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Two of the most influential Civil Rights activists were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both men were fighting for racial equality. However, some of their tactics were controversial. Both Dr. King and Malcolm X died for their causes, fighting for justice up until their last breath. Some of their methods were successful and some were not. In brief, both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X used varying tactics to get their cry for racial equality heard. To start of, both Dr. King and Malcolm X had different philosophical approaches on accomplishing civil rights for African Americans. After a rough childhood and a drug addiction in Harlem, Malcolm X turned a new leaf in prison. He began studying and educating himself again, …show more content…
Due to Malcolm X’s aggressive nature and condemning of white America, many white Americans were offended by his approach. He led with a burning, relentless fight, which many seemed to be intimidating. On the contrary, a white man once pulled up to Malcolm’s car saying that if he were black, he would be following him. African Americans were refreshed and inspired by Malcolm’s strong and intense stratagem. Some of those who followed him released the anger building inside of them by getting violent, which frightened some of the white population. Many looked to MLK’s nonviolent strategies as more reasonable. The white population favored MLK over Malcolm X due to his dignified composure and powerful phrasing. Although favored by whites, many African Americans wanted to be more involved, hands-on in the movement. Those who sought action joined Malcolm X, and those who favored peaceful protest sided with King. Overall, Malcolm X and MLK were viewed differently from the African American and white population in America during this time …show more content…
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were the two most influential leaders of the civil rights movement. They inspired the need for change and the conquest for civil liberty. Stylistically, their philosophies, rhetoric, and feedback from the public significantly varied. Some of their tactics were controversial, and they both died in the fight for total freedom. Despite their differences, in the end, civil rights were established for all men, and segregation laws were eradicated. All in all, MLK and Malcolm X used different strategies to fight for civil
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both African American civil rights leaders wanting to bring freedom to black people during the 1960s. Even though both leaders wanted to liberate black people; their philosophies were drastically different. Malcolm X was wanted racial separation, while Martin Luther King wanted to both races to coexist. Religion is also a major part of this situation because most African Americans including MLK in America were Christian while Malcolm X’s goal was to turn all people who follow his path to convert into Muslims. Martin Luther King’s philosophy would’ve made more sense to 1960s America because most people who wanted freedom in society would rather consider coexisting than more racial
From 1954 to 1968 the Civil Rights movement was growing at a fast rate. During this time segregation and racism was alive and in full effect. More African- American people were starting to stand up and believe in the rights that wasn’t giving to them, and that they should be treated as equals. Although African-Americans had some freedoms the constant mistreatment, verbal and physical abuse was enough and it was time to take a stand to make a change. Great leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X made a path way for the moment and even though the two had different views of handling the situation at hand. Malcom X was more of a fight fire with fire type of protester, and that the only way changes were going to be made was if we fight back. On the other hand Martin Luther King Jr. was all for peaceful protesting and that they can make a difference just by speaking words of encouragement to the people.
These great leaders came from vastly different backgrounds which is shown in their thinking on life, especially early on. Martin was a Christian from the rural south, whilst Malcolm had become a Muslim from the urban north. King called for love of your neighbor, integration and nonviolence, which was part of his American Dream. Malcolm X called for self-love, separation, and "by any means necessary", which was part of his Black Nationalism. Throughout their lives their views were constantly changing, largely affected by each other, but also by the many events in their lives. Malcolm X forced King to become more radical and to look into the problems of the urban north. King made X become more politically active and work much more with the Civil Rights Movement. Although many have often said that they were "like oil and water", these two men, however different they may have seemed to be, had the same goal. They wanted to end exploitation, discrimination and racism. Also, for both, religion was primary in defining their lives and ideals. There are two distinct phases in their political lives. For King, the change in his outlook came when he looked at the social problems of the urban slums, and the extent of racism of his previous allies. This turning point came with the riots in Watts, Los Angeles. For Malcolm X, the major change came when he broke from the Nation of Islam and went on his trip to Mec...
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X paved a significant path towards a racially neutral society. There is no doubt that both Martin and Malcolm influenced a whole generation of rebels to fight racism and discrimination. Martin Luther King Jr. had a more peaceful standpoint to attempt to solve racism. Malcolm X on the other hand used violence and force to get the necessary results. They both shared a common objective, but took different actions to achieve the goal.
