The Civil Rights Movement symbolized the challenge and opposition to the racial injustices and segregation that had been engrained in American society for hundreds of years. Events that took place in the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, sit-ins, speeches and numerous protests define this momentous time in United States history. Speeches during this period served as a means to inspire and assemble a specific group of people, for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X it was the black community that needed to rise up in hopes of achieving equal rights and voting rights for the blacks. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most prominent leaders and orators at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Although both leaders possessed the same objectives, their outlooks and perspectives differed immensely. The main primary difference focused on their willingness to employ violence to achieve their end goals. While Dr. King suggests a civil disobedient approach in “Give Us The Ballot” and “Pilgrimage to Non Violence,” Malcolm X believed otherwise, expressing his belief that the black community needed to rise up and organize. Malcolm X articulated his view on the necessary use of violence and retaliation in “The Ballot or the Bullet”. Despite the striking differences of methods between the two civil rights leaders, there were a few similarities between these two leaders. They both believed that blacks suffered from great injustice and prejudice. King felt that all people were affected by the existing injustices that the few were suffering. Malcolm X preferred a more confrontational method of action, but also recognized the fact that blacks had been oppressed for too ... ... middle of paper ... ...ealing to the compassion of the humanity through the means of civil disobedience, Dr. King was able to expose racial injustices and appeal to the human conscience and national opinion so that those who had the power to initiate change would support him and those who were fighting to overcome oppression. Works Cited Martin Luther King, Jr., “Give Us the Ballot—We Will Transform the South” (1957), from A Testament of Hope, Ed. James Melvin Washington, San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1986 Martin Luther King, Jr., “Pilgrimage to Non Violence” (1958), from The Sixties Papers: Documents of a Rebellious Decade, Judith Clavir Albert and Stewart Edward Albert, eds., New York: Prager, 1984 Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet” (speech from April 3rd, 1964), from Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements, Ed. George Breitman, New York: Pathfinder, 1990
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X DBQ 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 wanted racial separation, while Martin Luther King wanted both races to coexist. Religion is also a major part of this situation because most African Americans, including MLK in America, were Christian. Malcolm X’s goal was to turn all people who follow his path into Muslims.
On the other hand, Malcolm X believed in the utilization of any denotes indispensable to reach his goals. The one area is the kindred attributes between the two. In fact, one could verbalize that Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were consummate antitheses. Martin Luther King was able to enlighten the world an edification. He showed us that goals can be reached without violence. Although , Malcolm X may have reached his goals, but he engendered nonessential violence along the way.. You may argue that even though Martin Luther King’s protests were halcyon, violence still occurred. The difference in my opinion is that the Hangings and attacks that African Americans faced were out of their control. It was the decision of those that they were protesting against to bellicosity beat them and kill them. Malcolm X on the other hand was many times the initiator of violence. He brought violence to his protests and ergo engendered extra violence, which can be deemed to be nonessential. At the terminus of the day many would favor of the lessons which Martin Luther King Jr uplifted as his decisions and outcomes can influence the decisions of future generations in times of conflict. Malcolm X’s conception of doing anything to reach his goals is not a good representation for future generations as it remotely
On April 12, 1964, Malcolm X stepped in front of a crowd of two thousand in Detroit’s King Solomon Baptist Church. Ministers initially attempted to prevent Malcolm X from using the church to deliver the speech at the last minute, as they had already estimated the potential for controversy (“Say It Plain, Say It Loud”). Many historians deem the speech, titled “The Ballot or the Bullet,” Malcolm X’s greatest performance. Only a month after departing from the Nation of Islam and joining the mainstream Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X already recognized the vital flaw in the movement: the African American expectation of help from the white population. “The Ballot or the Bullet” aimed to point out that flaw and unite all African Americans through
The Civil Rights Movement refers to the political, social, and economical struggle of African Americans to gain full citizenship and racial equality. Although African Americans began to fight for equal rights as early as during the days of slavery, the quest for equality continues today. Historians generally agree that Civil Rights Movement began with the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 and ended with the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
When giving his speech “The Ballot or the Bullet” Malcolm X spoke in a content and tone that made this speech very impactful to his audience and listeners which is still relevant today. Malcolm X was convinced that voting was the way to change racial prejudice in America. The Ballot or the Bullet is directed at African Americans and encourages them to stand up for their rights at all cost. He spoke with such knowledge, attitude and passion that put emphasis on the importance of African Americans being educated and educating themselves on politics. Malcolm X was a prominent spokesman of the civil rights era, his words when spoken were very potent and influential especially in the black community. Because Malcolm X was very direct in his speech, the audience responded positively and respectfully. “It 's time for
The two men joined the fight for equality for similar reasons. King’s family were terrorized by all the whites in his area, and X’s father. was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. This inspired and motivated both to challenge the society to be more inclusive. Whilst fighting for the same thing - equality for blacks - the movements they became involved with went about achieving their goals in completely different ways. The Civil Rights Movement is most commonly linked with Martin Luther.
