“Martin & Malcolm & America & Peace”
If one man never steps forward to show all the others that change is possible, nothing will ever change. When you look back at history of the American civil rights movement, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are still often two of the first names even someone of today’s society may think of. They were, and still are, some of the most influential men to ever live. As young African-American men living during a time of harsh global, but most importantly, national racism and prejudice; teaching effective techniques to achieve peace and equality to others was extremely difficult for Dr. King and Malcolm X.
James H. Cone elaborates on his beliefs and understanding of what makes these two men different and why he believes what makes them different from each other, in his book, “Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or A Nightmare”. Cone explains that through their personal backgrounds and religious beliefs, Martin and Malcolm X differed the most. Martin grew up in a stable home with a family that loved and cared for him and was financially secure throughout his childhood. He was protected from racism and was well-educated, which explains his non-violent protest and goal to work with whites of America to improve the lives of all Americans. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm grew up in a broken family and wasn’t very well educated like his counterpart. He was not as fortunate as Martin to grow up financially secure and racism
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
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are to diverse individuals with two opposite personalities but both successfully succeeded in achieving freedom and bringing equality to black Americans discriminated against for many years even after the abolishment of slavery. Martin Luther King was born in 1929, in Georgia, Atlanta. Unlike the other black people in the southern states he was different he grew up in well off family who was freely educated a key factor in his personal achievements. During his younger adult years just like his father who was a preacher King decided to work in the Christian church as a Baptist Minster. He idolised Mohandas Karamchand
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were very significant during the Civil Rights Movement. Both were excellent speakers and shared one goal but had two different ways of resolving it. Martin Luther King Jr. chose to resolve the issues by using non-violence to create equality amongst all races to accomplish the goal. Malcolm X also wanted to decrease discrimination and get of segregation but by using another tactic to successfully accomplish the similar goal. The backgrounds of both men were one of the main driven forces behind the ways they executed their plans to rise above the various mistreatments. Martin Luther King Jr. was a more pronounced orator, a more refined leader, and overall saw the larger picture than Malcolm X.
Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were very huge leading figures during the Civil Rights movement. Though they had many differences, they had some similarities. Both men’s fathers were preachers and both men were religious preachers themselves. Dr. King and Malcolm X were around the same age and they were both assassinated. Coincidentally, both men had the same number of children and eventually they had the same ideologies for the Civil Rights Movement. However, Dr. King and Malcolm X were different in ways such as Malcolm X wanted black supremacy and Dr. King wanted equality, Malcolm X saw violence as an option to achieve his goals if peace did not work and Dr. King believed in complete nonviolence, and Malcolm X
During the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and 1960s, two prominent African-American men fought for economical, political and social equality for their race. Even though they were fighting for the same thing, their ideas to attain equality were unusually different. Martin Luther King wanted to a non-violently integrate society; on the other hand Malcolm X thought complete separation was the solution to inequality. Either way both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were some of the most influencing leaders of the Civil Rights period . With their entrancing passion they were able to bring about change in the black community; their voices rose above many other people and left both whites and blacks in awe. At the time, Martin Luther King’s approach towards education and communication between both races made more sense; however when it came to philosophy, Malcolm X’s path toward philosophy made more sense for America in the 1960’s and created broader support for the Civil Rights Movement.
Despite both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. actively fighting for freedom and equality during the Civil Rights Movement, both men are not remembered equally. Undeniably, their approaches were different and this resulted in varying outcomes regarding their successes. Indirect action seemed ineffective to Malcolm and he desired changed immediately, which may seem like the most effective route to change, yet Martin Luther King Jr. is famously known for his success achieving freedom. Malcolm X focused on direct action and standing up for the black community while Dr. King wanted to negotiate and was willing to wait for his equality which ultimately allowed him more widespread success.
Although Martin Luther King and Malcolm X both provided exceptional leadership during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, both took different paths in fighting for African American rights. The two, separately, were the defining figures of the 1960's black freedom struggle. On one side, you had a comfortable middle-class family southern Baptist: King, who advocated nonviolence learned through the studying of Gandhi juxtaposed with X, advocating social awareness who learned by experiencing injustice in society while studying lessons on Islam and black power. Popular understanding has King on top of the list as the more influential leader during the Civil Rights Movement but is this really the case? Through the study of analyzing each
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were both known as civil right leaders in the 1960’s. Both men had a different perspective on civil rights and how civil rights should be won. Both men also had strong beliefs on religious and followed on through that path in different ways. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had several differences and several comparisons and had a big impact for the people of The United States.
