During the Civil Rights Movement Era in the mid 1900’s, several activists emerged from society, trying to make changes regarding the treatment of African Americans. However, there were two individuals who made waves within American society amidst the protests, rallies and injustice directed towards blacks. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, jr., had two distinct outlooks and solutions for the issues facing African Americans. The upbringing of these men, and certain key events in their past shape the beliefs they spread to society, and their childhood, adolescence and early adulthood are nearly opposites. Malcolm Little, more popularly known as Malcolm “X” was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. Due to conflicts with Klansmen in the past, the Little …show more content…
When in prison, Malcolm was influenced by Black Muslims, and their teachings of hatred against whites. They also influenced Malcolm to believe that whites were evil, and that they robbed African Americans of religion, names, and homeland. From this point, Malcolm developed an abhorrence against whites, and soon embraced his African heritage. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most notorious figures in American history had entirely different key events throughout his past, which developed him to spread different beliefs than Malcolm “X.” King was born in Georgia and raised in Atlanta by his father who was known for being a respected Baptist minister. He grew up in a segregated yet prosperous neighborhood, meanwhile was taught the ideals of hardwork and faith in God by his father. Martin participated in the church choir, and preached sermons at college. During his schooling, he became the elected class president and received the admiration of his white classmates. Soon after graduation, he enrolled at Boston University, where he earned his PhD and soon met his wife, Coretta …show more content…
Malcolm X grew up with hatred and conflict with whites, leading him to have a much more hostile view and way of action when trying to achieve change. The discrimination he experienced motivated him to desire change in a more aggressive manner, since he showed no sympathy for those who have once betrayed him and his family. On the contrary, King was spared from most discriminatory and harsh experiences with whites. He was accepted into the white community, and rarely came across any violence with racism. His past made him desire a more peaceful change, as he never saw whites as an enemy or a society that is evil. Although both leaders exploited philosophies in which exploited an equal nation between blacks and whites, they had entirely opposite tactics for success. Malcolm X’s methods are much more effective because it highlighted the strength behind a community that appeared to be powerless in the time. Perhaps if King experienced a more hostile environment, his view would have been shapred in a more similar way to
King believed in a nonviolent approach to the Civil Rights movement, Malcolm X demonstrated a different means to addressing the movement. Malcolm X proclaim that the best way to understand and in order to obtain the same overall goal (in this case equality) one has to speak the same language as the other person in context. He proclaims this through the example of guns within the document and that if a person speaks this way, then this is the best way to answer their statement. The same aspects occurred within a duel in the old west. If a person was called out they would answer accordingly or be branded a coward for the rest of their life.
Notoriously, Martin Luther King Jr. has been the name of the civil rights movement, the one we all look up to in terms of the end of segregation. But, this respectable man was not the only one to take action in the name of equality, as another infamous speaker, Malcolm X, also drove the civil rights movement in a way of ferociousness and rage. This man, the head of the Black Nationalist movement, gave phenomenal speeches that indirectly propelled the civil rights movement, including Prospects For Freedom, By Any Means Necessary, and Message to the Grassroots. Malcolm X was a man who was an illustrious black nationalist, and was the speaker for the Nation of Islam. He often preached controversial things that regularly contrasted him with Dr.
As Barack Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” In the biography, “Malcolm X” by Walter Dean Myers shows what made Malcolm what he is known for. Initially, Malcolm went through several events in his life that made him what he is known for including the fact that of course African-Americans were segregated.
Everyone knows Martin Luther King Jr. but not everyone knows Malcolm X. Malcolm got into the Civil Rights Movement when his father was killed by a white supremacist group called the Black Legion. Malcolm wanted to do something about it so he started public speaking at a place called the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X did plenty of things for African American human rights that people don’t know about. The points we are going to be focusing are on Malcolm’s youth, human right impact, and how he changed. First, let 's talk about how Malcolm’s father changed Malcolm along with his family.