Slogans and statements were made against each other, creating a pattern from Martin Luther King Jr. by reminding America of the fierce urgency now and Malcolm X warning black nationalist aren 't going to wait (The Ballot or The Bullet). The syntax that Martin Luther King Jr. used to have a choice of vocabulary "we will be able to walk together, to pray together, go to jail together, to struggle together, to climb for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day"(Martin Luther King Jr.) Malcolm X syntax was very straight forward "I don 't usually deal with those big words because I don’t usually deal with big people, I deal with small people (The Ballot or Bullet). We can see the difference in the tone and attitude of each speaker. Martin Luther King Jr. peaceful protest against inequality persuading the importance of the civil rights movement. He explained his ambition of his dream for the people of the south repeating "I Have a Dream" continually throughout his speech (Barlow). The March on Washington was the greatest demonstration to protest for freedom our nation was built upon. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the authority of President Lincoln Gettysburg Address 100 years earlier. The Emancipation Proclamation that officially freed slaves during
The similarities in between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are very prominent African American individuals throughout history. They fought for what they stood for but in many different ways. As we all know in history there are no two great men that are alike. Their many beliefs may have blossomed from the households they came from and how they grew up. At the end, the leader of two different movement had been assassinated. With that event, both movement make a big march for the justice of the leader of their
Honestly, the Civil Rights Movement needed the Whites’ help to succeed. Nevertheless, it was all from the black people’s accomplishments and hard work. As King was an educated man that used peace in his messages. His background had helped him in becoming a more attractive persuasive man than Malcolm X. A great example of Martin Luther King’s persuasive way of speaking is the “I Have a Dream.” He started it in a civilized way. Although others have discussed and argued the same points, they haven’t shown it in such an inspiring way. King was seen as a spiritual figure for the movement. Malcolm X had been fierce as he started his speeches and sayings with “American society is already divided on racial lines.” He then continued stating the rights whites are given. The way he says it is what makes Whites more fierce in their attitude with Blacks and give them worst treatments. Martin Luther King introduced many different passive methods. For instance, he introducted the voting rights act and supported many campaigns like the bus boycott. Many have thought that nonviolent acts by Martin Luther King haven’t shown success. Yet, they are the long term successes. When you research in depth, you will see the difference in King and Malcolm X’s accomplishments. Malcolm X had shown short living success. As stated, Malcolm X’s beliefs weren’t good for those who want to live peacefully with Whites. In his speeches he had said “Brothers, the white man can’t give you the solution. You will never get the solution from any white liberal”. Therefore, he had given them no hope in interacting with White in a good way and trusting them. On the other hand, Martin Luther King says “The racial problem will be solved in America to the degree that every American considers himself personally confronted with it”. More proof to that word is when Malcolm X had said “Don’t let us try and mix with each other because every time that mixture takes place we always
Malcolm X and James Baldwin were two men that played a large role in defining a people and a cause during the 1950s and 1960s. Both of these men were dynamic African-Americans who lived primarily to help their people, who were terribly persecuted in the United States for many years. The interesting thing about these two men is that they strove towards the same goal—to unify African-Americans and give them strength and confidence—but they accomplished this goal in very different ways. Malcolm X, a leader in the Nation of Islam movement, believed that African-Americans needed to acquire strength and confidence so that they could separate from the White man and live together in peace, harmony, and production. On the other hand, James Baldwin, renowned writer, believed it necessary for African-Americans to have strength and confidence so that they might coexist on the same level as whites and accomplish what whites were accomplishing. The methodology and teachings of James Baldwin and Malcolm X differed greatly, but their general belief, that African-Americans were just as good as everybody else prevailed over all else, and made these men two of the very important faces of a generation.