During the past century, the United States of America has wresled with the problem of inequality between black and white people. Two influential people who helped to combat racism and the inequality of man were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X had two differentiated approaches to accomplish the same things for black. Both King and Malcolm X started their own organizations, organized rallies, and both gave speeches, but, their beliefs and
It has come to my attention that to get our freedom, there are two plans, one from Martin Luther King, Jr. and one from Malcolm X. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s plan is to solve our political issues through peace and Malcolm X’s plan supports violence and any other means necessary to win our freedom. I believe that the plan from Martin Luther King, Jr. is more correct in politics and morals. I know this because Martin Luther King, Jr. supports nonviolence, and there will be less fatalities if we go along with him. He sees and supports us as people, unlike Malcolm X, who does not see us as people that live lives and hope to move on from this movement after we succeed. Additionally, Martin Luther King, Jr. wants us to have successful futures, and he looks ahead to the future, the past, and the present. He fights for this, and Malcolm X only plans for and sees the present time.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were both influential leaders throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X once said, “Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.” (Brainyquote). During the movement King and X created history by fighting for African-Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. The goals of the Civil Rights Movement weren’t only to gain equal rights for blacks, but it was also to end segregation and discrimination in public facilities.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were leaders with many followers during the 1960’s Civil Rights movement. They were both ministers that had many people already following them and their number of followers only grew with their ideas and beliefs. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X had many great ideas on how America should be.While they both led their followers down the path to civil rights they both met their end by the hands of the people who did not want them to continue to make a difference the way they were for African Americans in America. Although Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcolm X both made real changes regarding civil rights, they did not always agree on how to go about seeking out a
Mahatma Gandhi once stated that, “Without action you aren’t going anywhere”. This line by Gandhi who was a well-known leader of Indian Independence movement reveals that a person must act in order to bring about change. In other words, in our history we as humans face a lot of obstacles in our way in which some individuals would react to it and others wouldn’t. For example, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X whom like Gandhi acted instead of remaining silent and these two individuals had their own beliefs and ideas of handling various situations. Martin Luther King Jr. was an activist leader and spokesperson during the Civil Rights Movement until his assassination that left a remarkable impact on individuals through his actions. On the other hand, Malcolm X is one of the well-known African Americans in history who advocated for the rights of blacks and encouraged many to speak against the oppression of whites. Both of these individuals where activist who through their actions wanted to make the public aware of what is going on around them, but Martin Luther King and Malcolm X believed in different ways of approaching the same issue making their views and battle dissimilar with one another on how civil rights should be achieved.
Despite both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. actively fighting for freedom and equality during the Civil Rights Movement, both men are not remembered equally. Undeniably, their approaches were different which resulted in conflicting ideals and different outcomes. These differences are highlighted through the comparison of Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to Malcolm X’s speech of “The Ballot or the Bullet”. Both Malcolm X and Dr.King advocated for change regarding the treatment of the black community, but their perceptions of the timeline for change varied. Malcolm X was prepared to abandon the current system and separate the black community entirely to achieve immediate equality even if this called for violence. Whereas Dr. King advocated for all groups to think and act differently for total equality and true freedom. Ultimately, Dr. King understood that for complete change it might be a longer process, but he was willing to be respectful and encourage this movement peacefully.
Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X came from two totally different pasts. King lived in a peaceful middle-class family while Malcom X only experienced pain and suffering at the white man’s hand. Both took two different routes in promoting civil rights. King Jr believed that peaceful protest in numbers would lead to more freedoms for the African American while Malcom X promoted violence and wanted total separation from the white man (Howard-Pitney 1-14). However, toward the end of both of their lives, they both started to lean ever so slightly toward the other. King still did not believe in violence and separation of black and white but believed the black man needed to help himself and he lost optimism in the white man, while, Malcolm X turned toward human rights and a less hatful outlook toward the white man, even willing to let them help.