Declaration for Equality Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are known figures who paved the way towards fighting racial discrimination and demanding equality for black people. Despite being freed from slavery 100s of years ago, African-Americans are still considered inferior to white people. Both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X point this out in their speeches as the United States of America’s failure to achieve racial equality. Although finally getting recognition as an American citizen after years of slavery the authority does not put effort in aiding black people to realize the American Dream. Rather than directly accusing the politicians for their faults, Martin Luther King uses his speech as a way to show America the injustice by bringing …show more content…
Even though the Declaration of Independence was exclusively signed by white men, Martin Luther King clarifies that it doesn’t change the fact, through signing the Emancipation Proclamation; black people are part of America as well. The year after his speech, Malcolm X adds in his own words with an accusatory tone and the subtle implication that his fellow people are not Americans but living in the United States and their end goal is to return to their “homeland” (Malcolm X 72). Nonetheless, like Martin Luther King, he criticizes the government about the lack of funds and the clear disparity between black people and white people through financial status. Not using a historical context to explain his cause, he instead incites people to stand with him for the injustice faced by the government now. He openly blames the authority for letting the black community …show more content…
One thing both men seem to disagree on in terms of how they should achieve equality is the issue of white men’s involvement in the cause. In Martin Luther King’s case, he wants his fellow people to understand that the forces who are trying to oppress them should not lead to “a distrust of all white people” (Martin Luther King 69). Meanwhile, Malcolm X, though not explicitly stated, his dismissive manner of excluding white people to the cause, claiming “Whites can help us, but they can’t join us” implies his own distrust in white people (Malcolm X 73). Martin Luther King’s speech however encourages white men to join the cause because to him equality involves every race to recognize the right to fight for everyone’s rights, or as he states, “[white men’s] destiny is tied with [black men’s] destiny” (Martin Luther King 69). Therefore his whole speech not only focuses on the black community, though it is a major factor, but it also includes all races in his idea of freedom and equality. In contrast, Malcolm X narrow-mindedly focuses on black people and white people, wanting his people to gain what should be rightfully theirs. To him, “black unity” must be the first priority before “black-white unity”, and he continuously emphasizes in his text how they should focus on strengthening the black community (Malcolm X
They both seem to share the thought that they only way to gain freedom as a slave is to show you will do anything to receive that freedom, but they also shared some different views. In “Liberty, Equality, Power” “When Dr. King rushed to the scene, preaching politics of nonviolence local activists ignored or even ridiculed him” (Murrin 998) and Malcolm X “oftentimes criticized Dr. King’s gradual, nonviolent approach” (Murrin 1000) was a different approach on King’s role in segregation. In Murrin’s text he was portrayed as weak for believing that desegregation would happen with nonviolence. Everyone that was battling to receive freedom seemed to think otherwise that violence was in fact key. This changes the reader’s view on King and how he was not really portrayed as most people know him to be “a hero” for all African Americans. It seems that Murrin believes that Malcolm X made more of a change for African American’s and connected more with them than King
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both talk about the oppression that the black community suffered, and they defended their positions and their thoughts.
Without the trials and tribulations of Malcolm X African Americans may not be where they are today.
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,
Two of the most influential Civil Rights activists were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both men were fighting for racial equality. However, some of their tactics were controversial. Both Dr. King and Malcolm X died for their causes, fighting for justice up until their last breath. Some of their methods were successful and some were not. In brief, both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X used varying tactics to get their cry for racial equality heard.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches were targeting issues of all minorities, predominately African Americans. Dr. King‘s vision was set on bettering society as a hold, but first starting with his people. His speeches focused on racism in America, targeting those with racial beliefs. Dr. King implied that he would love to see “[…] black boys and black girls […] join hands with little white boys and girls” implying that there is an issue with blacks and whites (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). On the other hand, Malcom X believed in Black Supremacy. He wanted equality, but also wanted African Americans to control their own state, finances, religious beliefs and all other social affiliations. He focused on the white man and how they treated and thought of blacks. Unlike Dr. King, Malcolm X believed in a “do whatever it takes” approach. Barriers such as skin color or family morals can stand between the action and the
African Americans are fortunate to have leaders who fought for a difference in Black America. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are two powerful men in particular who brought hope to blacks in the United States. Both preached the same message about Blacks having power and strength in the midst of all the hatred that surrounded them. Even though they shared the same dream of equality for their people, the tactics they implied to make these dreams a reality were very different. The background, environment and philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were largely responsible for the distinctly varying responses to American racism.
