Malcolm X vs. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Example

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Both Dr. King and Malcolm X aimed to attain equality for black Americans, concentrating on voting rights, desegregation, and political representation. Nevertheless, their methods were distinct. While Dr. King supported nonviolent tactics that depended on the determination of oppressed individuals to overcome their oppressors and was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's use of nonviolent resistance against British rule in India, Malcolm X had a different approach.

According to Dr. King, the universe favors justice and he recommended a peaceful method of resistance that prioritizes love and understanding. He believed black individuals should aim to gain the friendship and understanding of their white opponents rather than humiliate them in their fight against oppression. Furthermore, he stressed that society as a whole bears responsibility for oppression, not just the white man.

While they held different perspectives, Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for nonviolent protests to address social injustice and racism, whereas Malcolm X believed violent retaliation was warranted in certain circumstances. He argued that nonviolence should only be used when confronted with the same approach. Malcolm X asserted that the white man, American government, and political groups had oppressed black people over a prolonged period.

Both Malcolm X and Dr. King held comparable views regarding civil rights. Malcolm X contended that black people possessed an innate right to their entitlements without the need for pleas, whereas Dr. King perceived the refusal of voting rights as a betrayal of democracy's core values.

King's "Give Us the Ballot" speech urged the President and Congress to reconsider denying voting rights to black citizens. He pledged to transform violent mob actions into peaceful citizen actions (King, 198). While King pointed out governmental conflicts and hypocrisy, he

was more willing than Malcolm X to negotiate and seek change.

Malcolm X emphasized how blacks in America were discriminated against and excluded from being seen as true Americans, unlike immigrants and colonizers. He believed that this perception of blacks as African was deeply rooted in the country's racist and genocidal history. Malcolm X advocated for black nationalism which would give the black community control over their politics and economy. He argued that white people had accumulated wealth through ongoing subjugation of black people via economic, political, and social oppression.

Dr. King acknowledged the progress made by the black community, particularly in school integration after Brown vs. Board of Education. However, Malcolm X believed that racial tension had increased with more violence and animosity in 1964 compared to 1954 (Malcolm X, 31).

Malcolm X's impatience with American society and oppression of blacks led him to reject any type of relationship with white people. He believed that neither he nor other blacks owed anything to white people. The urgency and necessity for societal change were emphasized by both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., though their views on the history and future of the oppressed black community differed substantially. Despite their similar reasons for anxiety and irritation with the racial situation, Malcolm X proposed a distinct method of protest and persuasion.

Malcolm X strongly criticized the current strategy for addressing racial injustices, asserting that the African American community was tired of the compromising approach taken to achieve freedom. He believed that both the government administration in Washington and black representatives were settling for insufficient outcomes. Although he did not expressly support violent tactics as a means of resolution,

Malcolm X did not condemn their usage either (Malcolm X, 38).

Malcolm X supported the "Ballot or the Bullet" approach and asserted that nonviolence was an acceptable response to violence. He emphasized using violence only as a last resort when standing firm, but refrained from being violent towards peaceful individuals. Nevertheless, he cautioned that if attacked with violence, he would not be accountable for his actions.

As long as one's beliefs are in accordance with the law, legal rights, moral rights, and justice, it is reasonable to make a sacrifice. However, sacrificing oneself without receiving something in return should be avoided.

Malcolm X's view of equality (34) differed from that of Dr. King, who, despite occasionally exhibiting anger and negativity, believed in effecting change within the system by shifting leadership among political parties, white northern liberals, moderate whites in the South, and most importantly, the Black community.

Dr. King criticized both the Executive and Legislative branches of the US for failing to protect citizens' rights, specifically calling out southern Dixiecrats for obstructing the Democratic Party and Republicans for their hypocrisy in not supporting him. He advocated for a broader approach to liberalism that considers the perspectives of white southern moderates.

Although Malcolm X and Dr. King had differing views on the cause of the deficiencies in America's democratic system, they both strived for fairness and equality for Black people. In his publication "Give Us the Ballot" (198-199), King promoted nonviolent and productive leadership among Black individuals. Despite disparities, both leaders aspired to create equal chances for all races.

Although both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X fought for racial equality, they employed divergent methods of protest and dissent. While Dr. King

advocated civil disobedience, Malcolm X's approach exemplified the unwavering determination, zeal, and tenacity of the black community to overcome discrimination from white society. It is possible that Malcolm X's encouragement of violence could have stimulated a reform movement. Nonetheless, while acknowledging the passion behind Malcolm X's tactics, it cannot be disputed that ultimately Dr. King's strategy of civil disobedience was more successful.

Regardless of ethnicity, all individuals in America have been impacted by the influence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other significant leaders. Through civil disobedience, King appealed to the humanity of others and raised awareness about racial injustices. His goal was to motivate those in positions of power to support the anti-oppression movement by appealing to the nation's conscience.

The text is citing two sources, both written by Martin Luther King Jr. The first source, "Give Us the Ballot—We Will Transform the South," was published in 1957 and can be found in A Testament of Hope edited by James Melvin Washington and published by Harper Collins in 1986. The second source, "Pilgrimage to Non Violence," was published in 1958 and can be found in The Sixties Papers: Documents of a Rebellious Decade edited by Judith Clavir Albert and Stewart Edward Albert. Both sources are enclosed within HTML paragraph tags.

, "The Ballot or the Bullet" (a speech delivered on April 3rd, 1964) by Malcolm X, can be found in Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements, edited by George Breitman and published by Pathfinder in 1990. The book was released in New York by Prager in 1984.