martin luther king malcolm x essay

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Black Power Scholar Illustrates How MLK And Malcolm X Influenced Each Other

Terry Gross

A man walks past a mural of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. in London. Thabo Jaiyesimi/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

A man walks past a mural of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. in London.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are frequently seen as opposing forces in the struggle for civil rights and against white supremacy; King is often portrayed as a nonviolent insider, while Malcolm X is characterized as a by-any-means-necessary political renegade. But author and Black Power scholar Peniel Joseph says the truth is more nuanced.

"I've always been fascinated by Malcolm X and Dr. King ... and dissatisfied in how they're usually portrayed — both in books and in popular culture," Joseph says.

In his book, The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., Joseph braids together the lives of the two civil rights leaders. He says that King and Malcolm X had "convergent visions" for Black America — but their strategies for how to reach the goal was informed by their different upbringings.

"Malcolm X is really scarred by racial trauma at a very early age," Joseph says. "King, in contrast, has a very gilded childhood, and he's the son of an upper-middle-class, African-American family, prosperous family that runs one of the most important churches in Black Atlanta."

Joseph says that, over time, each man became the other's "alter ego." Malcolm X, he says, "injects a political radicalism on the national scene that absolutely makes Dr. King and his movement much more palatable to mainstream Americans."

Now, with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Joseph says that King and Malcolm X's visions have converged: "What's really extraordinary is that the Black Lives Matter protesters really are protesting for radical Black dignity and citizenship and see that you need both. So Malcolm and Martin are the revolutionary sides of the same coin, and really the BLM movement has amplified that."

Interview highlights

On what Malcolm X meant by racial separatism

This idea of separatism is really interesting. The deeper I investigated Malcolm X, the more I understood what he meant and what the Nation of Islam meant by racial separatism. It wasn't segregation. It was separatism, they argued, and Malcolm does this in a series of debates against Bayard Rustin , against Jim Farmer , against James Baldwin , Louis Lomax. He says that racial separatism is required because white people do not want Black people to be citizens and have dignity. And if they did, you wouldn't have to protest and experience police violence and police brutality: small children trying to integrate Little Rock High School, young people trying to integrate lunch counters, and they're arrested and brutalized, sometimes people were killed, of course. So what's interesting about this idea of separatism, Malcolm argues separatism is Black people having enough self-love and enough confidence in themselves to organize and build parallel institutions. Because America was so infected with the disease of racism, they could never racially integrate into American democracy.

On Malcolm X's vision of "by any means necessary" protest

Code Switch

Malcolm x's public speaking power.

Malcolm is making the argument that, one, Black people have the right to self-defense and to defend themselves against police brutality. It's really striking when you follow Malcolm X in the 1950s and '60s, the number of court appearances he's making, whether it's in Buffalo, N.Y., or Los Angeles or Rochester, N.Y., where members of the Nation of Islam have been brutalized [and], at times, killed by police violence. So Malcolm is arguing that, one, Black people have a right to defend themselves. Second part of Malcolm's argument — because he travels to the Middle East by 1959, travels for 25 weeks overseas in 1964 — is that because there [are] anti-colonial revolutions raging across Africa and the Third World in the context of the 1950s and '60s, he makes the argument that the Black revolution in the United States is only going to be a true revolution once Black people start utilizing self-defense to end the racial terror they're experiencing both in the 1950s and '60s, but historically. And one of the reasons Malcolm makes that argument, obviously, is because his father and his family had experienced that racial terror.

On King's policy of non-violent protest v. self defense

One thing that's important to know is that when we think about nonviolence versus self-defense, it's very, very complex, because even though Martin Luther King Jr. is America's apostle and a follower of Gandhi and believes in nonviolence, there are always people around King who are trying to protect him and in demonstrations, who actually are armed, they're not armed in the same way that, say, the Black Panthers would arm themselves later, but they're armed to actually protect and defend peaceful civil rights activists from racial terror. And of course, King famously had had armed guards around him in Montgomery, Ala., after his home was firebombed during the bus boycott of 1955 to '56. And it's Bayard Rustin who famously told him he couldn't have those armed guards if he wanted to live out the practice of nonviolence.

