The 1960s saw a rapid increase in African-American political and social activism as well as a shift in the goals, focuses, and methods of the Civil Rights Movement. First characterized by its peaceful protests, Christian philosophies of solidarity and inclusion in the face of injustice, and willingness to seek a compromise with local, state, and federal legislatures, the Civil Rights Movement during the early 1960s had both tremendous support and opposition. Nevertheless, through the patient and charismatic arguments for peace and equality made by men such as Martin Luther King Jr. of the SCLC and President John F. Kennedy, many Americans found themselves open to the idea of equal rights and opportunities for all. Over time, however, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s underwent a defining shift of goals. The movement turned from a peaceful, non-violent approach…
Although known better for their differences, Malcom X and Martin Luther King had some similarities in their rhetorical style. Both men were respectful toward the law. King does not use the word “respect” so broadly, aimed at government and the law. Instead, he focuses more on people, writing that we are our brother’s keepers. I believe that he meant to show by this that people must give their oppressor’s the right to see for themselves that they are making mistakes, and guide them away from oppression.…
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, both African-American two of the most revered activist, shook the social foundations of America. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X seem to have mutual formalities towards each other, as shown in the picture of the only meeting they had, their philosophies was like night and day (Document A). Interestingly their philosophies changed lives. King’s was peaceful, while X’s was…
Have you ever wondered what the United States would be like if we did not have Martin Luther King Jr. as an inspirational Civil Rights Movement leader? The Civil Rights Movement was mainly set in the 1950s and 60s and was the time when African-Americans tried to achieve equal rights. They staged many marches and protests to pressure whites into ending segregation. Segregation was completely abolished in 1964. The big question is, whose thinking was a better choice for America?…
Malcolm X is certainly one of the most controversial figures to be engaged in any movement for Civil rights. In large part, the discord and confusion about what he advocated can be attributed to the fact that he was a contemporary of Martin Luther King. In the study of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King tends to overshadow any other Civil Rights leaders during the time and his teaching non-violent resistance and civil disobedience is considered the gold standard for what social progress should be. For this reason, it is helpful to talk about the ideas of Malcolm X in conjunction to King’s ideas.…
Malcolm X explicitly believed that African Americans and white people should continue to remain segregated while obtaining a more equal status to one another. He told the public “work in conjunction with us-each of us working among our own kind” and then further explained that “working separately, the sincere white people and sincere black people actually will be working together.” (Document C). In comparison, Martin Luther King Jr. persistently homilized parity and integration. He encouraged the races to work together to achieve these civil goals.…
In the 1960s, the philosophy of Malcolm X was more practical than Martin Luther King’s ideology because it did not depend as heavily on the shift of the ideas of the white populous. Although Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both advocated for equal rights for African Americans, their ideas of how to accomplish this goal, including the goal itself, varied (Document 1). Malcolm X grew up through foster homes and dropped out of high school at the age of fifteen and after he became involved with illegal activities in New York, he was arrested. In jail, he found himself inside of the Muslim religion and walked out a changed man and began to advocate for equal rights.…
As African Americans voiced their discontent and demanded dignity two distinct styles were followed to attain the goal of enjoying the right of equality. Some personalities gravitated towards the nonviolent methods encouraged by participating in boycotts, marches and sit ins lead by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King always stood his ground but never used violence as a way to be heard. On the other side of the coin were those who followed Malcolm X, following his Muslim principles his followers were taught to attain a desired goal “By Any Means Necessary”. Seen as a counterpart to the prejudiced faction of the southern white community Malcolm X felt that integration would destroy the black and the white man.…
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. led the charge of civil rights despite disagreeing with the basic factors of method and intention. Malcolm X’s famous speech The Ballot or The Bullet remains integral to his methods for attaining his goals. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail communicates his intentions as well as his celebrated methods of civil disobedience. Malcolm X and King often critiqued the other in their work either in speeches or in writing; in his speech, Malcolm X calls attention to King’s methods and goal of integration.…
Martin Luther King Jr. was a famous civil rights activist who used the nonviolence theory to get equality. He had made a great contribution in helping African American strive for quality and made them realize the importance of achieving the real equality. At the same time, Malcolm X also was a civil rights activist who advocated the way of violence to improve the position of the black people. Although Malcolm X had more militant perspectives about how to promote the black power than Martin Luther King Jr., both of them had made a huge influence on promoted the African American to achieve more rights and equality position in the United States. The connection between nonviolence and violence is important in the Civil Rights Movements.…
Gary Gerstle’s “American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century” thrive upon the ideals of race and civic nationalism definitively shaping the American twentieth century (Gerstle 5). Racial divides impacted most conceivable aspects of daily life: economic status, social divides, laws, and even military practices. Civic nationalism is synonymous with patriotism, and a loyalty to one’s country of citizenship, an aspect constantly under question with an unsure government. Along-side race and nation-key American figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and the prominent Roosevelt cousins, Franklin and Theodore shaped America’s policies and cultural attitudes for over half a century.…
There are two distinct views concerning the involvement of Malcolm X in the American Civil Rights movement from 1959 to 1963. One states that X is an action-based “alternative to Dr. King.” The other stating that he was a setback for the Civil Rights movement due to his views on white people. Malcolm X was a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a black nationalist/separatist religious group, from 1948 to 1963.…
preached nonviolence to achieve his civil rights agenda, Malcolm X gave a voice to the rage of millions of black Americans. Malcolm X emerged as an alternative voice to Dr. King and grew the Nation of Islam from 400 members to 4,000 from his time in prison to 1952, a testament to the success of his charisma and gift as an orator (Biography para. 10). Although not largely successful in cementing public policy change while publicly denounced by Dr. King, Malcolm X was influential as a leading voice of the radical wing of the Civil Rights Movement. Because of his aversion to nonviolent revolution, I believe that his legacy is not as realized in American politics to the same extent as Martin Luther King…
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X During the Civil Rights Movement there were many different kinds of leaders trying to unite the black race and gain equality. Among those leaders, the most prominent and glorified was Martin Luther King. King was a minister from Atlanta, became the spokesman for the fight for equality. King stuck out more than others because of his non violent tactics, which involved peaceful protests, sit-ins and boycotts.…
The Civil Rights Movement of 1954-68 was one of the most defining time periods for African-Americans since the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in 1865 “officially” marking the end of slavery. Martin Luther King, Jr. emerged as one of the forefront leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. During his life Martin Luther King, Jr focused on ending the abomination that is segregation and racism in the south. Although Martin Luther King, Jr. didn 't want this accomplished by violence or revenge he wanted it done by peaceful protests and legislation where in his I have a dream speech he preached to his followers to maintain peace so that they can successed in their goal of getting freedom and equality for all.…