Differences Between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Essays

Many black authors and leaders of the sixties shared similar feelings towards the white run American society in which they lived. Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, and Stokely Carmichael all blamed the whites for the racism which existed. However, they agreed that it was up to the black society to end this problem. Using the black society, each of the authors had their own idea of how racism could be stopped. Unfortunately, for some, such as Malcolm X, this involved the use of violence, while others, such as King, favored the non-violent approach. This paper will focus, for the most part, on Malcolm X and King because they are both strong representations of two different approaches to a common goal.†¦show more content†¦Altogether, these views of white society as expressed by Malcolm and King are reflected in their methods of fighting racism. Malcolm, who supported the use of violence to achieve equality, most likely reached the conclusion that this was the only way to fight the whites based on his original view of them as heartless and uncaring. One place in Malcolms Ballot or Bullet, where his categorizing of whites with violence and cruelty can be found, is during a passage in which he compares the white man with a Guerrilla warrior. Youve got to have a heart to be a Guerrilla warrior, and he (the white man) hasnt got any heart (267). Malcolm sees the whites as a violent group. He most likely came to his theory, that nothing important could be accomplished without violence, through the reasoning that only violence can be used to stop a violent group. Violent people would not understand the use of peaceful means to reach an agreement. Therefore, it is not really the violence itself which he supports as much as it is the reason for using it. He justifies his use of violence by trying to explain that there is no other way to get through to the white people. In contrast, King sees the whites more as victims of violence than creators of violence. He blames the violence, itself, on evil forces. In Pilgrimage to Nonviolence, King calls the problem of racism tension...between the forces of light and the forcesShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Essay805 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the 1960’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X represented two sides of the Civil Rights Movement. Speaking to all of humanity, Dr. King made these famous peaceful words, â€Å"I have a dream, a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal† (King, 1963, para 10). Malcolm X spoke of a violent revolution by claiming, â€Å"If it’s necessary to form a Black Nationalist army, we’llRead MoreDifference Between Martin Luther King Jr. And Malcolm X987 Words   |  4 PagesDifference in Approaches Between Martin Luther King Jr.and Malcolm X During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans, both men and women, fought for basic human rights and opportunities that should have never been taken from them in the first place. These were rights that every being was born with, so it was a very frustrating and exhausting situation to be demanding to be viewed as an equal in a society that thought otherwise. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most prominentRead MoreDifferences and Similarities Between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.866 Words   |  4 Pagesyou   compare   Martin   Luther   King   and   Malcolm   X,   you   will   know   instantly   that   this   is   true.   There   are   many   differences   between   the   two,   apart   from   the   striking   one:   that   Martin   Luther   King   was   a   very good   statesmen   who   delivered   moving   speeches   about   peace,   freedom   and   democracy   while   Malcolm   X   was   a   known   eradicator   of   those   who   were   not   of   the   superior   white   race.   The   beliefs   of   Martin   Luther   King   and   Malcolm   X   may   stem   from  Read MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X1191 Words   |  5 PagesEven after almost fifty-years, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X endure as cherished, powerful, and instrumental leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. Although they were advocating for the same cause, they were not always on the same page about the means. They were both ministers, although of different faiths, and had different thought processes. In his autobiography, Malcolm discusses his childhood in poverty and the ramifications that this caused such as dropping out of school in the eight-gradeRead MoreMartin Luther King J. And Malcolm X Essay1103 Words   |  5 Pageswere Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. They were both influential leaders of the civil rights movement who strove for a common goal, which was to create equality for African Americans. Although Martin Luther King Jr. and M alcolm X were both authoritative figures in the African-American civil rights movement, they differed significantly in their social backgrounds, religious beliefs, and ideologies, which affected their philosophies. The differences in Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s familyRead More Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay1481 Words   |  6 PagesMalcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  African Americans 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 dreamsRead MoreEssay Philosophies and Tactics of Dr. King and Malcolm X1492 Words   |  6 Pagesminorities. Among them, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had an everlasting effect on the treatment of minorities in the United States. Although their philosophies and tactics differed greatly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and make the United States a better place for people regardless of their race. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had different beliefs and goals for the Civil Rights Movement. While Martin Luther King Jr. took a more peacefulRead MoreWhose Filosophy Made the Most Sense for Merica in the 1960s? Malcom X or Martin Luther King Jr.?1036 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X grew up in different environments. King was raised in a comfortable middle-class family where education was crucial, and Malcolm X came from a family of low class. He was a self-taught man who received little schooling and became who he is on his own. Martin Luther King was born into a good family. Despite segregation, Martin Luther King s parents tried everything so that he could be secure and happy. He was a smart student and skipped two grades before enteringRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X997 Words   |  4 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both fought for the same goal, but had different ways of achieving this goal. They both fought against civil rights and were leaders in the civil rights movement. The way they were brought up is a good explanation for their differences; King was brought up in a wealthy family, while X was raised in the ghetto to a poor family. Both fought against unfair laws, Social Discrimination, and Racial segregation, but theyRead MoreMartin Malcolm : A Dream Or A Nightmare951 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Martin Malcolm America Peace† If one man never steps forward to show all the others that change is possible, nothing will ever change. When you look back at history of the American civil rights movement, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are still often two of the first names even someone of today’s society may think of. They were, and still are, some of the most influential men to ever live. As young African-American men living during a time of harsh global, but most importantly