The Power Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Anger

So King usually does not have his own people being armed. But when he's in the Deep South, there are civil rights activists who actually are armed and at times protecting him. They're not necessarily connected to his Southern Christian Leadership Conference, but the movement always had people who were trying to protect peaceful demonstrators against racial terror.

On King's response to Malcolm X's argument against non-violent civil disobedience

Peniel E. Joseph, Ph.D., is the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas, Austin. Kelvin Ma/Basic Books hide caption

Peniel E. Joseph, Ph.D., is the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas, Austin.

King has several responses: One is that nonviolence is both a moral and political strategy. So the morality and the religious argument is that Black people could not succumb to enemy politics. And this idea that when we think about white racism, we would become as bad as the people who are oppressing us. So he pushes back against that. Politically, he says, well, then there aren't enough Black people, even if they arm themselves to win some kind of armed conflict and struggle. And then finally, he says and there's a great speech in 1963 in Los Angeles where he doesn't mention Malcolm X, but he's speaking out against Malcolm X in terms of what's happening in Birmingham. And Malcolm has called him an Uncle Tom and all kinds of names. He says that non-violence is the weapon of strength. It's the weapon of people who are powerful and courageous and brave and heroic and disciplined. It's not the weapon of the weak, because we're going to use this non-violent strategy to actually transform the United States of America against its own will. ...

I say Malcolm is Black America's prosecuting attorney. He's prosecuting white America for a series of crimes against Black humanity that date back to racial slavery. Dr. King is Black America's defense attorney — but he's very interesting: He defends both sides of the color line. He defends Black people to white people and tells white people that Black people don't want Black supremacy. They don't want reverse racism. They don't want revenge for racial slavery and Jim Crow segregation. They just want to be included in the body politic and have citizenship. But he also defends white people to Black people. He's constantly telling — especially as the movement gets further radicalized — Black people that white people are good people, that white people, we can redeem the souls of the nation. And we have white allies who have fought and struggled and died with us to achieve Black citizenship. So it's very interesting, the roles they both play. But over time, after Malcolm's assassination, one of the biggest ironies and transformations is that King becomes Black America's prosecuting attorney.

On how Malcolm X and King's visions merged

They start to merge, especially in the aftermath of Malcolm's assassination on Feb. 21, 1965. And in a way, when we think about King, right after Malcolm's assassination, King has what he later calls one of those "mountaintop moments." And he always says there are these mountaintop moments, but then you have to go back to the valley. And that mountaintop moment is going to be the Selma to Montgomery march, even though initially, when we think about March 7, 1965 — Bloody Sunday — demonstrators, including the late Congressman John Lewis , are battered by Alabama state troopers, non-violent demonstrators, peaceful demonstrators on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

'A Proud Walk': 3 Voices On The March From Selma To Montgomery

But by March 15, LBJ, the president, is going to say these protesters are right and they are part of a long pantheon of American heroes dating back to the revolution. And then March 21 to the 25, the Selma to Montgomery demonstration is going to attract 30,000 Americans — including white allies, Jewish allies like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel — to King and the movement. So King is going to make his last, fully nationally televised speech on March 25, 1965, where he talks about American democracy, racial justice, but the long road ahead. By that August, Aug. 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act has passed. So these are real high points.

But then five days after the Voting Rights Act is passed, Watts, Los Angeles explodes in really the largest civil disturbance in American history up until that point. And when we think about after Watts, that's where King and Malcolm start to converge, because Malcolm had criticized the March on Washington as the "farce on Washington," because he said that King and the movement should have paralyzed Washington, D.C., and forced a reckoning about race in America. And they didn't do that. By 1965, King says that in this essay, "Beyond the Los Angeles Riots," that what he's going to start doing is use non-violent civil disobedience as a peaceful sword that paralyzes cities to produce justice that goes beyond civil rights and voting rights acts.

