Some Lead, Some Follow, Others Change the World

When being asked which Civil Rights activist of the movement was most effective, the answer is quite obvious. This movement originated due to what is called “Jim Crow” laws. These laws suggested that everyone is separate but equal. Otherwise became blindingly apparent when African Americans were subdued by whites in various ways. For example, the justice system always considered the case of white man over a black one. Also, an African American facility was certainly not comparable to the superior quality of White’s. Soon, organizations began to form in attempts to stop this unjust treatment. One man in particular stands out the most throughout this movement of change: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s form of protesting was the more effective than activist Malcolm X and was the reason for the majority of success during the Civil Rights movement. This is because Malcolm X’s cause would only slow progress during the movement, Martin Luther King Jr. had more authority, and he understood that peaceful protesting is the very genesis of redefining a nation.

Malcolm X’s cause did not support any advancement in the Civil Rights movement. If anything, his efforts deterred any progress by encouraging separation. Malcolm X looked up to the Black Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad’s campaign was based around whites being “descended from the devil” and “being born to harm blacks”. Malcolm soon adopted and idolized this ideology that not only reached toward separate nations, but frightened whites. Considering this, the group the Black Panthers in which Malcolm X formed later on created their own schools, businesses and newspapers in order to further segregate themselves from whites. This group was encouraged by the ide...

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...t. He built bridges between races, not walls like Malcolm X. Malcolm X’s cause would only dismiss the goals of the Civil Rights movement. Also, Martin Luther King Jr. had more of an impact amongst his public. Lastly, he contributed to the ongoing idea that acting in a peaceful manor will make goals much more attainable. Martin Luther King Jr. had a very positive impact on not only his public, but this nation. He will never be forgotten within history.

Works Cited

Levy, Peter B. Let Freedom Ring: a Documentary History of the Modern Civil Rights Movement. New York: Praeger, 1992.

Glencoe. "Online Student Edition." Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. 2008. Web. .

Cruz, Kimberly. "Comparing Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X." Http://www.polk-fl.net. Web. .