1960s Dbq Analysis

In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. During his campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this election was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he had his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening at the speed Kennedy had pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his

     African Americans are fortunate to have leaders who fought for a difference in Black America. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are two powerful men in particular who brought hope to blacks in the United States. Both preached the same message about Blacks having power and strength in the midst of all the hatred that surrounded them. Even though they shared the same dream of equality for their people, the tactics they implied to make these dreams a reality were very different. The background, environment and philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were largely responsible for the distinctly varying responses to American racism.

Washington  High  School  when  he  was  just  15  and  went  right  to  college.  Following  in  his  grandfather’s  and  father’s  footsteps,  he  attended  Atlanta’s  important  Morehouse  College,  graduating  in  1948  with  a  degree  in  sociology.  He  then  moved  north  to  Pennsylvania  to  study  religion  at  the  Crozer  Theological  Seminary.  During  his  stay  at  the  seminary,  he  studied  the  teachings  of  Indian  spiritual  leader

During the past century, the United States of America has wresled with the problem of inequality between black and white people. Two influential people who helped to combat racism and the inequality of man were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X had two differentiated approaches to accomplish the same things for black. Both King and Malcolm X started their own organizations, organized rallies, and both gave speeches, but, their beliefs and

I think Martin Luther King Jr’s philosophy of nonviolence and inclusion is better than Malcolm X’s “by any means necessary” approach, because if you use nonviolence to get somewhere great then no one can stop you. I also think this, because if you incorporate violence into change in segregation then you are just giving white people reason to segregate black people, and it creates bad stereotypes. The book No Crystal Stair shows the hard life of a black man in the 60s, but by using a peaceful way of promoting change (via opening a bookstore) Lewis was able to have a good long life. Most situations with disagreeing sides are either won by the peaceful calmer side or the peaceful side is the more recognized. This has definitely shone through in today's culture, as until 9th grade I did not know any thing of Malcolm X, except the name, which I only learned in 8th grade from a book title. King on the other hand I have known about since 1st grade; I mean there is a entire day named for him. All in all to me it seems like Martin Luther King Jr’s philosophy of nonviolence and inclusion is a better way of dealing with things.

In Malcolm X’s work, he outlines how African Americans must change themselves in order to rise as a people. Specifically, he outlines black nationalistic social, political, and economic philosophy. Social philosophy is agenda of removing vices from the black community such as drug addiction or alcoholism and to make the african american society beautiful so that, as Malcolm X stated, "we will be satisfied in our own social circles and won't be...trying to knock our way into a social circle that we're not wanted" (Malcolm X, 347). Again, he displays the belief that black people are not wanted by outside groups and of how the black community has to focus on its own advacement. The political philosophy he explains is one in which blacks must

It is crucial to make the right decisions at the right time. In the 1960’s this was difficult because people who were affected by Jim Crow laws wanted to use the same violence whites were using, against white racists and segregationists, but also wanted peace and freedom. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X both had the same goals for peace and freedom but had different strategies to achieve this. Martin Luther King, who believed in fighting violence and segregation by using nonviolence, was a civil rights leader who was born on January 15, 1929 and was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Malcolm X, who believed in fighting violence and segregation by any means necessary, was an organization leader (a person who leads an organization in the path

Throughout history there are many great people who dedicated their life to the advancement of the African American race. Few of these people created as much controversy during the 1960’s then the man who would be known as Malcolm X. Unlike many of the civil rights leaders of the time who promoted non violence, Malcolm X believed in the use of aggressive tactics in his battle for equality.

Martin Luther King Jr. And Malcolm X helped shape American black and white culture today. MLK and X seemingly preach two opposing futures for black politics. Martin’s call for nonviolent resistance and Malcolm’s insistence on “any means necessary” were often juxtaposed by society. Malcolm X is often misrepresented as the `black Klu Klux Klan” of racial extremists. Others often misrepresent Martin L. K. as a “religious Uncle Tom pacifist”[1]. These are both gross caricatures of both legendary men. Even decades after their deaths, Martin and Malcolm remain great American icons. However were they ideological opposites? What were the personal, social, and political factors that influenced their leaderships? Where do they differ and where do they converge? What did liberty and justice mean for both leaders? Did victory mean two different things for them? What ways do their ideas converge? What major events shaped their lives? Did their ideologies begin to converge? Church, enemies, allies, family, socioeconomic background, upbringing, faith, education, social environment, experiences with whites and blacks: these were all agents in the formation of their strong views. Through this paper, I posit that although their ideologies sometimes clashed, in the long run they were more conducive to one another than destructive.