Sam Briger and Thea Chaloner produced and edited the audio of this interview. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the Web.

Chapter 25: Malcolm X

Main navigation.

He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems that we face as a race. While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problems, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem.

• March 28, 1964 – After press conference at U.S. Senate, King has brief encounter with Malcolm X
• February 5, 1965 – Coretta Scott King meets with Malcolm X in Selma, Alabama
• February 21 – Malcolm X is assassinated in Harlem

I met Malcolm X once in Washington, but circumstances didn't enable me to talk with him for more than a minute. 

He is very articulate, but I totally disagree with many of his political and philosophical views-at least insofar as I understand where he now stands. I don't want to sound self-righteous, or absolutist, or that I think I have the only truth, the only way. Maybe he  does  have some of the answers. I know that I have often wished that he would talk less of violence, because violence is not going to solve our problem. And, in his litany of articulating the despair of the Negro without offering any positive, creative alternative, I feel that Malcolm has done himself and our   people a great disservice. Fiery, demagogic oratory in the black ghettos, urging Negroes to arm themselves and prepare to engage in violence, as he has done, can reap nothing but grief.

In the event of a violent revolution, we would be sorely outnumbered. And when it was all over, the Negro would face the same unchanged conditions, the same squalor and deprivation-the only difference being that his bitterness would be even more intense, his disenchantment even more abject. Thus, in purely practical as well as moral terms, the American Negro has no rational alternative to nonviolence.  

When they threw eggs at me in New York, I think that was really a result of the Black Nationalist groups. They had heard all of these things about my being soft, my talking about love, and they transferred that bitterness toward the white man to me. They began to feel that I was saying to love this person that they had such a bitter attitude toward. In fact, Malcolm X had a meeting the day before, and he talked about me a great deal and told them that I would be there the next night and said, "You ought to go over there and let old King know what you think about him." And he had said a great deal about nonviolence, criticizing nonviolence, and saying that I approved of Negro men and women being bitten by dogs and the firehoses. So I think this kind of response grew out of all of the talk about my being a sort of polished Uncle Tom. 

My feeling has always been that they have never understood what I was saying. They did not see that there's a great deal of difference between nonresistance to evil and nonviolent resistance. Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently accept injustice. I'm talking about a very strong force, where you stand up with all your might against an evil system, and you're not a coward. You are resisting, but you come to see that tactically as well as morally it is better to be nonviolent. Even if one didn't want to deal with the moral question, it would just be impractical for the Negro to talk about making his struggle violent. 

But I think one must understand that Malcolm X was a victim of the despair that came into being as a result of a society that gives so many Negroes the nagging sense of "nobody-ness." Just as one condemns the philosophy, which I did constantly, one must be as vigorous in condemning the continued existence in our society of the conditions of racist injustice, depression, and man's inhumanity to man.

A product of the hate and violence

The ghastly nightmare of violence and counter-violence is one of the most tragic blots to occur on the pages of the Negro's history in this country. In many ways, however, it is typical of the misplacement of aggressions which has occurred throughout the frustrated circumstances of our existence. 

How often have the frustrations of second-class citizenship and humiliating status led us into blind outrage against each other and the real cause and course of our dilemma been ignored? It is sadly ironic that those who so clearly pointed to the white world as the seed of evil should now spend their energies in their own destruction. 

Malcolm X came to the fore as a public figure partially as a result of a TV documentary entitled "The Hate That Hate Produced." That title points clearly to the nature of Malcolm's life and death. He was clearly a product of the hate and violence invested in the Negro's blighted existence in this nation. He, like so many of our number, was a victim of the despair that inevitably derives from the conditions of oppression, poverty, and injustice which engulf the masses of our race. But in his youth, there was no hope, no preaching, teaching, or movements of nonviolence. He was too young for the Garvey Movement, too poor to be a Communist-for the Communists geared their work to Negro intellectuals and labor without realizing that the masses of Negroes were unrelated to either-and yet he possessed a native intelligence and drive which demanded an outlet and means of expression. He turned first to the underworld, but this did not fulfill the quest for meaning which grips young minds. It was a testimony to Malcolm's personal depth and integrity that he could not become an underworld czar, but turned again and again to religion for meaning and destiny. Malcolm was still turning and growing at the time of his brutal and meaningless assassination.

