MLK and Malcom X

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“Equality”, that’s what Martin Luther King (MLK) and Malcolm X fought for. They were different from each other, but fighting for the equal rights of African-Americans is what brought them together. They were both African-American activist’s and are the two best known African-American leaders. The reason they were important is because they were major leaders in the Civil Rights movement, but they differed in many ways. For example: early life experiences, role of whites in the Civil Rights movement, integration and violence. MLK and Malcolm X were united for one cause, but they differed greatly from each other.
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had different early life experiences. MLK had a good time growing up that is why he was more peaceful than Malcolm X was. He lived in a prosperous, but segregated neighborhood and his father was also a minister. MLK became a minister and gave his first sermon at the age of seventeen (Ladenburg, 2007). Being involved with the church made MLK more peaceful. On the other hand, Malcolm X had a rough life growing up, that is why he is much more aggressive. White supremacists burnt Malcolm’s house down, and later killed his father. Malcolm X grew up on the streets where he became a thief and later served a ten year sentence (Ladenburg, 2007). Therefor MLK was peaceful because he was a minister during his late teens. Whereas Malcolm X was more aggressive because he was a thief growing up.
They MLK and Malcolm X saw the role of the whites in the Civil Rights Movement differently. MLK thought that every American was equal and valuable. He also thought that the whites could be trusted. One of his philosophies sated, “The citizenship rights of Negroes cannot be flouted anywhere without impairing the r...

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...s, violent and racist mob” (Ladenburg, 2007, p. 32). Malcolm X thought that if you did something to him, he would do the same thing to you.
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were truly great activists that fought for the rights of African-Americans. They were both united for the same cause, but they differed a lot. They differed in early life experiences, role of whites in the Civil Rights movement, integration and in violence. MLK and Malcolm X will forever remain in history.

Works Cited

Fisher, R. (n.d.). Martin Luther King and Malcolm X debate [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4PqLKWuwyU&feature=share&list=PLyhMzRYjXzh. ez1oSSNn8TW3KrU6My0dzc&index=4
Ladenburg, T. (2007). Martin Luther King & Malcolm X on violence and integration. In
Digital History Retrieved from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/
lesson_plans/pdfs/unit11_6.pdf

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