In the 1950s and 1960s, America saw significant changes in civil rights and gender and race roles. Many brave voices, mostly from people of color, spoke out despite the risks of sharing their beliefs. Figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and Malcolm X stood out during this time. In this essay, we will explore two of their impactful speeches: MLK's "I Have a Dream" and Malcolm X's "The Chickens Come Home to Roost." These speeches, though different, have remained so important in shaping our understanding of the civil rights movement. We will discuss how they continue to spark movements and conversations, especially concerning Malcolm X's ideas. In MLK Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on August 28, 1963, he passionately …show more content…
Despite their different tactics, both leaders played crucial roles in advancing the cause of civil rights, sparking important conversations about the course of resistance and liberation in America, but sometimes not all talk surrounding him was good. At one point in his speech, he says “I'm for truth, no matter who tells it”. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against." In my opinion, this quote shows Malcolm X's uncompromising stance on truth and justice, which probably unsettled some individuals or groups who were not aligned with all of his views or methods. Though even when uncomfortable, he boldly confronts the hypocrisy of American society, stating, "America preaches integration and practices segregation," he talks much about the strong contrast between America's words and actions. He highlights the hypocrisy of American ideals, and urges listeners to confront the systemic injustices experienced daily, and even appreciated by some. Malcolm X's uncompromising stance on truth and justice echoes throughout his speech, and serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality. And while many agreed with him, many did not. Malcolm X speaks very strongly about America, and even how she will fall because of her “sins”. This was hard for many to hear considering much of the country was mourning the assassination of President John F Kennedy.. Many believed his words were “cold”, but he believed JFK was just reaping what he had sewn. That is where the title “The Chickens Come Home to Roost”, by definition it means “our past mistakes or wrongdoings have come back to cause us problems.” X is insinuating JFKs actions made it back to him and his death is what he deserves. Kennedy had his moments, he was even viewed as a “hero” by a few after saving some Navy crew after a boating accident. But he also had his rough patches. and
The 20th century was a definitive time period for the Black civil rights movement. An era where the status quo was blatant hatred and oppression of African Americans, a time when a black son would watch his father suffer the indignity of being called a “boy” by a young white kid and say nothing in reply but “yes sir”. Where a Black person can be whipped or lynched for anything as little as not getting off the sidewalk when approaching a white person, for looking into their eyes, or worse, “for committing the unpardonable crime of attempting to vote.” In the midst of the racial crises and fight for social equality were Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. who despite their difference in philosophies were “icons of social justice movement both in the United States and around the world” .
“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.
Martin Luther King jr. and Malcolm X are still highly controversial African-American leaders. Martin, a Christian integrationist, and Malcolm, a Muslim nationalist have been a powerful force against racial injustice. Each man sacrificed his life for the freedom of his people; however, Martin and Malcolm had taken very different approaches in achieving equality and identity for African-Americans in the land of their birth.
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.
As a slave Douglass was prohibited from learning to read and write. He started to learn from his mistress who taught him the alphabet. Later, she became aware that teaching Douglass to read could give him power. Therefore, Douglass was forbidden to read. In fact it was illegal to teach a slave to learn. As a result she and her husband tried to stop Douglass from learning to read. Every time she saw him with a newspaper she beat him. They didn’t allow him to have any books in the house and they monitored him at all time. Douglass didn’t give up. He kept learning secretly and faced his obstacles.
Two men, born nearly a hundred years apart, each seeking revolutionary changes in the United States in ways suited to their society and circumstances. Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X were monumental and influential figures in American history. In the books Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and The Autobiography of Malcolm X, both Douglass and Malcolm used their extraordinary oratorical skills and charisma to object to the systematic oppression and subjugation that was imposed on African-Americans. The philosophy of Douglass and Malcolm is characterized by their views on education, Christianity, and slavery.
“I’m for the truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole” (X). This quote by Malcolm X represented his attitude towards equality and self-empowerment. The true Malcolm X was a passionate human rights activist as well as an extremely outspoken man during the fifties and sixties. X encouraged millions of African Americans to fight for what they believed in and to take pride in their ethnicity. X persuaded a multitude of African Americans that they are supreme and should not be degraded for their skin color. He learned at a very early age if he wanted something in life, he had to make some noise
Numerous leaders have made tremendous impacts throughout the history of the world. In this essay, I will compare and contrast the lives and philosophies of civil rights activists Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were prominent leaders during the Civil Rights Era. They both had very different philosophies and methods on the racial emancipation of African-Americans. Despite their differences, they shared a common goal to live in a society with equal opportunity and a world free of segregation.
Whenever Martin Luther King Junior, began to speak, he held everybody’s attention. This was the case in 1963 during the pinnacle of the Civil Rights Movement when Martin gave his career defining speech “I Have a Dream”. Over a quarter million people attended the protest, and the crowd varied in color as well as cause. A crowd of this size would certainly frighten most people; but Martin was not the type of man to be phased easily. Martin grew up on the racist streets of Atlanta, Georgia and faced much adversity in his life. Not even thirty-five Martin would give a speech that would shake an embroiled nation to its core. Martin Luther King Junior gave a speech to beautifully wove together the three appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos into 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,
Malcolm X once said, “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” (X, Prospects for Freedom in 1965, chapter 12) Various African American leaders have rallied up protesters and have recited speeches, like Malcolm X’s “Prospects for Freedom”; yet, none seem to compare to King’s “I Have a Dream.” The speech has been heard all around the world, and is by far one of the most well known. Accordingly, “I Have a Dream,” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the most enthralling; moreover, he persuades America that inequality should have never existed, and everyone should have freedom adorning them, that was earned peacefully. This idea is exhibited by the speech’s distinguished evidences: the African
In his speech, “I Have a Dream,” delivered on August 28, 1963 at Abraham Lincoln’s memorial in Washington, D.C., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. explores the rights that African American’s are granted by the U.S. Constitution. King believes that those rights are not equal to the rights that white men and women have. King describes a world that is different than the world where he lives. A world that he desires his family to grow up in and the vision that he sees America becoming. Though all Americans were ostensibly granted unalienable rights, King uses rich figurative language to argue that African Americans are still waiting to enjoy the same privileges afforded to others.
On August 28th 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream…” speech in from
The Olympics is event that has moved and changed the world, specially in hard times, like the World Wars and in racial discrimination. The modern olympics are based on the Greek games that were held every four years, the word Olympiad means 4 years. The Olympics started in 776 BC until 393 AD, it went on through 12 centuries, when emperor Theodosius decided to ban all the pagan cults. The Olympics were dedicated to the olympian gods, "they owed their purity and importance to religion" (olympic.org). Olympia, site of the olympic games, is part of the Peloponnese, the island of Pelops. Pelops was the founder of the olympic games and we owe him a great deal. Olympia wasn't only a place for sports its also a place for worship, religious, and political practices.