I was in jail when he was in Selma, Alabama. I couldn't block his coming, but my philosophy was so antithetical to the philosophy Malcolm X that I would never have invited Malcolm X to come Selma when we were in the midst of a nonviolent demonstration. This says nothing about the personal respect I had for him. During his visit to Selma, he spoke at length to my wife Coretta for about his personal struggles and expressed an interest in working more closely with the nonviolent movement, but he was not yet able to renounce violence and overcome the bitterness which life invested in him. There were also indications of an interest in politics; as a way of dealing with the problems of the Negro. All of these were signs of a man of passion and zeal seeking for a program through which he could channel his talents. But history would not have it so. A man who lived under the torment of knowledge of the rape of his grandmother and murder of his father under the conditions of the present social order, does not readily accept that social order or seek to integrate into it. And so Malcolm was forced to live and die as an outsider, a victim of the violence that spawned him, and which he courted through his brief but promising life. The assassination of Malcolm X was an unfortunate tragedy. Let us learn from this tragic nightmare that violence and hate only breed violence and hate, and that Jesus' word still goes out to every potential Peter, "Put up thy sword." Certainly we will continue to disagree, but we must disagree without becoming violently disagree-. able. We will still suffer the temptation to bitterness, but we must learn that hate is too great a burden to bear for a people moving on toward their date with destiny. The American Negro cannot afford to destroy its leadership :;k Men of talent are too scarce to be destroyed by envy, greed, and.. tribal rivalry before they reach their full maturity. Like the murder of Patrice Lamumba in the Congo, the murder of Malcolm X deprived the world of a potentially great leader. I could not agree with either of these men, but I could see in them a capacity for leadership which I could respect and which was only beginning to mature judgment and statesmanship. I think it is even more unfortunate that this great tragedy occurred at a time when Malcolm X was reevaluating his own philosophical presuppositions and moving toward a greater understanding of the nonviolent movement and toward more tolerance of white people generally. 

I think there is a lesson that we can all learn from this: that violence is impractical and that now, more than ever before, we must pursue the course of nonviolence to achieve a reign of justice and a rule of love in our society, and that hatred and violence must be cast into the unending limbo if we are to survive. 

In a real sense, the growth of black nationalism was symptomatic of the deeper unrest, discontent, and frustration of many Negroes because of the continued existence of racial discrimination. Black nationalism was a way out of that dilemma. It was based on an unrealistic and sectional perspective that I condemned both publicly and privately. It substituted the tyranny of black supremacy for the tyranny of white supremacy. I always contended that we as a race must not seek to rise from a position of disadvantage to one of advantage, but to create a moral balance in society where democracy and brotherhood would be a reality for all men.

NEXT: Chapter 26: Selma

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Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X: A Comparative Analysis

Table of contents, philosophies and approaches, rhetorical styles, approaches to integration, legacy and impact.

• Branch, T. (2006). Parting the waters: America in the King years, 1954-63. Simon and Schuster.
• Marable, M. (2011). Manning Marable speaks on Malcolm X: A documentary film. AK Press.
• Carson, C., & Shepard, S. (2001). A call to conscience: The landmark speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Grand Central Publishing.
• Haley, A. (1965). The autobiography of Malcolm X. Ballantine Books.
• Garrow, D. J. (1986). Bearing the cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. HarperOne.

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The American civil rights movement, a pivotal era in the nation’s history, was marked by the emergence of two prominent leaders: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Their visions and methods for achieving racial equality and freedom were distinctly different, offering diverse perspectives within the struggle for civil rights. This essay explores the differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King in their approaches to achieving racial justice for African Americans.

