...Stark Differences Throughout history there have been many great leaders who have made an immense impact. However, none of them can compare to the enormous amount of impact that Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had. Both men displayed a massive amount of courage while trying to put an end to racism when no one else dared to. They both stood up for what they believed in no matter how much they were ridiculed. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most recognized leaders in history who both had the same objective of putting a stop to racism but had several differences in their background, philosophy, and influences. Although they were alike in many aspects, the location and setting in which they were raised caused a distinction in the way they led. When Malcolm was six years old his father was killed by the Black Legionaries. This played an enormous role in his mother’s break down, which put her in a mental institution. Malcolm’s mother, Louise, could not handle raising eight children during the Great Depression, especially without their father. This is what led to six of the children becoming wards of the state. One of those children was Malcolm, who soon thereafter began to live a life of crime including drugs, con games, and thievery. Just before he turned twenty-one years old Malcolm was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison for burglary. In prison, Malcolm had to educate himself, and developed his debating skills, and pledged to replace black self-hate...
Words: 1119 - Pages: 5
...is a good life for a group of people in a society? Peace, freedom, equality and justice are what people want for their good life. However, looking back at history, not all people thought that all men should be created equally. That is why back in the history of the U.S., African Americans were treated as slaves and were not on the same pedestal as the primitive Caucasians were. Although we want to pursue the equality for the society, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Louis Menand show us how we must overcome the difficulties and publics’s resistance in order to finally achieve the goal of creating an equal and peaceful society. An individual can have a great impact on society by...
Words: 1008 - Pages: 5
...Martin Luther King, Jr said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Civil disobedience is part of our culture. People stand up for themselves when laws, rules, or just when things are unfair and unjust. Martin Luther King, Jr is a prime example of civil disobedience. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” he describes his own thoughts on civil disobedience through real life experiences. David Thoreau is also a main figure in civil disobedience from his letter, “Civil Disobedience.” He talks about what he did to stand up for what he felt was right. There is a couple of reasons to believe in civil disobedience , one it can bring attention to main topics and also create real change in society. Civil disobedience is only...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
...The actions of what a person does determines whether or not they are a leader. Martin Luther King Jr. was an excellent impactful leader during the civil rights movement. Odysseus is a Greek hero who also leads as discussed in The Odyssey. However, in The Odyssey, Homer has Odysseus leading people into disaster with his selfishness. While Odysseus and Martin Luther King Jr possess similar leadership skills to lead people, Martin Luther King Jr was an iconic civil rights leader because he proclaimed his thoughts with peace and loyalty, rather than letting his hubris side affect him like Odysseus did when he was on his journey. Odysseus had power from being the king of Ithaca and the ability to lead a large group to follow him, Martin Luther King Jr also had capability to lead people to change and turn their way of thinking. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men were trapped with the...
Words: 835 - Pages: 4
...Peaceful resistance to laws does have a positive impact on a free society. Peaceful resistance such as; protests, marching for a cause, and strikes are healthy to a society because they give a way for the citizens to voice their opinions to make sure their society is truly free. One of the best examples of peaceful disobedience is in the civil rights movements with Martin Luther King Jr. and his peaceful disobedience, another peaceful disobedience is with Rosa Parks in her fight for racial equality, and the marches and strikes from the Mexican American plantation workers. These examples had a positive impact on the society and helped make America as free as it is today, along with examples of peaceful protesting today for greater freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. is well known for his participation in the Civil Rights movement and has gone down in history as an example of how peaceful protesting can promote positive change. One of the ways that he did this was by writing letters from inside Birmingham jail. The letters that Martin...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...regardless of their race or color. Even with this 15th amendment, the whites in the South had their own methods to keep African Americans from voting. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was one of the many civil rights activists, whose idea was to get racial equality by grabbing the public's attention of racism, joined in the fight for civil right movement for black Americans. Dr. King led peaceful protests and boycotts without violence to get the right to vote for all kind. There were many strategies to...
Words: 942 - Pages: 4
...Julia Starr Renner 1 November 2015 Miriam Dominguez Defining the basis of human rights for American society, The Declaration of Independence stated “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Throughout the duration of gaining independence, Americans struggled against the suffocating reign of Great Britain. Colonists saw themselves as equals to those in England and did not believe that their rights should be neglected. Similar to the British-Americans during the Revolutionary War, the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement sought equal rights and freedom. Prominent civil rights leaders brought new ideas to the world, dreaming up ways to eliminate an archaic mentality. Ultimately, without the reinforcement of...
