...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...
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...Great Racial Debate; and Differences of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. for Racial Equality America in the 1960s was marked by an era of unfortunate segregation, violence and unrest towards African Americans in the country. They faced often-brutal violence and a government that had forgotten them in regards to human rights. Blacks needed something to be done about the harm and inequality they were facing at the time. Fortunately, two men in particular rose to the occasion to fight for what they believed in. They focused on achieving the same goal of a better society for Blacks. However, they differed greatly in regards to how they sought to complete this goal. While Malcolm X often viewed the problem as a war and wanted to ensure that his people would have the means and the power to fight back against the harmful Whites. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it would be more beneficial to both parties if the violence ceased to exist. The struggle for racial equality caused Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. to seek separate and contradictory methods of achieving what they felt was right for African Americans. One main difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. was their distinctive childhoods. The two men were raised under dissimilar circumstances and environments. It can be supposed that the way they grew up directly relates to the views they had on the racial problems and the way they dealt with them. Malcolm X (1925 – 1965) had a terrible way of life...
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...diversity.” The leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X have different ways to meet the need for racial equality. Martin Luther King Junior’s message in “I have a Dream” speech in the March on Washington is one of the most inspiring speech in history. King’s message during this speech was to protest peacefully instead of violently. King’s hope is to get everything integrated instead of segregated. Martin Luther King’s family was very loving and close. Dr. King’s father and grandfather were ministers. Dr . King realized at a young age that segregation was incorrect, while integration was...
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...There has been many prominent figures in the American Civil Rights Movement. Some prominent figures include Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. They both have their own viewpoints of social justice and how to achieve their goal. Martin Luther King, Jr. is more on the nonviolent side, while Malcolm X supports the use of violent if necessary. Malcolm X’s method of achieving social justice is more dominant than Martin Luther King, Jr.’s because Malcolm X’s method teaches people to use their available resources, to fight for what they believe in, and lastly use violence if it is necessary. Malcolm X’s method of achieving social justice teaches people to use available resources. He believes that people should do whatever they could to achieve what they want. Malcolm X indicates the term revolution meaning “a complete overturn-a complete change” (X). He is often called a revolutionist and agrees with the term because he wants change in the society. Malcolm X wants people to destroy the old system and replace it with a new system by all means. He says that “the Negro’s so-called “revolt” is merely an asking to be accepted into the existing system!” (X). Malcolm X, for the most part, is aiming for justice and equality just...
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...This was the atmosphere that young martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X grew up in. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were the two most important icons during the civil right movement, in the 1960s. While both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. fought against the civil struggles, they both had very different ideas and views. Martin Luther King Jr., best known for his non-violent protest and speeches about equality for all people, was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia (Lewis). He was part of the middle class and had the privilege to have a great education. Since he was so good at school he skipped two grades and graduated at the age of 15(Lewis). Eventually, like his father, King became a minister, which is one of the reasons why his personality and way of thinking was like a pacifist. As time went by and the civil struggles began to...
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...Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and Malcolm X were two fortunate African American leaders who fought for the freedom of Black America. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of a kind just like his “I Have a Dream “speech which explained the injustice and violation of freedom towards African Americans even after slavery had ended it also explains how he wants both African Americans and whites to unite as one. As to Malcolm X, his most famous speech was “God’s Judgement” which also explained the injustice towards the African American race but leans more towards the violent path rather than the peaceful way. Both characters have similarities and differences between their speeches like the imagery they each portray, the tone/mood they present, and the type of character that they each show throughout the speech. The imagery that both speeches portrayed was in a way much different. For Example, MLK’ s “I Have a Dream” speech was intended to portray a world where both African Americans and whites were united and together without judgment and...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X – So Similar yet So Different The Civil Rights movement in the United States was a long struggle that sought to win equality for every American under the law. The movement spanned many years of heartache and violence as it exposed the racism and segregation that had taken hold of the nation. It was during this struggle that two great men stepped forward to lead. Although their methods of leadership were different, their goal was the same – equality for all African-American. These two men, two great African-American heroes, were named Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr., born on January 15, 1929 as Michael King, was a pastor, activist, humanitarian and leader in the Civil Right Movement. He led many protests, namely the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 and the 1963 March on Washington, at which he delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was in direct relation to Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus. The Boycott was effective as the US District Court ruled to end racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses. Similarly, Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little and later known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was a Muslim minister and human rights activist. He was most recognized for his courageous advocating for the rights of black Americans and his words are believed to have been fodder for the Black Panther Party who sought to fight against police brutality...
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...Martin Luther King Jr. once said “Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. To have hatred embedded in the heart and to act with violence was something that Martin Luther King didn’t believe in. He believed in love and peaceful protest was the way to go for change to happen.While on the other side, Malcolm X violence and non peaceful protests were the way to go to get your point across more efficiently. During the 1950s and 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X took two different approaches in an attempt to change the way society acted towards African Americans. Malcolm X chose a more aggressive yet passionate route for change. He believed that we shouldn’t just let Caucasian people treat African American the way they do. We should stand up for what and protect each other. King thought the exact opposite, he believed that violence solves problems temporarily and non violence has lasting results. Using violence to fight oppression isn’t ideal because it portrays the cause in a negative light, creates fear and anxiety within a community, and it doesn’t have lasting results....