Historical Background

The mid-20th century in the United States was characterized by a profound struggle for civil rights, particularly for African Americans who faced rampant segregation and discrimination. This period was marked by significant social and political upheaval as African Americans actively sought to assert their rights and claim their rightful place in society. Amidst this backdrop, two influential figures emerged as leading voices in this struggle: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Both leaders, while united in their ultimate goal of achieving equality and freedom for African Americans, adopted markedly different philosophies and tactics in their pursuits. Malcolm X, known for his fiery and uncompromising rhetoric, advocated for a more radical approach to securing these rights. In contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. championed a path of nonviolent resistance, drawing on principles of peaceful protest. These divergent approaches highlighted the complexity and multifaceted nature of the fight for civil rights during this pivotal era in American history.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Non-Violence

Martin Luther King Jr., often abbreviated as MLK, was a proponent of non-violent protest. Influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, King believed in peaceful methods to achieve civil rights. He led marches and peaceful protests, advocating for integration and equality in a non-aggressive manner. King’s philosophy was one of love and forgiveness, aiming to unite rather than divide the nation. His leadership during events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington was instrumental in bringing national attention to the injustices faced by African Americans.

Malcolm X and Separatism

In contrast, Malcolm X, a member of the Nation of Islam, initially advocated for separatism rather than integration. He believed that African Americans should establish their own institutions and communities, separate from those of white Americans. Malcolm X’s approach was more radical, often perceived as militant. He famously stated that freedom should be achieved “by any means necessary,” which was interpreted as an endorsement of violence, if required, for self-defense. Malcolm X’s stance softened after leaving the Nation of Islam, where he began to advocate for racial unity but still maintained a more militant approach than King.

Ideology Differences and Community Impact

The core difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King lies in their ideologies. King’s approach was rooted in non-violence and peaceful protest, aiming to achieve racial integration and harmony. On the other hand, Malcolm X initially supported racial separatism and was open to using more aggressive means to defend and uplift African Americans. Their differing views on how to achieve freedom and equality reflected the diversity of thought within the civil rights movement.

Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had significant impacts on the civil rights movement. King’s non-violent approach garnered widespread support, leading to significant legislative changes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Malcolm X’s advocacy for black self-sufficiency and his later openness to racial harmony inspired many African Americans to fight more assertively for their rights. Their combined efforts contributed to the gradual dismantling of segregation and the advancement of civil rights in America.

In conclusion, while Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both aimed to achieve racial equality and freedom for African Americans, their methods and philosophies were notably different. King’s legacy of non-violent, peaceful protest and Malcolm X’s initial separatist stance, followed by a call for racial unity, represent the diverse strategies within the civil rights movement. Understanding the differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King is crucial in appreciating the multifaceted nature of the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Their distinct approaches played a significant role in shaping the nation’s journey towards racial equality.

Did Martin Luther King disagree with Malcolm X?

Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. did have disagreements with Malcolm X, primarily concerning their approaches to the civil rights movement. While both sought racial equality, King advocated for nonviolent resistance and peaceful protest, influenced by Christian ideals of love and forgiveness. Malcolm X, initially a member of the Nation of Islam, advocated for black empowerment, often perceived as endorsing a more militant stance. Their differing views on violence and integration versus separatism were central to their disagreements.

What were the religious differences between MLK and Malcolm X?

The religious beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X significantly influenced their approaches to civil rights. MLK, a Baptist minister, was deeply rooted in Christian teachings, which shaped his philosophy of nonviolent protest and love-based activism. Malcolm X, initially a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, held Islamic beliefs that emphasized black self-sufficiency and were critical of white America. His views evolved over time, but his Islamic faith remained a guiding factor in his activism.

What was a common goal of MLK and Malcolm X?

Despite their different approaches and philosophies, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X shared a common goal: achieving racial equality and freedom for African Americans. Both leaders were deeply committed to the advancement of civil rights and worked tirelessly to eradicate the systemic racism and injustices faced by African Americans. They sought to uplift the black community and ensure a society where all individuals were treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race.

