Martin Luther King Jr Vs Malcolm X Pathos

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were both leaders of the Civil Rights movement often on opposite ends of the movement. The two men approached the need for equality in the black community from differing perspectives while sharing a similar ideology. King addressed the struggles, goals, and hopes of the movement with his speech I Have a Dream. In response, Malcolm X gave his own speech The Ballot or The Bullet, within his speech he addressed a specific topic of Black Nationalism. In both speeches, we find classic uses of rhetorical tools such as ethos, pathos, and logos. They speak with a purpose to an intended audience.

King and Malcolm X both utilize a form of pathos which works well to their advantage to draw in their listeners. In King’s speech, he mentions children, the unity of both white and black children. He also mentions specifically children attending school. During a time of segregation and

Malcolm X uses religion to almost discredit King and those like him, citing that their dual roles being intertwined are political. He dismisses his own religion as a Muslim, stating that it his private life and has no sway on his public life. On the other hand, King’s speech is ingrained with religious references and tone. His speech is sermon-like and speaks volumes on his position as a Reverend within the Christian Church. Their stances on segregation are vastly different. King is a staunch supporter of integration in schools, businesses, and the country in general while Malcolm is against integration because it gives up control within the black community. Malcolm's focus is Black Nationalism. The goal of Black Nationalism is to give Blacks control within their own communities. One noticeable difference is their tones and how they address not only their audience but how they refer to their own community. King uses the term Negro while Malcolm refers to those within his community as