In life, we make many decisions, the good, the bad, the procrastinated and the ruminated ones. How do we know which one is the right one? For human beings, the right decision is measured upon its success, monetary value and/or happiness.People with different moral values, upbringings and principles will have their own customized version of decision-making. In today’s times, unjust laws are prevalent in society all around the world and our ultimate goal is to seek justice. What is the most effective means of protesting an unjust law? Socrates, Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X illuminated their different means of decision making for their approaches in their work. I believe that the Dr. King believes that the best route of action is a direct action in the form of …show more content…
Dr. King argued that civil disobedience was not only justified as a means of action against these laws, saying, “one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Dr. King wrote " Letter from a Birmingham Jail" to refute the notion that direct, grassroots action was too extreme a method for furthering the cause of civil rights. The three different leaders, Socrates, Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X illuminated their different means of decision making for their approaches in their works, Crito, A Letter from Birmingham Jail, and “The Ballot or the Bullet”, respectively. Socrates believed in mere persuasion in order to maintain peace for the state. Martin Luther King used some of Socrates learning, but believed in an affirmative, non-violent plan that led to direct action. Malcolm X believed that black people have been oppressed for so long as their patience has been tested through time, and Malcolm X believed that enough “time has already run out” and therefore Malcolm X believed in the “any means necessary”
Malcolm X believed that black people must no longer view themselves through white lenses since black people will never value themselves as long as they subscribe to a standard of valuation that devalues them
Who achieved more for the Black Americans, Martin Luther King Jr or Malcolm x? Explain your answer (50 marks) Introduction: Martin Luther King Jr was born into a Middle class family and had quite a privileged upbringing. His Father was a Pastor for the local Church so Martin had a religious family.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is categorized as one of the most well known advocates for non-violence demonstrations. As the leader of the civil rights movement, those of Gandhi, Socrates, and Paul influenced King’s ideas. His movement was also greatly influenced by the works of Christ and his followers. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he discusses the events taking place in Birmingham, Alabama. “It was written as a response to ‘An Appeal for Law and Order and Common Sense.’”
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.
9 April 2023 Martin Luther vs. Martin Luther King Jr Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. were two well-known historical figures. In spite of this, there seems to be no other similarities between the two besides their similar names. However, when they are analyzed through a clearer lens, it can be seen that they had more similarities than one might think. Despite their glaring differences, they had a few astounding resemblances. Even though Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. were two completely different people who lived completely different lives during completely different times, they had some surprising similarities.
Civil Disobedience Martin Luther King once stated in "The Letter from Birmingham Jail", "Any individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment to arouse the conscience of the community over it injustice is in reality, expressing the highest respect for the law" (King 411). King meant that, if anyone feels a law is unjust and needed to expose its injustice, should willingly accept any penalty that comes in their way to help arouse people 's conscience in changing that law. In “The Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King explains the four powerful steps of the nonviolent campaign he used to protest against racial injustice for African-Americans
Through the use of his letter, he is able to tell the general public of why the stakes justify the actions he takes, and why it is important for the acceptance of his plan as more turmoil could be caused otherwise. Dr. King’s letter is an example of him taking action while knowing the stakes that if he fails, the whole Civil Rights movement could fail. It gives a clear understanding of the need to fight unjust laws through his statement that, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King). He continues by saying that everyone has a “legal…moral responsibility” to uphold just laws but that people also have the right to “disobey unjust laws” (King). This statement immediately gives pretense to his actions of fighting for freedom through protest.
Martin Luther King, Jr. attempts to persuade clergymen to follow in his civil rights movement through exhibiting his knowledge over just and unjust laws, displaying peaceful behavior, and empathetic diction. King was very knowledgeable about laws and his right as a human. King stated laws in his letter to the clergymen, which displayed his credibility. He did not only state laws, he also stated just and unjust laws. King stated, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?”
Philosophical differences between martin luther king and malcolm X The philosophical differences between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X have to do with the their protest strategies. MLK never fought with violence. Although he would get physically attacked, he stood his ground and continued to fight for equality peacefully. King believed that whites and blacks should come together to end the hate and violence.
In the Crito by Plato, Socrates argues against civil disobedience, seeing it as an unjust act. Contrasting this view, Martin Luther King argues for civil disobedience against unjust laws, and seeing it as a responsibility of citizens. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain law, commands or requests of the government. I will argue that the view of Socrates is superior to the view of Martin Luther King on the justness of civil disobedience. Using the argument against harm, I will show that even if a law is viewed as unjust, you must not repay an evil with another evil, as evident in the Crito while contrary to ideas presented by MLK.
“Letter from Jail” On April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to the eight clergymen while he was incarcerated. Dr. King wrote this letter to address one of the biggest issues in Birmingham, Alabama and other areas within the United States. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” discussed the great injustices that were happening during that time towards the black community. Dr. King wanted everyone to have the same equal rights as the white community, he also went into further details about the struggles that African Americans were going through for so many years, which he felt like it could change. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, expressed his beliefs and his actions about the Human Rights Movement.
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.
Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence.” Martin Luther King’s peaceful protests movement gained him fame and people wanted to celebrate which is why he is still remembered today. Even though, during this nonviolent approach, him and his followers had to face a lot of violence down South.
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.
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