Since the dawn of time, there has always existed the concept of good vs evil. Normally, this concept is used to explain two forces battling against each other in order to influence people’s actions. However, these concepts also exist on a realistic level; although the realistic form is based on race rather than morals. Like a recessive gene, black people were suppressed by the dominant gene, white people, in the 1950’s. With the white race oppressing the black race being a colossal dilemma, few people chose to solve it. Among them were Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X. While King wanted to solve the problem with peace, Malcolm knew the only way to solve the dispute was fighting back. Malcolm X was born in 1925 in Omaha Nebraska, and was one
Out of the turbulent political climate of the 1960s, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as some of the most prominent voices of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Both religious ministers took up the fight to advocate for human rights and improve the lot of their fellow African-Americans. The two sought to achieve the same endgame, but differed greatly on the method in which to bring about the change they wanted. A few common threads that linked the activists were their emphasis on human rights, their challenge to the status quo of America, their roles as major spiritual leaders in their respective religions, and the martyrdom they endured for their cause. On the surface Malcolm X and Martin Luther King have many similarities,
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both important activists in the fight for civil rights. They had the same desire for equal rights; however, they adopted very different views on how to achieve those rights. As Goldman says in Malcolm X: Witness for the Prosecution, “Malcolm and King were not so much Manichaean opposites as halves in a yin-yang duality deep in the black soul” (pg. 226). King is known as a peaceful man who used a nonviolent approach. He used what he called “weapons of love” to fight for freedom. King was fighting to show people that they could accept blacks and look at them as equals. It was vital for him to find peace among all races and overcome the hatred felt for one another. Malcolm used an “any means necessary" approach in his fight. He was fighting to show African Americans that they should be proud of whom they were. The empowerment of his people was more important to him than living peacefully with whites. Although the tactics they used differed with one in other, King and Malcolm both inspired African Americans to fight for justice and the civil rights they deserved.
Martin Luther King was a completely different person compared to Malcolm X including the way they acted in protest’s. King wanted peace in the world and no more violence between black’s and white’s, wanted to be able to work together with each other. During his protest he would always make sure it was going to be peaceful and no violence with the community. The king was also shot and killed in his own front after answering it he was shot dead.
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King are both remembered as leaders who fought for a difference in black America. Both tried to bring hope to blacks in the United States. They also tried to instill within blacks power and strength so they could rise above all the hatred that surrounded them, but both of them had very different ways of promoting their message. Malcolm X had a much more extremist approach. Many say that this approach came from his neglectful childhood and early adulthood. King had a much more calm approach. Some have said that this non-violent approach came from his safe, middle-class environment. Even though they were different in addressing their messages about black respect and pride, they both had the same goal in mind. That goal was to achieve equality between all races.
“Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X’s “Learning to Read” address their abilities of being self taught to read and write. A deficiency of education makes it difficult to traverse life in any case your race. Being an African American while in a dark period of mistreatment and making progress toward an advanced education demonstrates extraordinary devotion. Malcolm X seized “special pains” in searching to inform himself on “black history” (Malcolm X 3). African Americans have been persecuted all through history, yet two men endeavor to demonstrate that regardless of your past, an education can be acquired by anybody. Douglass and Malcolm X share some similarities on how they learned how to read and write as well
Speeches are a method of persuading people to do something. For Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, their speeches were to bring equality for the people of color. However, their approaches are different. Consequently, the effects may be different. An example of their contrasting differences is a speech from each, King’s “I Have a Dream” and X’s “The Black Revolution”. Their speeches used pathos, a central metaphor, and a warning, but was presented differently.
Everyone can change the world and become an important part of history. Those who think they can change the world are often the ones who do. Civil Rights activists Martin Luther King Jr., and Human rights activist and American Muslim, Malcolm X are two great examples of people who thought they could make a difference in the world, and eventually did. The two both wanted to change things, but in two different ways. Martin Luther King used peaceful protests to accomplish his goal. Malcolm X used violence and rebellions to get his ideals across. The two wanted to advocate that black lives are as important as white lives. Malcolm promoted black supremacy and the separation of blacks and whites. Unlike Malcolm X, King had different views on the matter, and wanted the integration of the two races. Furthermore, he had a vision of unison rather than segregation. Despite
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 segregation by using another tactic to successfully accomplish the similar goal. The backgrounds of both men were one of the main driving forces behind the ways they executed their plans to rise above the various mistreatments.
Based on some of the things Malcolm has done, Martin Luther King Jr. definitely had a different way of approaching issues. With both of their totally different ways of getting their point across, discussion could be made on who was more effective in the civil rights movement as a whole. If Malcolm X wasn't around and fighting for civil rights around the same time as MLK was doing it here he probably would of had much of a chance and would have just been killed, he in a way motivated the whole world into fighting for civil rights in their country, without his “black power” philosophy. He was easily in the top five people that got the civil rights movement to follow its course and end up getting equality for black and white. Malcolm X was orphaned early in life.
The definition of a leader is a person who influences people to a common purpose. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr are examples of great leaders who brought about social change through alternative means in the 20th century. Their means were through nonviolent protests of freedom. Gandhi fought for freedom from Great Britain, and King fought for freedom from segregation and equal rights for all Americans.