MLK and Malcolm X Comparison

Both Martin luther king and Malcolm X were two prominent civil rights leaders in the fight for the betterment of black peoples lives although they are both agreed on achieving civil rights for the black community and agreed that the treatment of black people by white people was unjust their philosophy and how to achieve justice was different. Martin luther king and Malcolm X had very different views on the interaction of black and white people. Martin Luther preached for black people to have the same rights and freedoms as white people and coexist with whites and was even open to having white people join in on the protest for equality. Must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers , as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. (MLK, p3)

Where was Malcolm X believed in Black nationalism and was and was really negative towards white people and politicians. Even Though you can vote they fix it so you're voting for nobody. Because either dog you chose I guarantee you you'll still be in the dog house. (Malcolm X, p8) By the dog, he means the political parties, no matter who the black community votes fore they all are against them. The dixiecrats in the south being obviously against them, and the democrats in the north pretending to be for them. The negro 'revolt' is controlled by the white man. and all of the demonstrations to desegregate are just artificial fires that have been ignited and fanned by the white liberals in desperate hope that they can use this artificial revolution to fight off the real black revolution (Malcolm X , p17).

There are efforts to desegregate public places, have white people realize that black people are no different from them and they should have the same rights. And Malcolm is just calling it trick to get black people to vote. And that also raises the point that he seems to be against black and whites integrating into society as one people. Martin Luther king and Malcolm x had divergent views about how the the to best achieve black rights. King believed that non violence is the answer. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force (MLK, p2) Because you can only achieve peace with peace, and violence breeds violence. Non violence is effective because there is nothing the other side can do, they are not breaking any laws that could them trowen in jail, they are just peacefully protesting tring the to get the word out about racial inequality and at the same time showing that they are just peaceful and respectful people that belong in the society. Malcolm on the other hand believes in violence brought down by god.

Revolutions are never peaceful, never loving, never nonviolent. Nor are they ever compromising. Revolutions are destructive and bloody. (Malcolm X, p 17). He claims that god controls the black revolution to violently get rid of the power of the white oppressors. They both of these civil rights leaders agree on strengthening the black economy Malcolm X states: The economic philosophy of Black Nationalism only means that we should own and operate and control the economy of our community.(p2). He blames black people for their poverty and terrible housing, by supporting the white man's economy rather than the back economy, he advocates that blacks setup storers and business and blacks to shop at those businesses. So that the money stays in the black community, rather than in the white comuti and making the white man richer. Businesses set up by the black community would also give black people jobs. King preaches: we just need to go around to these stores, and to these massive industries in our country, and say, 'we've come by here to ask you to make the first item on your agenda fair treatment, ...Now, if you are not prepared to do that, we [must withdraw] economic support from you.' (p8).

If these companies don't follow the wishes of the blacks for fair treatment they are hurting themselves by losing customers and therefore profit. And black are going to spend their money black businesses instead. Both of them also base their beliefs on religion. Martin Luther who is a christian preaches ...but god has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day (p8) I just want to do god's will (p11). Martin Luther king and Malcolm X brought fought for civil rights for the black community. Some of their ideas were similar such the idea of building strong black economy and both of their beliefs came from religion. How ever they also disagreed on other ideas such as Martin luther's idea of unity of white and black community and non violence vs. Malcolm X's black nationalism and violent approach. Yet in the end together they achieved the a monumental and glorious agenda of civil rights for blacks. And therefore deserve recognition of going down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation (MLK,p2)

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