Martin Luther King And Malcolm X's Role In The Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King and Malcom X, both prominent figures in the Civil Rights movement, had vastly different views on segregation and violence. The first time these two met was at the U.S. Capitol in 1964 to watch the Senate debate on a Civil Rights bill. Of the two, Martin Luther king had the better philosophy for America in the 1960’s because of his views on Integration, economics, and anti-violence.

In comparing the philosophies of this two great leader Martin Luther King and Malcolm x, they are both great African and American Leader. Martin Luther King was “the most influential African American leader of the twentieth century”. (Tindall and Shi 1344). While Malcolm x is the most articulate spokesman for black power he was born in 1925(Tindall and Shi 1335). They both solved the problem between the white and the black which means equality between the black and white that the white should not view themselves that they are superior and black were inferior.

Martin Luther King and Malcolm were both two intelligent men who were civil right leaders. Both approached there problems in many ways. For example, when Malcolm X said,”I don’t even call it violence when its in self defense; I call it intelligence,” He meant that he uses violence as a way to protect himself. And when MLK said,”Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immortal,” he was saying that violence really wasn’t the way to go towards things. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X had many similarities and differences about belief.

Each of these two leaders had different views on how to go about gaining freedom. While King believed a peaceful means would allow the blacks to achieve equality with the white Americans, Malcolm X took a more pessimistic approach. He believed achieving equality was nearly impossible and preached a more separatist doctrine. Each man's beliefs were formed in their youth.

One reason why they are different comes in their way of protest. MLK is very non-violent in all of his protest. An example of this is found in his Letter from Birmingham Jail on paragraph 10, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.” By this, MLK means that non-violence not only reduced injury but creates a greater fight that forces the enemy to negotiate. Malcolm X on the other hand believes that savagery is the best answer. An example of this is found in the document given about their view points in the violence section where it states, “The history of unpublished violence against our people clearly indicates that we must be prepared to defend ourselves or we will continue to be a defenseless people at the mercy of a ruthless and violent racist mob.” By this, Malcolm means that weapons he and his followers hold are only to protect themselves from those who plan to attack them.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, Martin Luther King is undoubtedly the wiser choice that ended up creating civil rights acts. Although Malcolm X was a prominent civil rights activist who used several examples of distinctive tones and a harsh point of view, along with a self-educational background, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) used a more refined method including justice and integration towards African American rights. Consequently, both men towards the end of their lives were on the same side using integration of whites and blacks having equal rights

Malcolm X, an African American leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, was a significant individual in the African American fight for justice and equality. In contrast to the mainstream Civil Rights Movement with its nonviolent pursuit of integration, Malcolm X voiced concepts of race pride and Black Nationalism during the 1950s and '60s. Although many argue that Malcolm X did not actually “do” anything for the black community, his nontraditional programs brought a new perspective to the Civil Rights Movement, and this perspective is of relevance today in the black community.

Two main black activist leaders of the early 1950's were Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Today, both of these men would be remembered as 'great leaders'. However, these two men had totally different approaches towards meeting the same main goal. Both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X fought for civil rights; however Malcolm X also wanted to have a separate black society whereas Martin Luther "wanted the integration of white people with black people. Malcolm X believed that violence was the key to his goat whereas Martin Luther King chose to take the non‑violent approach This is one reason why some black activists rejected, the approach of Martin Luther King to civil rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were very significant during the Civil Rights Movement. Both were excellent speakers and shared one goal but had two different ways of resolving it. Martin Luther King Jr. chose to resolve the issues by using non-violence to create equality amongst all races to accomplish the goal. Malcolm X also wanted to decrease discrimination and get of segregation but by using another tactic to successfully accomplish the similar goal. The backgrounds of both men were one of the main driven forces behind the ways they executed their plans to rise above the various mistreatments. Martin Luther King Jr. was a more pronounced orator, a more refined leader, and overall saw the larger picture than Malcolm X.

This is the guy who played one of if not the biggest role in the civil rights movement. Malcolm X was an African American activist and spokesman for not only for the African culture and way of life but for all races that were being treated without equality. He singled handedly changed the viewpoint of an entire race. I am arguing why Malcolm X in my eyes is the greatest revolutionary because he, changed the face of history by creating a voice for the people in the NOI – Nation of Islam newspaper, led one of the largest civil rights unity rallies in Harlem, New York and finally became one of the most sought after speakers in the United States.

Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, many came out of the crowd yearning for their voice to be heard. Freedom activists became well known throughout various parts of the United States, all with different ideas about how to approach such an enormous problem of injustice faced by Negros. With racial injustice at its hand, America was blessed to receive civil rights activists Malcolm X. In order to understand Malcolm X’s philosophies, one must look back and examine his past, paying attention to key events which led him to become the black nationalist he is known as today.

In the pursuit of social justice and civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael, sought to amend a flawed system. To accomplish this task, these men entered the armory and chose to wield nonviolence as their weapon. Their goal: to combat violence with nonviolence, to fight hate with love, and to spread equality through peace. In the end they succeeded. Violence breeds violence, hate breeds hate, it is an ineffective approach and an archaic mean to resolving societies issues. Malcolm X and Carmichael were both extreme individuals but that does not make them violent. They attacked social justice and civil rights passionately and assertively, not violently. The methods used

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were both known as civil right leaders in the 1960’s. Both men had a different perspective on civil rights and how civil rights should be won. Both men also had strong beliefs on religious and followed on through that path in different ways. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had several differences and several comparisons and had a big impact for the people of The United States.

Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were very huge leading figures during the Civil Rights movement. Though they had many differences, they had some similarities. Both men’s fathers were preachers and both men were religious preachers themselves. Dr. King and Malcolm X were around the same age and they were both assassinated. Coincidentally, both men had the same number of children and eventually they had the same ideologies for the Civil Rights Movement. However, Dr. King and Malcolm X were different in ways such as Malcolm X wanted black supremacy and Dr. King wanted equality, Malcolm X saw violence as an option to achieve his goals if peace did not work and Dr. King believed in complete nonviolence, and Malcolm X

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal" (King, “I HAVE A DREAM…,” pg.4 ¶.5). Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were major figures in the fight for racial equality but their ideals were diametrically opposed. In MLK JR’s March on Washington speech, he calls for peaceful resistance and integration into an equal society. Malcolm X, however, disagrees with that in his Message to Grassroots and argues equality cannot be obtained peacefully and that living together wouldn’t be much better than slavery. By comparing the two men’s goals and messages expressed in these speeches we can gain an understanding of the feelings of the general populace on the issues of racial inequity.