MLK and Malcom X

692 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: compare and contrast mlk and malcolm

“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...

... middle of paper ...

...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

Show More
Related

  • Malcolm X Dbq Analysis

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    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 was wanted racial separation, while Martin Luther King wanted to both races to coexist. Religion is also a major part of this situation because most African Americans including MLK in America were Christian while Malcolm X’s goal was to turn all people who follow his path to convert into Muslims. Martin Luther King’s philosophy would’ve made more sense to 1960s America because most people who wanted freedom in society would rather consider coexisting than more racial

    Read More

  • Fannie Lou Hamer and Malcolm X

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both Fannie Lou Hamer and Malcolm X rejected the idea that the main goal of the civil rights movement should be based on an aspiration to gain rights “equal” to those of white men and to assimilate into white culture. They instead emphasized a need to empower Black Americans.1 Their ideas were considered radical at a time when Martin Luther King Jr. preached the potential of white and black americans to overcome “the race issue” together and in a gradual manner. Malcolm X’s attempt to achieve his goals through revolutionary top-down methods and Fannie Lou Hamer’s focus on the need for grassroots movements contributed to the Civil Rights movement significantly by encouraging and assisting Black Americans.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X Dbq

    1515 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    When comparing two essays, there are many different aspects that the reader can look at to make judgments and opinions. In the two essays that I choose, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 'Letter from Birmingham Jail', and FREDERICK DOUGLAS'S 'From Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,' there were many similarities, but also many differences. Some of them being, the context, style, structure and tone. Many times when readings or articles are being compared, people over look the grammatical and structural elements, and just concentrate on the issues at hand. I believe it is important to evaluate both.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X Vs. Martin Luther King Jr.

    1713 Words  | 4 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • Malcolm X And Martin Luther King Analysis

    1436 Words  | 3 Pages

    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,

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King And Lewis

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    In contrast, Dr. King believed in the change through nonviolent methods, influenced by Gandhi. He also showed his readiness to work with whites toward social justice. However, X and Dr. King, with their two different ideologies, wanted to attain the same goal, Afro-Americans’ freedom (Malcolm X).

    Read More

  • The Black Power Movement vs the Civil Rights Movement

    482 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    Malcolm X, a civil rights leader in the 1960's believed that blacks and whites should be segregated. He also believed that white man was evil and were trying to brainwash all blacks and that Martin Luther King's "non-violent protests" weren't working and that violence was needed for change.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Comparative Rhetorical Analysis: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...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.

    Read More

  • James Baldwin versus Malcolm X

    2599 Words  | 6 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast the Work of Martin Luther King Jr & Malcolm X

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Jfk And Martin Luther King

    1285 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy were two very commendable men. They were two very different men that I feel had the same incredible amount passion for human beings. Both Dr. King and President Kennedy had such high hopes for this country and regardless of the sad and devastating time era, they both spoke with much poise and compassion. I truly believe they are exactly what this country needed and still needs to this very day.

    Read More

  • Essay On Malcolm X

    2154 Words  | 5 Pages

    Based on some of the things Malcolm has done, Martin Luther King Jr. definitely had a different way of approaching issues. With both of their totally different ways of getting their point across, discussion could be made on who was more effective in the civil rights movement as a whole. If Malcolm X wasn't around and fighting for civil rights around the same time as MLK was doing it here he probably would of had much of a chance and would have just been killed, he in a way motivated the whole world into fighting for civil rights in their country, without his “black power” philosophy. He was easily in the top five people that got the civil rights movement to follow its course and end up getting equality for black and white. Malcolm X was orphaned early in life.

    Read More

More about MLK and Malcom X

Open Document