"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal" (King, “I HAVE A DREAM…,” pg.4 ¶.5). Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were major figures in the fight for racial equality but their ideals were diametrically opposed. In MLK JR’s March on Washington speech, he calls for peaceful resistance and integration into an equal society. Malcolm X, however, disagrees with that in his Message to Grassroots and argues equality cannot be obtained peacefully and that living together wouldn’t be much better than slavery. By comparing the two men’s goals and messages expressed in these speeches we can gain an understanding of the feelings of the general populace on the issues of racial inequity. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Believed in achieving equality through peaceful demonstrations: “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred” (King, pg.3 ¶.1). He felt that equality had to be gained through honorable, civil ways otherwise those fighting for equality were no better than the slave owners. We can see this best when he says, “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence” (King, pg.3 ¶.2). MLK felt that it was in the best interests of all parties for black to integrate into society. A couple of his quotes that show this best are, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood” (King, pg.4 ¶.6). and “I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” (King, pg.5 ¶.2). In vehement opposition of these ideals was Malcolm X. He felt that a peaceful revolt was pointless and doomed to fail. Regarding this he said, A revolution is bloody.
Love is many things. Love is passion, endearment, fondness, devotion, and most importantly, love is “what makes the world go round.” To many this is a nonsensical concept, but to James Baldwin love was the missing key to making the world a better place, or in other words making the world “go round.” For hundreds of years’ racism has always been a prominent affair in American history. Some will say it is currently still taking place, while others believe it is not prevalent in today's society. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both played a great role in the civil rights movement in the early 1960’s while sharing very distinctively different ideas on racial discrimination and how it should be handled. Comparatively, James Baldwin believed in a somewhat middle ground between Malcolm X and Dr. King's point of view. Baldwin’s essential argument was that unless The United States learned to accept love for people of any race, all Americans would be lost, and racial discrimination would not come to an end. He believed that in order for whites to truly learn to accept and love blacks, it was crucial that they examine the history of how whites came about the discrimination against the blacks. Although Baldwin did not have a specific set of followers during the civil rights movement, he still played a meaningful role in the movement by administering Malcolm X and Martin Luther King’s views that he believed in by writing a beautiful book called The Fire Next Time. In this book
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
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York”. He is saying that we should let freedom ring all over the nation to end civil inequality. Another example is when he states “We will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands. . .”. He is saying that when we let freedom ring we will become one and civil inequality will end. Malcolm X’s solution to civil inequality was that Afro- Americans need to get involved and also need to defend themselves. Evidence of this is when he said “The time when white people can come in our community and get us to vote for them so they can be our political leaders and tell us what to do and what not to do is long gone”. He is saying that it’s time for Afro-Americans to get involved and end this. Another example is when he said “The economic philosophy of Black Nationalism only means that we should own and operate and control the economy of our community”. He is saying that the Afro-Americans should defend their community by getting involved. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both had good solutions to end civil inequality.
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.
Malcolm X used violence as a way to get more black rights and to hopefully lead up to black supremacy. Dr. Martin L King Jr used non violence protesting as a way to symbol that people standing up for their rights are not wrong or barbaric, but the people who are stopping these nonviolent protests look bad because there is no physical harm being done. Malcolm X states, “This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s liberty or it’s death” (The Ballot or the Bullet). This describes Malcolm X warning that if black people are not allowed suffrage and other rights, then there is going to be violence and death involved to have those rights granted. Malcolm X is showing that he is not afraid to have a violent revolution if there has to be one. Dr. King however states, “We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must ride to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force” (I Have A Dream). Martin Luther King Jr is trying to persuade others that a violent protest will only hurt, not help in getting equality and that a peaceful, powerful protest will ensure smoother integration and peace. Dr. King is promoting the opposite of Malcolm X by saying peace is power whereas Malcolm X is trying to bring forth the
This era was the time when both X and King would begin to express their opinions on race and equality. Georgetown University’s Keith Miller asserts that Elijah Muhammad, the man to whom X was devoted, taught that the Caucasian society actively worked to keep African-Americans from gaining power and respect and achieving political, economic and social success (“Malcolm X”). These teachings, asserts Malcolm’s official website, combined with how haunted he was by his childhood explain how the message he preached came to be. Malcolm’s idea of true equality was rebellious, negative and angry. He embraced separatist philosophies and felt that non-violence and integration were tricks that white people promoted to keep blacks in their place (“About Malcolm X”). Martin Luther King’s philosophies couldn’t have been more different, according to Long Island University’s Melvin Sylvester. He believed that through hard work, strong leadership and non-violence, blacks could achieve full equality with whites (“Tribute”). King urged all members of the black
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.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were both social activist and ministers of their respective religions present in the 1950’s. Dr. Martin Luther King a Baptist minister captivated the attention of many Americans to push an agenda of job equality and freedom. Malcolm X was incarcerated and sentenced to prison. During his sentenced, he became a member of the Nation of Islam. Making various social achievements while making many controversial statements. In this discussion, I will be correlating the idea of Socrates and Crito In Chapter 2 of the introduction to Malcom X’s speeches and actions, and the difference between him and Dr. King’s movement. Following a quick analysis of Malcolm X’s disputable teachings.
