preview

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

Better Essays

During the Civil Rights Movement, which lasted from 1865 to the late 1960s, three different amendments were composed and ratified in favor of African Americans. Many famous African Americans, from musicians to authors and leaders to entertainers, sprouted from the influence of this period. Two strong leaders from this era were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr. made a bigger impact on the population than Malcolm X because of his speeches, beliefs, direct and peaceful activities, and the effect his death had on the population. Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief was that people of all colors, including both blacks and whites, could live in eternal peace and equality. King believed that “an unjust law is no law at …show more content…

They Sunni “claim that the Shi’a has distorted the meaning of various passages in the Qur’an” (Beck, pg.271). There are significantly more Sunnis than Shi’as, the other Muslim group, in the world. Malcolm X received a religious name, as well, which was El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbazz. He also challenged the religion, Orthodox Islam, of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X traveled across the world preaching to others, and as he talked more and more, he realized that, his beliefs were very close to King’s. Malcolm X was learning more and more that King’s beliefs and teachings were in fact, superior. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote and delivered many speeches in his lifetime. However, perhaps one of the best known and the most easily recognized of his speeches is “I Have a Dream.” But many ask, what in particular about this speech made it have such a great impact on the population? He uses repetition to make important words stand out. Such instances occur with the words and phrases: “now is the time”, “I have a dream”, “let freedom ring”, and “free at last” (Narins, par.6,15,22,27). All of these words have to do with blacks becoming free, or acquiring civil rights and equality. King also used imagery in his speech when he compared a “sweltering summer” to the Negro’s unhappiness of the lack of freedom and justice. Martin Luther King Jr. also used

Get Access