men were ministers and also victims of assassination. They became famous around the same time but, they believed in very different styles of going about how they planned on fighting for these rights. King was a peaceful man. He didn’t believe in violence, he hoped for a day where black and white men could one day call one another brothers. Malcolm X wanted African Americans to be able to take control of their own lives, by any means necessary. He was known for having believed that violence could solve problems like these. These two men, although
Malcolm X for example strived for the same thing as Dr. King, freedom. The difference is , is that although Malcolm X didn’t persuade or want violence , he didn’t care to stop it either. He believed in self defense for all African Americans and that self- preservation comes first. He says , "I don't mean go out and get violent; but at the same time you should never be nonviolent unless you run into some nonviolence. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. But when you drop that violence on me, then you've made me go insane, and I'm not responsible for what I do." People would look on this and make assumptions that every black leader or person strives to violence so why should Martin Luther King be any different. As proven by his speeches, points/views , belief, and demonstrations, he is/was a positive rebel that was heroic because he helped America’s
As the civil rights movement progressed in the 1960's, Martin Luther King Jr. was already appealing to people's hearts. Fighting against racism in America, he believed that the only way to achieve long lasting results was through peace and non-violence. However, Malcolm X had different values. He believed that to accomplish his goals, he needed to do whatever it took to achieve them. Although they both have very impactful marks on the world, Martin Luther King Jr. stance on racism was much superior to Malcolm X's.
Throughout history there are many great people who dedicated their life to the advancement of the African American race. Few of these people created as much controversy during the 1960’s then the man who would be known as Malcolm X. Unlike many of the civil rights leaders of the time who promoted non violence, Malcolm X believed in the use of aggressive tactics in his battle for equality.
The 1963 March on Washington was one of American’s very memorable, large-scale peace-rallies supporting these goals - this one with the goal to showcase an interest in ending racial prejudice, and to support the Civil Rights Bill. It was during this march that Dr. King gave his memorable, televised, and uplifting, “I Have a Dream” speech.1 Other protest groups and marches occurred with a similar goal. For instance, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was created to connect with younger folk interested in protesting primarily through sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and freedom rides, with a focus on nonviolence “… appealing to conscience and standing on the moral nature of human existence…”2 "The purpose”…in Alabama, according to King, was “to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation".3 The Alabama march began in Selma, and moved to Montgomery where the protesters were met by police with guard
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pastor, an activist, and a leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He had a huge impact in the Civil Rights Movement for African-Americans and for people all over the world. He was known for promoting nonviolent protest, inspired by Ghandi. Mr. King is now a heroic figure to modern American liberalism.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of many men in history that have impacted the lives of many around the world. He helped fought to bring awareness to help abolish segregation within the United States and within the hearts and minds of many.
Dr. King and Malcolm X strived to achieve equality for blacks under the law, more specifically, voting rights, desegregation, and more representation in government and politics. However, both men differed immensely in their tactics and strategies. For Dr. King, the negotiations could be brought about by the persistence of a nonviolent plan where, the oppressed people’s determination would overcome the will of the oppressor in the hearts and minds of the nation. He firmly believed in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi’s method of nonviolence resistance, which had been successful in driving the British out of India. For example, according to King, one of the resisters, or black mans goals is not to humiliate the opponent, (the white man) but to win his friendship and understanding. Dr. King proposed a passive resistance, based on “the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice” (“Pilgrimage to Non Violence” King, 112). He claimed the center of nonviolence is based on the principle of love, or understanding. Dr. King emphasized that the white man should not be held responsible for the minorities and blacks being oppressed. Here is where the two leaders oppose each other. Malcolm X felt social injustice and racism had endured too long, and it was
Malcolm X believed that blacks should be separate from whites as well as equal; he developed this view from the influence of the Nation of Islam and because of the long term abuse and suffering caused by several prominent whites in his life. The views of Malcolm X changed after he left the Nation of Islam in 19__ and he started to view Kings methods in a less negative light and began to be more tolerant towards White people, this new stance was developed during his visit to Mecca where he realised that many of the lessons he had learnt from the Nation of Islam where false and unfair and not all whites were 'white devils' Martin Luther King's aims were to make black people equal with whites in the same society. King appreciated that this would take time and so he set out to prove that the segregation system was not separate and equal, the successes of this struggle gave the civil rights movement press coverage which transmitted their beliefs to the world. King used the methods he learned from Ghandi, he used non-violence protests and tried not to break the law whilst stilling trying to prove the segregation system unfair. This form of non-violent direct action was widely criticised by both Black power organisations (for not being of any significance) and White Americans (for inciting violence) but in truth it highlighted how unjust the segregation system