Words: 1218 - Pages: 5
...cultures and societies around the world have been impacted by significant individuals throughout history. These individuals have changed political governments as well as societal changes within our own country, the United States and around the world. This paper will discuss one of our well known world leaders and a well-known American Leader and the significant impact these individuals had on society and political changes. b. Thesis statement: History shows how leaders impact the outcomes and development of cultures and society due to social and political changes and influences. c. Preview of Main Points: i. World leader Gandhi led to Satyagraha and the equal rights for all. ii. Martin Luther King Jr. contributed to the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. II. Gandhi’s contribution to social changes. a. One of the worlds most pronounced leaders of the twentieth century. b. Concept of Satyagraha, truth and firmness (Mohandas Gandhi). c. Indian Independence from Britain in 1947. III. Martin Luther King Jr.’s contribution to the social changes made in the United States. a. King traveled the Country and the world to lecture other leaders, activists, and protestors on the importance, how to, and benefits on non-violent protesting. b. Civil Rights Act prohibiting racial discrimination (History.com) c. Voting Rights Act guaranteeing the right to vote to all African Americans (History.com). IV. Conclusion a. Restatement of thesis: History shows how leaders...
Words: 1276 - Pages: 6
...remember when Dr. Martin Luther King jr. is brought to mind? His famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech? His impact on American history? The civil rights movement that lead to the equality of white and colored people? Those are only a few of many things Dr. Martin Luther King jr. has done within the short time span of his lifetime. A few more things he had a set attitude on are the working conditions for the sanitation workers, how the direction of the civil rights movement has changed because of the events he made possible and most importantly, the achievement of equality for everyone. To begin with, In Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I’ve Been to The Mountaintop’ speech states that the city of Memphis was mistreating and neglecting the sanitation workers that worked for them. The riot that was lead by 1,300 sanitation workers was neglected and the only thing that was shown in the spotlight of the press is the breaking of windows. In Martin Luther King’s speech ‘I've Been to The Mountaintop’ he states “They [the reporters] don't get around to that.” He stated this shortly after explaining how the riot only was publicized by the violent manner of breaking windows. The press never did explain how the...
Words: 604 - Pages: 3
...Human Equality Kaleigh A. Butler ENGL-113-ND Willmore Kanyongo, PhD March 1, 2014 The analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech, alongside with Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg address”, reveals that both men had the same idea of human equality. What is the definition of human equality? This is a definition that was brought to the country’s attention by two great men of history. Nearly one hundred years separated two men that both had the same ideals of what human equality means in a free nation. They both came to the same ideal that was set by our founding fathers. All men were created equal and had the rights to liberty and justice, including the prosperity of the American Dream that so many fought for with demonstrations and the wars of our fathers. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln walked on the battlefield of Gettysburg and delivered the Gettysburg address. Compelled by the constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the ideals of the American nation were to be upheld to the highest regard for basic human life. The wars that were fought previously and the war that the President was going through in order to uphold the promises that the founding fathers promised all those living in the new nation. The civil war separated a single nation fighting one another based on the ideals that one man can own another man. This war lasted for 4 years in order to retain what both sides thought to be right. President Lincoln of the Union stated that we were...
Words: 1732 - Pages: 7
...September 2010 Both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were goal-oriented leaders. Gandhi desired self-rule for India. King wanted first class citizenship for African Americans. Instead of separating religion and politics, both men incorporated both in their leadership roles. Both men chose nonviolence as their strategy because they had felt that it was the only practical solution capable of achieving their objectives. The ideas of nonviolent movements were difficult to achieve, but they were not impossible to accomplish which is shown in the work of these two great leaders Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Two men from two different time periods but yet they have the same views on how to establish a nonviolent movement. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were civil right activists who took a form of action to obtain equal rights amongst their society. The way they handled nonviolent situations was by taking a non direct action. Also the sacrifice that they had to go through whether it had been by being passive resistance or simply by injustice laws that had to be broken. Gandhi developed his theory of Satyagraha (“soul force”), which implicates social justice through love as well as suffering the consequences. Having to read two distinct stories at distinct time they both manage to have something in common which is CHANGE. We end with MLK- demanding that the actions for equal rights will be now! He then goes on to discuss how the time is being set to be neutral....