...artin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X approach the same problem differently. They both use pathos, a central metaphor, and give a warning. However, Martin Luther King Jr. uses pathos to create a welcoming and patriotic feeling whereas Malcolm X uses fear. Martin Luther King Jr. uses a check, used on a daily basis, as the object of his central metaphor; Malcolm X uses a powder keg, a very damaging and dangerous object, as the object of his central metaphor. Lastly, Martin Luther King Jr. warns his audience that the people of color will revolt passively. On the other hand, Malcolm X warns his audience that the people of color will revolt violently with bloodshed. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both achieve their goal. After reading both speeches, Malcolm X seems, in my opinion, to have made a greater impact on the white community because fear is stronger than joy.
The civil rights movement in America contains two transformational figures; one being Martin Luther King Jr., who preached the message of love and unity between blacks and whites. However, on the opposite end, Malcolm X used messages laced with fear and separatism. Nevertheless, both sought the same goal of racial justice for blacks in the United States. This paper will explore the opposite viewpoints of these two pivotal figures and how they separately and unwittingly complemented each other to achieve the overall goal of racial justice.
During the hundred years of civil rights revolution in the United States, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are the two most important leaders which helped lead the African American has gained their voices in the society. Both of them, the two greatest leaders have been fighting for the equal rights for Black Americans; growing up in different environment, they had different ways of delivering the messages of equality. This also led to dissimilar beliefs and tangible, intangible differences in how they gained their triumph for equality and freedom to Black Americans. According to “Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s
Each speaker, Martin Luther King Jr, Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X, has different opinions and practices on the matter of Human Rights or in others terms, black power. Dr. King is precise in demonstrating non-violence and peaceful protests. Carmichael, after seeing the personal way many white officers and those against him were, as well as what they did to those like him, he did not necessarily advocate violence, but said it was sometimes essential in terms of self-defense. Malcolm X was one of the polar opposite characters. In my eyes and through my readings, Malcolm X incited violence and persuaded the black people that followed him to “hate the white man”. Unlike Dr. King and somewhat Carmichael, Malcolm did not preach peace, but by any means to get their way, which was usually violence.
Martin Luther King and Malcolm x are both strong representations of two different approaches to a common goal. Martin Luther King Jr. preferred a nonviolence approach to the situation. Whereas, Malcolm X handled racism in a violent approach. However, both man believed African Americans deserved their human rights and equal say. Martin Luther King Jr. believed in an integrated society while Malcolm X wanted African Americans to have their segregated neighborhoods just as good as the whites.
Although both of these activists have different solutions and deliver things differently, they both address racism and the injustice the U.S. government performs on daily basis. In addition to this, they are both African Americans who persuading different audiences but are delivering the same content. In MLK’s letter he responds to his clergymen’s criticisms by addressing the racial injustices in Birmingham; while Malcolm X is delivery the same content but his audiences are blacks and whites. Even though they are both striving to declare freedom and are willing to fight for their human rights, MLK is more effective than Malcolm X in fighting against racial
In history we know that no two men are alike but, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were phenomenal people and leaders. Both had visualized some type of change in the future, yet were not literally able to see it. Both Dr. King and Malcolm X set out to bring a sense of confidence to blacks all over the United States. Their main purpose was to help instill black’s power and strength so that they could overcome racial disparity and prejudice that surrounded them, but both of them had very unique and distinct different ways of promoting their message. Martin was more geared and focused on equality and wellness of the world as a whole, a Malcolm X’s personal interpretation of the world was very well blinded by anger, bitterness, and the desire to get revenge at the expense of the world that he thought treated him unfairly.
Have you ever met a person who was so determined for something that they would do anything and everything in their power to accomplish it no matter what the consequences are? Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of that image. He thoroughly pounded thoughts of equality into our nation’s head over and over. Ironically, he went to jail 29 times before he made the speech that changed the world. This speech, titled “I Have a Dream,” forces America to realize that racial inequality is unacceptable by stating: “But 100 years later the negro is still not free” (King 1). Simply put, he is talking about the past present and future of the nation and how he wants this colossal change. One idea that King emphasized above all