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Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

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The fight for equality has been a long and complicated battle. Many people believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. was correct in his approach, but others believe that Malcolm X’s approach was best. Malcolm X believed in the goal of black people separating completely from white people using the method of violence in self-defense. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in the method of reaching equality through desegregation using the method of nonviolent resistance. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in very different viewpoints regarding the solution to the needs of and problems facing the African-American community in the 1960s, but King’s approach was best. Martin Luther King, Jr. utilized his beliefs in peaceful coexistence between …show more content…

In the 1960s, Malcolm’s approach would have been more effective in unifying African Americans. This is proven with Malcolm's answer in “Message to Grassroots” when he explains that,“if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country. . . (4)”. Malcolm explains how African Americans should defend themselves at all costs, especially since white people expect African Americans to fight for them in war to overall defend white people as a whole. Malcolm’s approach would be best used in the 1960’s because many people, similar to him, were tired of a lack of change regarding equality for African Americans. People were desperate for change using any means necessary, violence included. African Americans felt like they had no voice, so they resorted to violence even if they didn’t have anyone to lead them. Malcolm X was eventually the leader that many African Americans looked up to in order to guide and be the voice they felt they never had. He was able to unify African Americans through their need for violence in place of their voice. On the other hand, King’s approach would be best in the present time. To contrast, In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King proves how violence is unnecessary and continues expressing his belief by saying, “ Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all of their scintillating [sparkling] beauty. (4)” King proves how he feels that blacks and whites should have faith that they can peacefully coexist using nonviolence to

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