On the other hand, the views and opinions of Malcolm X when dealing with civil rights, were essentially the exact opposite of Martin Luther King Jr.’s. However, this does not mean he is any less of an ideal American citizen. (2)While he did use a more aggressive approach to solving the racial discrimination problems of the time, he exemplified courageousness in many ways. Malcolm X was a driving force in the northern neighborhoods, preaching self-improvement and self-reliance. He once said, (3)“A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.” (-‘Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity Speech’) He also greatly supported the “you get what you give” philosophy, (4)“I am a Muslim, because it 's a religion that teaches you an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It teaches you to respect everybody, and treat everybody right. But it also teaches you if someone steps on your toe, chop off their foot. And I carry my religious axe with me all the time.” (-Malcolm X, "Homecoming" speech, Nov. 29, 1964) Malcolm X was a firm believer in this idea, and he used it many times to justify his brave actions. Those actions proved useful, and put the civil rights movements in a new perspective for many people, and showed just how courageous a man could be

Civil rights activists all had the same paramount goal in mind: equality for Black people in the United States. While everyone could generally agree on what they wanted--fair wages, an end to segregation, voting rights--the means to the end were a little fuzzy, at best. What was the best strategy to gain respect for the Black people of America, in a society that largely didn't tolerate people of color? Two major philosophies on the matter stemmed from the minds of great activists Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Dr. King's approach to the situation was, as always, peaceful protest, while Malcolm X promoted supporting Black business and communities, allowing them to prosper. While both approaches would bring about positive change for the Black community in the 60's, Malcolm X's approach to the matter makes a more compelling argument by being significantly more beneficial in the long run.

Malcolm X’s philosophy made the most sense in the 1960’s because he was a realist. X wanted to achieve equality using peaceful

Dr. King and Malcolm X strived to achieve equality for blacks under the law, more specifically, voting rights, desegregation, and more representation in government and politics. However, both men differed immensely in their tactics and strategies. For Dr. King, the negotiations could be brought about by the persistence of a nonviolent plan where, the oppressed people’s determination would overcome the will of the oppressor in the hearts and minds of the nation. He firmly believed in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi’s method of nonviolence resistance, which had been successful in driving the British out of India. For example, according to King, one of the resisters, or black mans goals is not to humiliate the opponent, (the white man) but to win his friendship and understanding. Dr. King proposed a passive resistance, based on “the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice” (“Pilgrimage to Non Violence” King, 112). He claimed the center of nonviolence is based on the principle of love, or understanding. Dr. King emphasized that the white man should not be held responsible for the minorities and blacks being oppressed. Here is where the two leaders oppose each other. Malcolm X felt social injustice and racism had endured too long, and it was

The Civil Rights Movement that occurred in both Africa and America saw the emergence of two very powerful leaders and there were fundamental philosophical ideological differences between ideas propagated by them. Highly influenced by non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi of India, Luther realized that resisting violence was a very potent non-physical weapon of protestation. He believed that the mind backed by its emotion and passion is as provocative and thought compelling as physical movement. Malcolm X never differed from the purpose of achieving freedom of Luther. But he highly suspected whether non violence could attain it without being interpreted as poor people’s defenseless mechanism of action. He said that the wiping out of white violence

Malcolm X used violence as a way to get more black rights and to hopefully lead up to black supremacy. Dr. Martin L King Jr used non violence protesting as a way to symbol that people standing up for their rights are not wrong or barbaric, but the people who are stopping these nonviolent protests look bad because there is no physical harm being done. Malcolm X states, “This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s liberty or it’s death” (The Ballot or the Bullet). This describes Malcolm X warning that if black people are not allowed suffrage and other rights, then there is going to be violence and death involved to have those rights granted. Malcolm X is showing that he is not afraid to have a violent revolution if there has to be one. Dr. King however states, “We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must ride to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force” (I Have A Dream). Martin Luther King Jr is trying to persuade others that a violent protest will only hurt, not help in getting equality and that a peaceful, powerful protest will ensure smoother integration and peace. Dr. King is promoting the opposite of Malcolm X by saying peace is power whereas Malcolm X is trying to bring forth the