The Civil Rights movement led to the emergence of two historical African-American figures during the 1960s, being Martin Luther King Jr. and his rival, Malcolm X. While both men shared a common goal of achieving civil rights for their people, their approaches to reaching this goal were vastly different. Malcolm X advocated for a more confrontational and violent approach, while Martin Luther King Jr. believed in peace and nonviolence. Differing factors such as speed, duration, and tactics separated the two methods from one another. Both were effective in their own ways, though it’s clear that Malcolm X had the stronger approach to the matter.
To start things off, it’s clear that Malcolm X’s approach would provide quicker results. The formation
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For instance, say firemen were to use their hoses to halt protests led by Martin Luther King, and those protestors fought back using blunt and/or sharp instruments, like a hammer or a blade. Murder, let alone attempted murder, is only justifiable if the perpetrator was trying to attack the victim with harmful intentions. If one exploits another’s fear as a method of ending a civil protest, no lethal weapons shall be drawn by either party. Malcolm X stated that he does not favor violence of any sort, though self-defense is justifiable and reasonable. Malcolm’s self-defense approach spread conflict between news companies, like a wildfire. He found it ironic and hypocritical that he was not allowed to affirm to his people that self-defense was necessary, even if they were the ones receiving the violence. Thinking forward, it’s clear that racist and discriminatory acts from crazed white people will still be equally as common as it was then. In Malcolm’s eyes, it only makes sense to allow his people to fight for their rights, rather than having them sit there and take it. One of the protests in Birmingham, entitled the “Children’s March”, consisted of large groups of children marching down the streets of a small Alabama town, singing songs of freedom. Kids were getting placed in prison …show more content…
Malcolm X gave black America a face during the situation, as he saw his people as an independent and self-sustaining community when separated from any sort of discrimination. He embraced his black culture and history, encouraging young black people to take pride in their heritage and to reject the white standards of beauty and success that had been imposed upon them. This was something that Martin Luther King never had a thought on doing. This focus on cultural and historical identity was a significant departure from the assimilationist policies of the mainstream civil rights movement. As stated in paragraph #2, Martin Luther King’s protests were being put to an end in white communities because those who did not approve of black rights utilized fear tactics to scare the protestors away from their posts. The day that African-Americans started to take pride in their race and their history was the day that discrimination no longer had control on the white communities. The promotion of unity and togetherness emphasized the shared experience of black Americans. By focusing on their shared cultural heritage and experiences of oppression, Black Pride assisted in forging an inclusive sense of solidarity. White superiority was deteriorating by the day as the black population grew stronger; the shift
This book brings together some of the best primary sources on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X that relate to what I’ve learned in history class. Through their writings and speeches, I appreciate the roles they played in the freedom crusade of the 1950s and 1960s. It is a good summary of its essential teachings that give me insight into their individual styles and personalities. The book is not one that tries to force ideas or a religion on the reader but instead offers new insight on two of these most important civil rights leaders of the century. It is a valuable effort that helps me both within and beyond the classroom, which focuses on the crucial years in the lives of quintessentially human
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.
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X go down in history as the most prominent figures of the civil rights movement. Although they are often put against each other because of their different approaches, they were similar in several ways, such as their ability to make crowds grasp on to their words and follow their lead. So the question to be asked is not whether Dr King or Malcolm X was better, more moral, or logical, but what about them was so alluring to the masses that trusted them as leaders in the movement. Both Martin Luther King jr. and Malcolm X manipulated the emotions of audiences through powerful rhetorical methods, but applied them in different ways.
Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X wanted to improve the lives of African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to use an aggressive approach, but Malcolm X wanted to use his words to get through to his community. Although neither of them agreed with the other's ideas and goals, they both wanted to fight for the same reason, African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. was always against violence, and he thought using a nonviolent arsenal weapon, like boycotting, and believed it would help create peace with all races. The text says, "Along with the march as a weapon for change in our nonviolent arsenal must be listed the boycott."