Words: 884 - Pages: 4
...Jackson PHL/458 May 28, 2012 Jane Muratore When we look back in history and try to discover famous thinkers in our society, many men and women stand out. Famous thinkers are people who used critical thinking and perseverance to overcome adversity to succeed in the endeavors that they choose to face. When I look back and try to pick only two famous thinkers, the two that stand out in my mind are Bill Gates and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Here we will look back and discuss their contributions to society as a whole, the problems or issues that they resolved, and how they were able to come up with their solutions. Contributions to Society Self made multi-billionaire, entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates was born in Seattle, Washington in 1955. Everyone in America recognizes the name Bill Gates; it is hard not to be famous when you are the richest self-made man in America. The contributions to society made by Mr. Gates are numerous, but most notable and arguably his best is his company Microsoft, the world’s largest software production company. From a small, no name company formed in 1975 Bill Gates worked countless hours and in no time was able to bring his company to a multi-billion dollar corporation. Eventually, Bill Gates knew that his money and his wife could help the rest of society as his mother had done as a civic leader. In the year 2000, Bill and his wife Melinda formed the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation’s primary...
Words: 1699 - Pages: 7
...influence the African American community. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X two men having experienced different things in their lives held different beliefs and morals and influenced people based upon those things. Martin Luther King Jr., came from a Baptist home with a fairly easy childhood, he was educated when he was younger and attended Morehouse College, an all black college, where he had several role models that shaped his beliefs. Malcolm X, on the other hand, experienced a hard childhood and used drugs and committed other crimes in his early adult years. While in prison he found a father figure in Elijah Muhammad and joined the Nation of Islam. There are many differences between Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X in the way they acted and influenced the African American community. This paper will look to describe their differing views and analyze their actions and their lives. In most cases a person’s childhood has a lasting affect on the rest of a person’s life. In comparing Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X this seems to be the case. Martin Luther King Jr., was born January 19, 1929 and was raised by a strong supportive family. He had a somewhat privileged life and “never experienced the feeling of not having the basic necessities of life.”[1] His father “was a community leader in Atlanta and pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church” and his mother “was a school teacher and an accomplished pianist.”[2] Although King was well off economically he was also...
Words: 3427 - Pages: 14
...How Childhood Can Impact Adult Viewpoints Dawn Bradshaw ENG/220 September 7, 2015 Instructor Tracy Banis How Childhood Can Impact Adult Viewpoints Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were great civil rights icons. They both worked diligently for the equality of blacks, but on different platforms. When people think of Dr. King, they think of nonviolence, preaching love thy neighbor, and the integration of blacks and whites. On the other hand, Malcolm X brings thoughts of militant force, the infamous phrase, “by any means necessary” (Carson, 2005), violence, and segregation. While Martin and Malcolm’s common goal was fighting for the justice and equality of civil rights for blacks, their approach and viewpoints differed on the matter, and this is perhaps due to their early childhood and young adulthood experiences in racial relations. Both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s fathers were politically active Baptist preachers, but growing up in the 1920s was an entirely different experience for them, respectively. While Martin as an adolescent lived a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle, Malcolm suffered great tragedies. As the family slept, the home interrupted the pitch black night with blazes of fire set by two white men (Hatch 2001). Luckily, no one was hurt. Then, Malcolm’s father was brutally and savagely ripped away from him and his family by the hands, he believes, of the Ku Klux Klan (Hatch 2001). Subsequently, after losing the head of the...
Words: 797 - Pages: 4
...1950s and 1960s. An abundance of unfair events created a desire to secure equality for all Americans. Numerous historical leaders poured their lives into fighting for the basic privileges and rights of U.S. citizenship. Many African-American men and women, along with whites, organized and led the movement to fight against injustice. The eight resources below provide information about several historical leaders that made an impact on the Civil Rights Movement. These resources may be used to create assignments to help students develop a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. Furthermore, students will benefit from meaningful classroom discussions about these heroic leaders. Important People There are numerous well-known historical figures that influenced the Civil Rights Movement leading up to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is probably one of the most powerful leaders involved in the fight for civil rights. Coretta Scott King worked and marched alongside her husband, Dr. King and continued his fight for justice after his death. In addition, Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American judge on the Supreme Court appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball which contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement. African-American, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white...
Words: 1982 - Pages: 8