Malcolm X had no problem using violence. King was famous for using non-violence. The way their lives were when they were younger had an effect on why they went the way they did. Malcolm X grew up disliking whites his whole life because he believed a racist group killed his father. King grew up in a decent neighborhood where the most he got from the white community were threats.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were prominent and powerful leaders. While each man believed in fighting for blacks and equal rights, they maintained different approaches to achieve their goals. These different paths stemmed from each man’s ideologies, which were largely shaped by their upbringings and religions. While King grew up with a respected Christian father and had the opportunity to attend school his entire life, Malcolm X, on the other hand, experienced extreme acts of violence against himself and his family. While King practiced Christianity and shaped his ideals around this, Malcolm X was a practitioner of the Muslim faith, and he implemented many of Muslim ideologies into his ideals.
The leadership style of Martin Luther King Jr. earned him to be recognized as the face of the Civil Rights movement. Therefore, Malcolm X should have changed his leadership style to work with Martin Luther King Jr. because his way of fighting for civil rights was strategically thought out and ultimately effective. Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights movement. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Martin Luther King Jr. came from a line of pastors in his family, and from the beginning, he was on his way to becoming one himself (Martin Luther King Jr.).
Malcolm X believed in doing whatever it took to finish what they started. On the other hand, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to the white clergymen. He explained to them, “But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I…” (King ). Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to show the men that even though they treated them poorly, he still believed they were good men in their hearts.
MLK and Malcolm X both wanted equality but in different ways. Martin Luther King believed in nonviolence to end segregation. However, Malcolm X believed in segregation; where African Americans would govern themselves without bothering the whites. But which idea was better for society? Malcolm X’s philosophy offers a variety of solutions for
Philosophical differences between martin luther king and malcolm X The philosophical differences between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X have to do with the their protest strategies. MLK never fought with violence. Although he would get physically attacked, he stood his ground and continued to fight for equality peacefully. King believed that whites and blacks should come together to end the hate and violence.
Malcolm X didn’t agree with what King’s views, he believed that MLK’s dream was not a dream but a nightmare. Martin Luther King Jr’s approach to civil rights and equality was non-violent protesting, sit-ins, and getting as much people together as possible while not using violence. However, Malcolm X’s approach to this was almost the opposite. He was against the views of whites and he was willing to do whatever was needed to achieve
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were two influential men who served as important figures for the Civil Rights Movement. The two men came from diverse backgrounds and had contrasting views in life about religion and African American’s stance in society. Malcolm X was born in Nebraska and had great amounts of exposure to racism. Martin Luther King was born in an educated family in Atlanta, where he experienced racism, but to a lower extreme than Malcolm X. Although they passed away long time ago, they continue to live on today in a world independent of segregation. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X used opposing principles to achieve equality for blacks; King utilized integration of both races and nonviolence as opposed to Malcolm X who separated the same races and employed non violence so as to achieve the same goal.
Martin Luther King Jr said,“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”. In the late 1960s, racial tension was high, African Americans were not given the right to vote, the right to a fair education, and the right to a fair judgement. This then led to the separation of schools and the destruction of a normal livelihood. Dr.King and Malcolm X, two men in the face of oppression rose up to challenge the racial barrier, thus changing the world forever. Although Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X seem to have mutual respect and an equal understanding of the inequality, their philosophies were quite different from each other.
Malcolm’s speeches acted more as instruments of provocation than conversion. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign, Malcolm’s campaign around the country was a direct assault and it was difficult to see any oppressor that will tolerate such. This obviously accounted for the many police brutalities, imprisonment and deaths among the black race. Malcolm X symbolized black dominance and self-respect, he was one of the greatest forces that shaped the current understanding and interpretation given to conflict and violence in the world politics today. If Malcolm were to live in this era, he would be labeled as a terrorist (http://malcolmx.com/).
were African American males, fighting for Civil Rights during the 1950’s and 1960’s. while these two men did withstand much common ground, they often debated over violence. On one hand, Martin Luther King Jr. was born into a Christian home, where he was extremely religious, and followed in his father's footsteps as a pastor. Martin Luther King Jr. felt that violence did no good, it only caused more harm. Throughout his speeches and protests, he even elaborated on how insignificant violence and harm was in hurting others, besides physically.