Differences Between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X

Many black authors and leaders of the sixties shared similar feelings

towards the white run American society in which they lived. Malcolm X,

James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, and Stokely Carmichael all blamed the

whites for the racism which existed. However, they agreed that it was up

to the black society to end this problem. Using the black society, each of

the authors had their own idea of how racism could be stopped.

Unfortunately, for some, such as Malcolm X, this involved the use of

violence, while others, such as King, favored the non-violent approach.

This paper will focus, for the most part, on Malcolm X and King because

they are both strong representations of two different approaches to a

common goal. Perhaps their different approaches of violence and

nonviolence stem from their original opinions of how capable the whites are

of being "good".

Not all of the whites involved in the problem of racism supported it.

Some were actually trying to help fight for the blacks. Unfortunately, it

took Malcolm X a long time to figure that out. Malcolm's paper, "The

Ballot or the Bullet," makes that clear. In his paper, he is constantly

criticizing whites as a whole. He does not consider, even for a moment,

that a white could actually support equality for all men. "Usually, it's

the white man who grins at you the most, and pats you on the back, and is

supposed to be your friend. He may be friendly, but he's not your friend"

(261).

However, in a later work of his, "1965," one can see that Malcolm was

learning to accept whites as possible allies.

I tried in every speech I made to clarify my new position

regarding white people - 'I don't speak against the sincere, well

meaning, good white people. I have learned that there are some.

I have learned that not all white people are racists' (367).

Yet, while Malcolm learned over a period of time that not all whites

are evil, King entered the scene already fully aware that "good" whites

existed. In fact, where Malcolm underestimated the goodness in whites,

King seems to have overestimated it. He talks about his overestimating of

goodness in "Letter from Birmingham Jail." "I guess I should have realized

that few members of a race that has oppressed another race can

understand...the deep groans and passionate yearnings of those that have

been oppressed" (244)....

... middle of paper ...

... Malcolm X and Martin Luther King

were fighting for the same cause, racism. Although their views on white

Americans, which affected their methods of approach, were originally

different, both activists came to realize that not all whites can be

classified as good or bad. They began to see that, instead of discouraging

whites from helping, they could use eager whites to create more of an

impact within the white communities. This is important because it shows

that it is possible for whites and blacks to work together for a single

cause. It leaves hope that maybe one day, all traces of racism can

disappear and leave behind a united society in which everyone can work

together for the good of the country.

WORKS CITED

King, Martin Luther, Jr. "Letter From Birmingham Jail." The Borzoi College Reader, 3rd edition. Ed. Charles Muscatine and Marlene Griffith. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976.

Pilgrimage to Nonviolence '58. Memeo.

Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1965.

"The Ballot or the Bullet." The Borzoi College Reader, 2nd Edition. Ed. Charles Muscatine and Marlene Griffith. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1974.