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.
The Civil Rights Movement began in order to bring equal rights and equal voting rights to black citizens of the US. This was accomplished through persistent demonstrations, one of these being the Selma-Montgomery March. This march, lead by Martin Luther King Jr., targeted at the disenfranchisement of negroes in Alabama due to the literacy tests. Tension from the governor and state troopers of Alabama led the state, and the whole nation, to be caught in the violent chaos caused by protests and riots by marchers. However, this did not prevent the March from Selma to Montgomery to accomplish its goals abolishing the literacy tests and allowing black citizens the right to vote.
Historically, the Civil Rights Movement was a time during the 1950’s and 60’s to eliminate segregation and gain equal rights. Looking back on all the events, and dynamic figures it produced, this description is very vague. In order to fully understand the Civil Rights Movement, you have to go back to its origin. Most people believe that Rosa Parks began the whole civil rights movement. She did in fact propel the Civil Rights Movement to unprecedented heights but, its origin began in 1954 with Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was the cornerstone for change in American History as a whole. Even before our nation birthed the controversial ruling on May 17, 1954 that stated separate educational facilities were inherently unequal, there was Plessy vs. Ferguson in 1896 that argued by declaring that state laws establish separate public schools for black and white students denied black children equal educational opportunities. Some may argue that Plessy vs. Ferguson is in fact backdrop for the Civil Rights Movement, but I disagree. Plessy vs. Ferguson was ahead of it’s time so to speak. “Separate but equal” thinking remained the body of teachings in America until it was later reputed by Brown vs. Board of Education. In 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, and prompted The Montgomery Bus Boycott led by one of the most pivotal leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. After the gruesome death of Emmett Till in 1955 in which the main suspects were acquitted of beating, shooting, and throwing the fourteen year old African American boy in the Tallahatchie River, for “whistling at a white woman”, this country was well overdo for change.
On April 3, 1964, Malcolm X’s speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” was a response speech to Martin Luther king Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a month prior to Malcolm’s. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. shared a mutual vision – freedom for African Americans. Dr. King was a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable; Malcolm X was an advocate of violence, he encouraged it. The two great civil rights leaders of the 1960’s, held opposing political philosophies.
Would you rather listen to a man vulgarly tell the truth or a man peacefully say the similar information? Well, throughout history many people have chosen to listen to the latter. The reason people would choose to listen to a more peaceful man is because he is far less dangerous and more appealing. People during the Civil Rights movement were placed in a very similar situation with Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.King was a man of the christian religion who preached non-violence in the fight for Civil Rights. Vice Versa, Malcolm was a man of Islamic religion who preached violence in the name of justice. Based on Martin’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail” seem seeks a mutual understand and equality between African-Americans and racist majority group. On the other hand, Malcolm’s “ Messages to Grassroots’ displayed his urge for the separation for both parties conflicting. Both activist had different solutions for the same problem, similar audiences, and different styles of speech. While both faced the same problem, they had different solutions.