Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

On the days of May 19th, 1925 and January 15th, 1929 two men who would forever change history were born. Both men were very different but shared a common objective. One grew up in a middle class family, was a devoute Christian, and went to school at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. The other was brought up in a foster family for much of his childhood, dropped out of school, and eventually went to jail where he became a member of the Nation of Islam. It would have seemed like only one of these men was on track for success, however, as it turned out both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X became important figures in leading the civil rights movement. Both men also became massively popular for their conflicting views of violence vs peace as means to achieve racial equality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an adamant supporter of peaceful resistance while Malcolm X believed violence and revolution was necessary to end discrimination and achieve equality for …show more content…
After a local pizza shop owner refused to put any African Americans on his wall of fame and a black man was killed by police, locals in the neighborhood decided to rise up and fight the power. African Americans broke into Sal’s pizzeria and eventually set the place on fire. The black community looting and burning Sal’s shop to rubble is a prominent example of Malcolm X’s belief that African American’s should rise up and use violence to protest discrimination and unequal treatment. On the other hand, the movie demonstrated the opposite of Martin Luther King Jr.’s endorsed ideals of peace and nonviolent resistance. Although Malcolm X and Dr. King’s philosophies may seem very different, both men shared a common dream that the rights guaranteed to them by the United States government would not just apply to white Americans, but all