The people involved in the civil rights movement fought for their beliefs in social justice and equality for all, regardless of race. Martin Luther King Jr. preached about nonviolence resistance against those who opposed the movement and pleaded for equality among blacks and whites. Another figure, Rosa Parks, fought for her right by refusing to give up her seat for a white person. However, Malcolm X, a black figure in the civil rights movement, was a minister who spoke for the blacks and believed in violence unlike King. Even though Malcolm X was seen as one of the most important leader for the blacks in the civil rights movement, his methods and ideas were considered unjust by turning the hatred towards the white society and labeling the whites as “the devil.”
The fight for equality has been a long and complicated battle. Many people believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. was correct in his approach, but others believe that Malcolm X’s approach was best. Malcolm X believed in the goal of black people separating completely from white people using the method of violence in self-defense. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in the method of reaching equality through desegregation using the method of nonviolent resistance. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in very different viewpoints regarding the solution to the needs of and problems facing the African-American community in the 1960s, but King’s approach was best.
Martin Luther King Junior and Malcolm X were two leaders of their time that were committed to the struggle for civil rights and equality for black people. Despite their fight for the same struggle, they had different ideas about the best way to achieve these goals. Martin Luther King Junior believed that nonviolent protest methods were crucial in the pursuit of equality for all people in order to build a beloved community. King offers the best solution to the needs and problems of the black community over Malcolm X. Malcolm X advocated for violent protest methods whereas King’s means of non-violent resistance was the more effective way to bring about change all while promoting love and reconciliation against forces of evil. Martin Luther
While, Malcolm X is still regarded as controversial. Both leaders changed the landscape for Civil Rights, but Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings have grown to become a universal method in combating
At this point in Malcolm’s life he has overcome great odds. He has overcome obstacles that not many do. He is becoming a nationally known figure in the struggle for equal rights for all. He is a great example of how even though the odds are against us that we can become successful people of society. During Malcolm’s time in the Nation of Islam he makes other fathers jealous and envious.
Plan – Assess Malcolm X’s significance in advancing the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1965 Intro When it comes to addressing the importance of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1965; we need to look at both the significance of his actions and their short term and long term impacts. As well as evaluating his impact we need to make comparisons to other major figures and events at the same time so we can make a relative conclusion of Malcolm’s overall impact. I will also be contrasting some of the key figure heads, events movements and leaders of this time period for the civil rights and their relative effectiveness in forwarding the civil rights movement for African-Americans. I will discuss Malcolm and his actions in
While Martin Luther King Jr. supported and encouraged nonviolent means of protest, X and McKay acknowledged the necessity of self-defense by any means necessary. Malcolm X talked more outright about violent response to violent oppression and often used his town and ideologies to spread his message. McKay on the other hand, uses literary arts and devices to expose oppression from white supremacists while writing about African Americans persevering by the means of
It took the military to allow nine African Americans students to enter a school in a white neighborhood. This is only one event, other events created riots, bombings, discrimination, poverty, and racism. This is why Malcolm X’s philosophy is much better for the sake of time and our nation. Malcolm X
Malcolm X began his speech by urging African Americans to submerge their differences and realize that they all have a common problem - political oppression, economic exploitation, and social degradation at the hands of the white man. Malcolm X was one of the most dynamic, dramatic and influential figures of the civil rights era. He was an apostle of black nationalism, self respect, and uncompromising resistance to white oppression. Malcolm X was a polarizing figure who both energized and divided African Americans, while frightening and alienating many whites.
However, the action should be taken without nonviolence and with peaceful protest. Dr. King’s nonviolent tactic was a success as it bridged the gap between the colored and white people. Malcolm X was renown for his act of self defense throughout the Civil Rights Movement. His main goal was to prove how whites did not treat black people as human beings. However, through Malcolm X’s several tactics, Martin Luther King’s movement was made more impactful and successful.
should have acted differently to work with Malcolm X, and possibly change the time period the Civil Rights Act was established. Martin had all the right words to say to keep whites and government officials from being completely against everything he had to say. Although, Martin did not have enough action steps to establish equal rights, Malcolm X certainly does. Consequently, it is likely that Malcolm X was an example of how to protest in an effective way. If Martin Luther King Jr. was more demanding and forceful like Malcolm X, the Civil Rights Act could have been established years before it was.