Similarities And Differences Between Martin Luther King Jr...

Even 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-grade. Upon moving to Boston from Nebraska, Malcolm was in yet another disadvantaged environment that was interwoven with violence, eventually leading to his incarceration that lasted six years. Martin, however, was a well-educated man from a†¦show more content†¦When it came to violence, Martin opposed, feeling that there was a thin line between aggression and defense. He felt that violence would lead to death and a spiral, making things worse rather than fixing them. In Martinâ€⠄¢s ‘Where Do We Go From Here† speech from August 1967, he states â€Å"Through violence, you may murder a liar, but you can’t establish truth†¦ murder a hater, but you can’t murder hate... Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.† Malcolm on the other hand, spoke of self-preservation and self-defense. He saw the whites as the ones guilty of violence throughout history, and now it was the time for African-Americans to stand up for themselves. Martin felt that black Americans should be paid for the long history of oppression and should have equal rights. Although both men had experiences that shaped their different philosophies, once involved in Civil Rights they had similar experiences. Both men had seen and felt prejudice, been to jail, got death threats, homes attacked. The difference was how to respond to these instances. Martin wanted to get the prejudice and brutality in the spotlight, using non-violent means to cause an em otional reaction to spark change. Malcolm wanted African-Americans to take things into their own hands, with violence being a tool. Both men got their messages across through speeches, which were also different. Malcolm liked to get the people riled up, he wasShow MoreRelatedDifferences 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 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. 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He both invigorated and separated the African Americans throughRead MoreCompare And Contrast Martin Luther King And Religion1219 Words   |  5 PagesEarly on in his famous letter, Martin Luther King Jr. writes: â€Å"I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership conference† (King 2). In a similar fashion, Malcolm X states in the third paragraph of his speech: â€Å"Although I am still a Muslim, I’m not here to discuss my religion† (X 24). Both making their religions clear, but the way they approach religion in the two texts are starkly different from one another. Both, in a way, touch on religion in such a way to respond