Although Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most influential civil rights activists, their philosophies on how to approach the pursuit of equality greatly differed—especially in regards to the idea of otherness. King was a huge proponent of nonviolent protest in order to attempt to peacefully integrate blacks and whites without any unnecessary bloodshed. Malcolm X on the other hand believed that brute force and violence was the only feasible way to initiate the process of integration. From their vastly different ideologies about how to create change, they developed a difference in mindset about otherness and what the goal of their respective movements were. While King and Malcolm X both agreed upon the fact that blacks were …show more content…
This is where the differences in approach stem from for the most part, as Malcolm X embraced violence as a means to achieve his goal, not necessarily caring as much about integration as he did about pure equality. Malcolm X accepted his otherness as part of who he was, and it became what his movement represented. He felt as if by protesting to be a part of those who had kept him down was counterintuitive to the movement, and giving in to public pressure to some degree. His hatred for the situation may have outweighed his ability to pursue equality in a more logical, rational manner. Malcolm X’s concept about what otherness meant to his cause was formative in his argument about what civil rights meant to him and his followers. He wanted to accept the fact that he didn’t fit in, and continue to embody the black man in his daily life, as well as his approach to activism. He was attempting to fight the power, as opposed to trying to become one collective group belonging to its reign. King and he on the surface had very similar roles in the civil rights movement, as leaders attempting to make a change in terms of breaking racial barriers, but their mindsets on how otherness molded the black race created a separation of thought and action dependent on their respective
From 1954 - 1968 the United States faced an essential event in its history called the African-American civil rights movement which occured to have equal rights for the african americans. When these events occurred there were leaders chosen for the african americans. A voice that spoke out in favor for them, and not only was there one but there was two. There names were Martin Luther King Jr (MLK) and Malcolm X.
Issues with racism and equality have plagued America for centuries. 50 years ago, the tensions came to a peak, and two key figures wrote to inspire the nation to come together. These two leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, impacted the thoughts and actions of many people throughout their lives. They each wrote influential essays that persuaded the rest of the nation to fight for equality. While in a Birmingham jail cell, MLK composed a letter to eight clergymen from Alabama who did not believe it was the right time to fight for equality.
In the pursuit of equality during the Civil Rights Movement, two main ideologies emerged: those of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. These two men’s philosophies are usually viewed as complete contradictories. Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King hold the same end goal of rights for African Americans; however, their methods for achieving that goal differ. Malcolm maintained a more violent approach whereas King deemed that the best way to achieve equality was through nonviolent and peaceful practices. Additionally, Malcolm believed in the separatism of African American and white cultures, in contrast to King’s belief in the integration of black and white cultures.
Malcolm X, who had come from a poor home in the North, had focused on the economic aspect of the Civil Rights movement through more violent take on getting his word out. Martin Luther King Jr was a major influence to the Civil Rights movement. Therefore, his non-violent
Martin Luther King Jr. believed that change would come slowly with peaceful protest and resistance while Malcolm X believed that African Americans should take care of themselves and attack whites when they were attacked. Many believe that Malcolm X’s philosophy
While, Malcolm X was a man on the streets and advocated violence by any way necessary. Martin Luther King Jr philosophy, in the 1960’s made the most sense because he made America move forward, made everyone equal and also stopped non-violence. Martin Luther and Malcolm X had their first meeting at the U.S. Capitol on March 26, 1964, they seemed to have mutual respect during this time. (Doc A). Malcolm X believed that the blacks and the whites should be separated, he wanted the whites to work in conjunction and work among their own kind, and this simply means that he wanted the whites to work alone.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had been very important leaders to the Civil Rights movement. Their differing philosophies had made them unique, and brough differing perspectives to the 1960s. In the 1960s, society had been cruel in their treatment of African-Americans. Segregation was still in place, and hate and violence to African Americans had been at a high. The Civil Rights movement had been a big step for African-americans as they fighted for equal rights and the end of segregation.
While King’s non-aggressive civil rights movement was extremely structured and led by organized protests, Malcolm X’s aggressive civil rights movement was less formally organized but many participants were influenced by his strong rhetoric. Malcolm X believed that his goals should be accomplished by any means possible, even if it meant that African-Americans needed to employ aggressive tactics in order to protect themselves. Malcolm X, who converted to the Nation of Islam while in prison during the late 1940s, worked with the nation’s leader Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X’s conversion was one of the main things that differentiated him from Martin Luther King; while King preached Christian messages, often involving peace and love, Malcolm X preached Islamic messages, often involving justice and respect. Malcolm X believed that African-Americans were never going to get what they wanted by working with white society; he believed that African-Americans had to work alone.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were prominent and powerful leaders. While each man believed in fighting for blacks and equal rights, they maintained different approaches to achieve their goals. These different paths stemmed from each man’s ideologies, which were largely shaped by their upbringings and religions. While King grew up with a respected Christian father and had the opportunity to attend school his entire life, Malcolm X, on the other hand, experienced extreme acts of violence against himself and his family. While King practiced Christianity and shaped his ideals around this, Malcolm X was a practitioner of the Muslim faith, and he implemented many of Muslim ideologies into his ideals.
King, Malcolm X’s philosophies involved violence. Malcolm X believed that violence was a necessary action in the civil rights movement. In an interview he stated, “I believe we should protect ourselves by any means necessary when we are attacked by racists” (Document K). Malcolm X wasn’t pro-violence, he just wanted a fair fight. During this time, the KKK used violent methods to force African Americans into submission.
MLK and Malcolm X both wanted equality but in different ways. Martin Luther King believed in nonviolence to end segregation. However, Malcolm X believed in segregation; where African Americans would govern themselves without bothering the whites. But which idea was better for society? Malcolm X’s philosophy offers a variety of solutions for
MLK’s “I have a dream” speech promoted the idea of integration. He believed that the races were created equal and that blacks should be respected as American citizens. Malcolm X followed Muslim principles and believed that he would protest “by any means necessary.” He would do whatever needed in order to obtain freedom for African-Americans whether it be violence or nonviolent. Malcolm opposed integration and believed that blacks needed to fend for themselves in the fight against whites.
Malcolm X didn’t agree with what King’s views, he believed that MLK’s dream was not a dream but a nightmare. Martin Luther King Jr’s approach to civil rights and equality was non-violent protesting, sit-ins, and getting as much people together as possible while not using violence. However, Malcolm X’s approach to this was almost the opposite. He was against the views of whites and he was willing to do whatever was needed to achieve
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were two influential men who served as important figures for the Civil Rights Movement. The two men came from diverse backgrounds and had contrasting views in life about religion and African American’s stance in society. Malcolm X was born in Nebraska and had great amounts of exposure to racism. Martin Luther King was born in an educated family in Atlanta, where he experienced racism, but to a lower extreme than Malcolm X. Although they passed away long time ago, they continue to live on today in a world independent of segregation. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X used opposing principles to achieve equality for blacks; King utilized integration of both races and nonviolence as opposed to Malcolm X who separated the same races and employed non violence so as to achieve the same goal.
Martin Luther King Jr said,“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”. In the late 1960s, racial tension was high, African Americans were not given the right to vote, the right to a fair education, and the right to a fair judgement. This then led to the separation of schools and the destruction of a normal livelihood. Dr.King and Malcolm X, two men in the face of oppression rose up to challenge the racial barrier, thus changing the world forever. Although Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X seem to have mutual respect and an equal understanding of the inequality, their philosophies were quite different from each other.