During the 20th century black people faced enormous amounts of discrimination from the whites and found it very difficult to achieve civil rights, but two great men set out to change this. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X (formerly known as Malcolm Little) grew up in different environments but essentially shared the same aims. King was raised in a comfortable, middle-class family where education and religion were stressed. On the other hand, Malcolm X came from an underprivileged home, where he and his 7 brothers and sisters struggled to survive. These two different environments helped each leader form a unique approach to resolve the oppression of black people and their struggle for civil rights.
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both shared the same broad aim of improving the lifestyle and civil rights of the African American people, however, their aims differed in vital areas. Malcolm X rejected the idea of integration and the central aim of the Civil Rights Movement, and, as a Black Muslim, aimed to create a separate African American state. His followers boasted Black Nationalism and revived the spirit of earlier leaders like Marcus Garvey. Malcolm’s main goal was unity amongst people of African descent throughout the world. However, Martin Luther King embraced the aims of the Civil Rights Movement, and sought unity amongst all Americans, black and white. King’s followers wanted an integrated society, and believed that integration was the most crucial step towards gaining civil rights. Unlike Malcolm X though, King had trouble appealing to all of the nation’s African American people. The Blacks in the ghettos and the slums saw him as someone from the black elite, as he was a southerner, and a Baptist Minister. Malcolm X, on the other hand, could identify with many northern black people due to his background and past criminal history. After a trip to Mecca, the holiest of all Muslim cities, in 1964, Malcolm’s goals began to change. He no longer saw whites as “devils.” Malcolm later came to view the United States as a racist society, which influenced the way in which whites grew up. The ideas and morals of these racists rubbed off on their children, and therefore, whites grew up with racist ideas. This change did not mean that Malcolm no longer fought for his people, he just fought for a more open cause. He said, ‘we are not fighting for integration. Nor are we fighting for segregation. We are fighting for recognition as human beings.’
While there may have been an underlying similarity in their aims, there was a significant difference in the tactics and approaches, advocated by each leader to achieve these aims. Martin Luther King Jr. used words that were memorable and simple to understand, to articulate the feelings of the black people. King and his followers became advocates for non-violent, yet dynamic protests that upheld the moral power of his cause, and won over sympathetic white people, particularly in the north. This had some limitations though. With this tactic, King basically relied on his racist opponents to be converted by his high moral example.
Therefore, the best hope of this approach succeeding was in creating a situation in which protesters would be ill treated, creating publicity and more support. When this tactic proved to be unsuccessful, King decided that they needed to bring the violence that had already occurred out into the open for everyone to see. This tactic proved extremely successful in the south, and was crucial in getting the federal authorities to act justly. Martin Luther King’s faith and devotion to God, and pacifist approaches to protest were an inspiration to millions. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam took a more up front approach by recruiting thousands of new members, and preaching Black Supremacy. Though Malcolm X himself was not a violent man, he was angered by the idea that black people should accept discrimination without complaint or retaliation. This led him to become and advocate of self-defense by any means. Malcolm was lucky, in that he had a common ground amongst the blacks from the slums. He had been there, he had hustled and he had seen the unemployment, disease, prostitution, drugs and crime of the ghetto. Malcolm used this as an approach to recruit more people to his following. Malcolm X and the Black Muslims relied on power in numbers, and the power of speech.
Despite being suspicious of having a connection with each other and fighting for different aims in the battle for civil rights, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X did eventually come to respect and learn from each other. This respect didn’t come until after 1964, when Malcolm’s views began to change. As Malcolm X broadened his views, King also became aware of the extent of black oppression in the northern slums. King’s speeches began to show more reference to being proud of being black and Black Power. It wasn’t until after the assassination of Malcolm X that King came to fully appreciate the seriousness of the black condition in many major cities of the United States though. Before his life was cut short, Malcolm had learned the power of non-violent but militant protesting from King. In many ways Malcolm X’s awareness and analysis of the circumstances of the black people was more knowledgeable, but on the other hand, King’s analysis of the solution appeared more levelheaded.
Overall it is obvious that for a long period of time Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were two men fighting for the same cause, but with differing views and opinions. Malcolm X preferred to take the forceful, more stirring approach to protest, while King acted as a pacifist and used his non-violent morals to gain the respect and sympathy of people world wide. Both men made huge contributions to the fight for civil rights, although it seems that their influence was stronger after both of their deaths. Their struggle and commitment to the black people of the United States of America will be remembered forever.
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