Martin Luther King vs. Malcolm X Philosophical Differences In the 1900s, as racism had become more and more apparent, leaders started to rise up in attempt to change society’s opinion which led to and increasing amount of people becoming involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Many had conflicting ideas about how to eliminate racism, and as people became bolder with their beliefs, different strategies started to emerge. Two ideas among many were the main tactics used to convince people that segregation should be stopped. These two ideas were sprung from the minds of two different men, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. When equal rights were not established, protests and marches were the major uses of displaying indignation towards racism. This eventually lead to the development of the Civil Rights Movement which began in the 1950s and was an act towards discrimination. Martin Luther King’s ideals were the most reasonable for America in the 1960s because of his method of nonviolence and his belief that people should not be …show more content…
King believed that everyone should work together, while Malcolm X still thought that Blacks and Whites should be segregated. Quoted in George Breitman, “The Last Years of Malcolm X: Evolution of a Revolutionary”, Malcolm X says “…(W)e have to learn how to how to own and operate the businesses of our community and develop them into some type of industry…” By this, he implied that African American communities should be separated from White communities. However, this leads to further separation rather than eliminating discrimination. King’s belief was that all men are equal and should not be judged based on the color of their skin; therefore, the separation of Black and White communities should not exist. King’s strategy was preferred in eradicating racism because with everyone being in the same community, everyone will be able to work together without prejudice
In both Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcolm X's Civil Rights speeches, there were critical points hit in both of these speeches about African American employment. These two speeches are very important when talking about African American employment because both of them developed two very effective, but different methods for obtaining civil rights and employment for African Americans. With these two speeches MLK and Malcolm X were planning to make it fair for African Americans to get the same employment amount as everyone else. These two leaders had the same goals for these speeches, but very different reasoning and methods for obtaining those goals. Both Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcolm X had the same target in their sights for these speeches,
King’s theological perpectives about love and non violence has separated him not only from white Christians but also from the African Mmerican separationist communities ;and especially, Malcolm X. Many African Americans welcomed King’s notion of non-violence as a practical strategy for achieving constituional rights for the black community. However, Malcolm X strongly rejected both King’s religious and practical views on nonviolenec, and insisted that that violence when “necessary” and self-defense are basic human rights for protecting both black individauals and black societies. One of the main theological points that reflected on the extrem contradictions represented in these two figures, was King’s notion of nonviolence and the Malcolm
For example, Malcolm said that African Americans must learn how to own, operate, and develop businesses within their communities. They must do this “to create employment for the people of [their] community so … they won’t have to be constantly … involved in picketing and boycotting other people in other communities in order to get a job.” Malcolm believed that it would be better for African Americans to start businesses and only buy from African American businesses to become independent from whites. Additionally, Malcolm believed that his fellow African Americans were wasting their time with peaceful protests and should sunder themselves from white society. Furthermore, Malcolm believed that the best way for genuine white Americans to help blacks was to create a division between their societies.
Ololade Latinwo In the 1960s, the idea of equal rights for African Americans citizens began to take hold in the United States At the head of this major movement were two major leaders: Martin Luther King Jr. Despite the fact that they had the common goal of racial equality, they had opposing views on how to obtain it. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that Civil Rights should be obtained peacefully, through methods such as boycotts, sit-ins, and marches. While Malcom X believed that such a thing should be obtained at all costs, with violence or otherwise.
was the right person to lead black americans was his views on economics. He believed that the right way to create equality in the business place was to boycott any companies who gave black citizens unfair pay/treatment. “In the past six months simply by refusing to purchase products from companies which do not hire Negroes, the ministers of Chicago have increased the income of the Negro community by more than 2 million dollars annually.” (Doc F) MLK thought that by taking a non-violent approach to boycott businesses who treated black people unfairly, they would raise wages for black workers and lower prices for black customers. This was more effective than Malcolm X’s supposed approach to take control of the economy and begin to manage their own businesses (Doc G).
Although African Americans were treated as badly as they were, King will wanted to work with whites, to be able to do everything together because he knew that eventually they would be free people. “Bomb our homes and threaten our children; send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities and drag us out on some wayside road, beating us and leaving us half dead, and we will still love you. But we will soon wear you down by our capacity to suffer. And in winning our freedom we will appeal to your heart and conscience so that we will win you in the process”(Doc H). King states that white people can continue to do these horrific things to them, but no
Malcolm X, a Muslim minister, the de facto leader for Separationists, and a proponent of self-defense as a mechanism for justice and protection against the infringement of human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, rejected Dr. King’s plight for non-violence, claiming that Dr. King embodies a turn-the-other-cheek philosophy in dealing with violent actions upon him and refutes this positioning in stating, “Because if white people get the impression that Negroes all endorse this turn-the-other-cheek cowardly philosophy, then whites are going to make the mistake of putting their hands on a Black man, thinking that he’s going to turn the other cheek, and he’ll end up losing his hand and his life in the try.” Malcolm X is often attributed with radicalized viewpoints, in comparison to Dr. King. Malcolm X embodied a position of self-defense as a means to defend the African-American community against the injustices both violent and systematic that infringed on their human rights. He differs from Dr. King in the sense that, Malcolm X believes that since violent acts are being done to African Americans, that African Americans should be able to defend themselves against these acts as opposed to taking them in stride. “Our people should start doing what is necessary to defend ourselves.
Focusing specifically on the opposition of racial segregation, The Civil Rights movement symbolized the need for change across America. Between the years of 1950 and 1960, events such as; the March on Washington, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, speeches, protests, and sit-ins, directly defined such opposition. Due to such events, two outstanding leaders of their time, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X emerged into the public eye and began to impact the Civil Rights movement. At a turning point of the century, the two men took charge and became icons across the world while resonating significantly with African American minorities. With such in mind, the two men had extreme differences in their morals, ideals, and religions; however, both deemed
This book brings together some of the best primary sources on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X that relate to what I’ve learned in history class. Through their writings and speeches, I appreciate the roles they played in the freedom crusade of the 1950s and 1960s. It is a good summary of its essential teachings that give me insight into their individual styles and personalities. The book is not one that tries to force ideas or a religion on the reader but instead offers new insight on two of these most important civil rights leaders of the century. It is a valuable effort that helps me both within and beyond the classroom, which focuses on the crucial years in the lives of quintessentially human
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.
During the tumultuous period of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s, the goal for bettering the lives of African-Americans was desired by many. However, the means of attaining that goal, varied greatly among the representatives of the movement. The African-American civil rights efforts were spearheaded by men of peaceful protest for integration, such as Martin Luther King Jr., and in contrast leaders such as Malcolm X who expressed separatist ideals. Other groups of civil rights advocated took an outright violent approach, such as the Black Panthers.
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
Martin Luther King’s views helped create a better environment for every race and I really think his political views and strategies were more efficient than Malcolm
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.
The most important decision of a leader is the style of leading they decide to use when inspiring others, or providing a vision for the future. By looking at the past, it is proven that some leadership styles are guaranteed to be more effective than others. The leadership style of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights provides significant evidence of how different styles of leading can turn out to be a major success or defeat. Malcolm X’s leadership style included using violence to protest against violence and unequal rights, as well as supporting the segregation of African Americans and the whites. Martin Luther King’s style included nonviolent marches and protests against violence, and peacefully fighting for integrating the blacks and whites.