Americans African 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. The early backgrounds of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. had major impact on their goal to achieve equality between all races. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He was one of three children born to Martin Luther King Sr., pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Alberta King, a former schoolteacher. Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker who stayed occupied with the family's eight children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. King attended segregated local public grammar schools in Georgia and graduated from high school at the age of fifteen. Malcolm X dropped out of school at the age of fifteen. In the 1960's there was an uprising of sorts. The "black" communities were beginning to realize their constitutional rights...or the lack there of. There were a few bold souls that decided to take a stand, no matter what the consequences. Many know of Rosa Parks, the woman who decided to take a stand on a local bus, refusing to give up her seat near the front and move to the back. Others participated at "sit in's" inside diners labeled "whites only". For every attempt of expressing their desire and need for equality, all efforts were shot down. There was no unity, no
one to rally the hearts and minds of blacks and whites alike. But then a pastor from Montgomery Alabama leaded the largest civil rights boycott against busses to date. Through his soothing voice and outstanding charisma, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the strongest and most influential civil rights activists. But he was not alone in his drive for equality. There were others fighting for the same cause. One of those zealots was a man named Malcolm Little who later ditched his "slave name" and picked up X to signify his lost tribal name. Both men were similar in many ways, but yet at the same time were very, very different. Malcolm X's goal as a child was to become a lawyer, but he was told that he could not become one, as he was black. Malcolm X was brought up in the 'ghetto', and had to learn to defend himself against racist white children. He was deprived of his father, who was found dead, murdered by a white mob. His mother became mentally ill so he was sent to a foster home. Later on in life, he joined the nation of Islam, and become a spokesman for the organization. His main beliefs were that black Americans and white Americans should not be integrated. He said that he and his followers should obtain equal rights, by any means possible, which implies he meant through violence if they were approached by violence. Malcolm X was an Islamic Civil Rights activist, who became popular in the mid to late 1960's as a member of Nation of Islam. He and the Nation advocated self-defense and the total economic and political independence of Black America. This was in contrast to King's idea of inter-dependence. But in April 1964 he left the Nation of Islam and made a trip to Mecca. Malcolm X said the trip allowed him to see Muslims of different races interacting as equals. He came to believe that Islam could be the means by which racial problems could be overcome. Towards the end of his life and after a pilgrimage to Mecca, he began to aim for a more 'together' America, and had aims similar to those of Martin Luther King, Jr. In his speeches Malcolm refers to himself and his followers as Black Nationalist
Freedom Fighter. He viewed the "white supremacists" as enemies. In his speeches he talks about how the white politicians hired black and white promoters to go the into black neighborhoods to press the flesh for them promising false promises. His belief of Black Nationalism is that they stay away from their enemy. Create their own community and have their own politicians who have the communities' interests at heart. If you can take notice in his speeches he is not trying to get the blacks to beg for equality or ask to end segregation. He is saying that blacks should unite together and fight against their common enemy. The philosophy of Black Nationalism can be enforced no matter what your religion, he makes points that they don't hang you because you are Lutheran, Christian, or Muslim, they hang you because you are black. He states in several other occasions that these "sit in's" cannot accomplish anything. They must take action to affect the crackers. He refers to the Revolution war, how the little tea boycott did not work, how the Americans were tired of being taxed and oppressed and compares it to the struggle for black rights. These are just a few points that Malcolm makes in his speeches. On the flip side, Martin Luther King Jr. King was brought up by a rich black family, with a good education, and a good chance at life. He was a black aristocrat, and a wealthy man. Also he gives several speeches concerning the freedom and the relief from oppression of the black people. His main goal was to have peace for both whites and blacks. He wanted everyone no matter what color to get along and live among each other instead of being segregated. His advice was not to judge one another by the color of their skin but by the contents of their characters. Martin Luther King has made a huge impact on the world today. For example, in his "I Have A Dream" Speech, 200 Thousand people, black and white, have gathered to hear the inspiring words of Martin Luther King Jr. He asks those gathered to ask the government for their constitutional right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Then he assures that there will be
no rest until the blacks are granted and guaranteed civil rights. This next sentence, it is one of the biggest differences between Malcolm X and Martine Luther King Jr. when Martine Luther King Jr. said: "Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred". That statement is the biggest divider between the beliefs of Malcolm X and Mr. King. Martin Luther King Jr. was an activist during the Civil Rights Movement, who based his ideology on equality for both black people and white people. King wanted integration in society, and worked alongside such Civil Rights groups as the SCLC and CORE. So through comparing the ideals and lives of both these great and influential men, we can see that they both have a same idea but methods and desires for change are much different. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are two people on different ends of the scales, with totally different up-bringing. Mr. King wanted to have a peace full protest, to open the eyes of the public, white or black; Whereas Mr. X wanted change, and he wanted it now. He was devoted to his Muslim belief, and was devoted to change the lifestyle of those around him for the better, but through taking action, and even violence if necessary. Malcolm x wanted to be separate from whites; he wanted blacks to have their own schools, laws, taxes and so forth. The easiest way to look at it is Malcolm x wanted to be views as different from whites, their own civilization, Martian Luther King wanted to be combined and included with whites. At times those in power were eager to deal with King for fear of having to challenge with Malcolm and the forces he represented. The both leaders also had very similar death Malcolm X was shot down by three gunmen during a speech on February 21, 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights (Harlem) NY. And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray who shot him with a rifle on April 4, 1968.
Aya Aly AFA History 263
Based on viewing the video Malcolm X and Martin Luther King compare and contrast the objectives of both men in terms of African- American civil rights. How were both men different? Were the two approaches- one peaceful and the other violent- essential to improve conditions for African- American in the United States?
April 27 2011 College of Staten Island