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...Martin Luther king Jr. and Malcolm X are both very important figures in the African American community. In fact, if asked to name one influential African American, undoubtedly one of these their names are going to come up. one In a time when changes were deemed now or never, these two leaders fought for what they believed in. While the political ideologies of leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X were different towards their approach to government policies and violence, they were also similar in their apprehension for the immediate need for civil rights for African Americans. It is said that people are the product of their environment, and this holds true in regards to the upbringing of Martin Luther King and Malcom X. According to Baer Hans, “King grew up in a middle class family and was well educated. While Malcom X grew up in an underprivileged environment that was very hostile with barely any schooling” According to the documentary the Eyes on the prize-the time has come, Kings approach to civil rights and equality was throught “non violence”...
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...Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were very prominent African American individuals throughout the fight for equality in America. They fought for what they believed in but each in their own way. Their many different views and beliefs are easily a result of the environment they grew up in and the households they came from. MLK grew up in a middle class family and was well educated, while Malcolm X grew up in an underprivileged environment that was very hostile with poor education. Martin Luther King Jr. was always against violence throughout his entire struggle and he always stood his ground. Most importantly, even though he may have been physically attacked, he never reacted with violence. On the other hand, Malcolm X’s most famous line was “By any Means Necessary” he was willing to do whatever it took to fight against the oppressors, whether it is violent or non-violent. The more we learn about each of these men the more we...
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...Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are regarded as two of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Both leaders believed in the need to better the lives for African Americans during a time of racial strife in the United States. However, their approaches and goals differed entirely with Dr. King being an advocate for an interracial and integrated community that would be reached without violence. Malcolm on the other hand preferred races to be separated but with African Americans to be superior in a movement that would not be opposed to a violent revolution. King's ideas for integration challenged many of the current beliefs held on race during his time but allowed all of society to be part of his multiracial community, creating a more exceptional argument than Malcolm X. Early beginnings influenced their ideas on race and violence. As time progressed, King's ideas continued to develop prosperously without the inconsistencies of Malcolm's development. The optimism of Martin Luther King Jr. may have derived from his middle-class life as a child with close relationships to his family. His own positive thinking hit a wall from personal negative experiences with his early understanding of a race problem....
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...It is quite clear that the Civil Rights Movement was one of the biggest things that has happened in the history of our great country. Many leaders of this movement such as, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr, looked to start the movement through non violent acts rather than using violence to win the “war”. Malcolm X is not as well known as Martin Luther King Jr but he was just as important in the non violent movement. He realized that non violence was the answer when he became a member of the Nation of Islam. He made african-americans realize that they need to be done taking these ridiculous actions and push for a change. That is exactly what they did, he eventually decided to leave the Nation of Islam but the people still supported him....
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...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 with black self-esteem (Treanor 107). The fact that Malcolm educated himself was later reflected in his speeches when...
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...Statement: In Malcolm X The Autobiography and Martin Luther King “Letter from Birmingham Jail” influenced the African American through hatred, nonviolence and religion. Firstly, in Malcolm X Autobiography one can see the expression of hatred and violence that influenced the African American. Malcom X talked about White Americans in a negative light. Malcolm X referred to White American as being evil and the devil. Malcolm X says; “[…] which opened my eyes gradually, then wider and wider, to how the whole world’s white men had indeed acted like devils, pillaging and raping and bleeding and draining the whole world’s non-white people.” (579). Malcolm X also talks about how other countries hate white people. Malcolm X says; “’Kill the foreign white devils!’ was the 1901 Chinese war cry in the Boxer Rebellion.” (580). One can see that Malcolm X is showing that other countries even hate white people and that they are evil. One can see that Malcolm X is using appeal to emotion to help influence the African American....
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...Civil Rights in the Sixties The 1960s brought about social change in America. America elected the second youngest and the first Catholic president (John F. Kennedy) and the Anti-War Movement began. The Anti-War Movement was based on people mostly the youth of America protesting a war (Vietnam War) that they believed America could not win. At the same time people were protesting the war they were objecting to the social injustice surrounding minorities; thus began the Civil Rights Movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was instrumental in starting The Civil Rights Movement the yearlong battle for equal treatment on buses gave minorities the strength to fight for more equal treatment and gave rise to Martin Luther King Jr. who was elected by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) to lead the boycott. During The Montgomery Bus Boycott whites tried to use the media to put out false stories by claiming the boycott have come to an end and that minorities settled for the same moderate desegregation plan that they received before the boycott. Public opion in Montgomery Alabama at first was against the boycott, but once the business community realized they were losing money because minorities were no longer shopping downtown their opion began to wane. Throughout the civil rights movement the media was a constant force some believe that without the media exposing the at times moving and often unsightly events of the movement that it would not advanced as much as it did. Some Southern...
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