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were arguably some of the most important figures in the civil rights era. Malcolm and King had a lot of similar ideas in a way, but also had very different ones.Which is why I believe they shouldn’t be compared as similar to one another. I would like to go over what each of their beliefs and goals were, as well as future goals, and why those two were so important to the movement.
Are rights something you're born with or something you earn through hard work? In some cases it would be something you earn like African-Americans during the early to mid 20th century. The Civil Rights Movement was at work. During this time two leaders were introduced, Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr was born into christianity and lived in a segregated neighborhood. Throughout his years he would learn of good morals and God. Malcolm X on the other hand went to prison for a 10 year sentence. In jail he learned about segregation from black muslims. This is where he earned his nickname “X” and learned of black heritage. Although both leaders seem very similar due to their want for change, they are very different.
Traditionally, examination of the black Civil Rights movement focuses on the careers of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Dr. King and Malcolm X had very different ideas on how to solve the racial discrimination in America. Dr. King was an integrationist who used non-violent protest to focus the media on the moral wrongs the dominant white society imposed on blacks. Dr. King believed that exposing the outrages of segregation would force the government to mend the system. Malcolm X was a separationist who believed in fighting back when attacked and advocated that the blacks in this country should take what by all means is rightfully theirs. The white system was corrupt, argued Malcolm X, and blacks should start their own system rather than wait for the white society to internally fix theirs.
Despite the two totally different philosophies Martin Luther King and Malcom X had they both changed the course of history by fighting for civil rights but in different ways. Although Martin Luther King and Malcom X didn't have the same views, they had the same goals. These two African American men stood for what they believed in but Martin Luther King being Christian never condoned, reacted, nor retaliated to violence. Whereas Malcom X believed in Muslim principles, and fighting back physically or what he said often "By any means necessary".
It's hard to think that only fifty seven years ago our nation was severely divided by color, and race. At the time African Americans were looked upon as an inferior race to the caucasians, and when the lesser race began to fight back rage took hold of American hearts. During this trying time there were two notable leaders of the black minority, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X. Although they both sought the same thing for their people, equality, they each had their own way of going about obtaining it. King was a peaceful man, and was a strong believer in the power of peaceful actions of protest. While on the other hand, Malcolm was a man of action and these actions weren't always peaceful. After reading the two passages above it is easy to see that Malcolm X's plan of action is the best option for the African American people.
Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, many leaders emerged that captured the attention of the American public. During this period, the leaders' used different tactics in order to achieve change. Of two of the better-known leaders, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., the latter had a more positive influence in the progress of the movement.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X was one of the most influential civil rights activists of their time, as well as throughout American History for their core beliefs in the 20th century. Despite having the same goals, which is equal rights for all races, both conveyed their messages drastically from one another. In Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have A Dream” speech, he believes in a non-violent, civilized protest to resolve the problem which has plagued our nation for over a century. On the other hand, Malcolm X was in favor of using violence to achieve his ideals even if it ends up harming others, which can be seen in his speech, “The Ballot or The Bullet.” By comparing and contrasting their rhetorical styles, tones, and purposes, it can be