What are the differences between MLK and Malcolm X?

The differences between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are primarily found in their methods and philosophies regarding the civil rights movement. MLK advocated for peaceful, nonviolent resistance and integration, inspired by Christian teachings. He believed in working within the existing system to achieve change. Conversely, Malcolm X, especially during his time with the Nation of Islam, supported the idea of black separatism and was open to the use of self-defense. His stance mellowed after leaving the Nation of Islam, advocating for racial unity but maintaining a more radical approach compared to King. Their contrasting views on violence, integration, and the role of religion in social activism marked the key differences in their strategies for racial equality.

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Comparing MLK with Malcolm X Essay

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Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were the two major leaders in the Civil Rights Movement of mid 20 th century. While both leaders had similar goals of demanding recognition and protection of African American liberties in society, their respective backgrounds, approaches, remained widely divergent. Concurrent sections of this essay shall highlight these differences and their impacts on the Civil Rights Movement. Both short-term and long-term impacts of the two approaches will be investigated.

The differences in both leaders’ backgrounds had significant impacts on respective civil rights struggles. Malcolm X was born of a Baptist father who had been a major champion of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (Karim). Malcolm’s father’s intense involvement in movement activities resulted in being at loggerheads with law enforcement. This placed his family in danger and thus embarked on constant relocation from one part of the country to the other before settling in Michigan. Malcolm’s father was later run over by a streetcar. His mother was later declared insane and sent to the mental care facility. These were sad times for the young Malcolm, who started living with foster families while attending various reform schools (Ogbar, 203). He later moved to Boston and got engaged in criminal activities that led to his confinement. It is during this imprisonment that Malcolm came to learn of Elijah Mohamed’s Islamic teachings and henceforth decided to become a Muslim, as well as being seriously involved in civil rights issues. Malcolm’s background is the opposite of that experienced by Martin Luther King (MLK). MLK was born of Baptist parents; his father was a minister, a post inherited from his father (MLK’s grandfather). This provided MLK with a strong religious foundation that would later influence his teachings and practices. After attending elementary school in Atlanta, MLK was admitted to the Pennsylvania-based Crozer Theological Seminary and later Boston University, where he received a Ph.D. in systematic Theology in 1955. He immediately took the ministerial role at Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church (Stanford University) and became increasingly engaged in civil rights issues.

The influence of both leaders’ backgrounds can be seen in the methods applied in their respective leadership roles. On his part, Martin Luther chooses a nonviolent approach in achieving movement goals. Without a doubt, the choice of his approach was influenced by the extensive theological teachings he had received since his childhood. Despite the pressure from some quarters within the movement to push for speedy agitations through violence, MLK relentlessly preached and practice a nonviolence approach. Many civil rights movements participants, including Malcolm X, had concluded that MLK’s approach would take longer to achieve the intended goals (MLK Online) but Martin was ready to wait. Malcolm X was on the view that armed violence was the best measure to meeting civil movement goals. The difference between both approaches led to disagreements between the two leaders to point that they could not merge and strengthen their ties. Each group thus retorted to continuing with putting pressure on the government using the means they so fit: Malcolm X continued with agitating for armed approaches whereas MLK kept preaching peace and nonviolence approach. Though both leaders had similar goals of having African American liberties becoming more recognized and protected by authorities, there were some other little differences regarding specific short and long-term goals of the Civil Rights Movement. On his part, Martin Luther King was determined to have African Americans being treated as equal under the rule of law with their white counterparts. In this regard, MLK intended to have greater integration of American people despite their race, religion, or sex. Luther’s goals, therefore, extended beyond the African American population in the country—he had all minorities included in his long-term goals. Malcolm would hear none of this; instead, he saw the complete “separation from the white man” as the best measure to address the crisis (Howard-Pitney 120). For sure, such a hard stance could not have been incorporated with Martin Luther’s non-violence approach.

Martin Luther was concerned with positive impacts in American society, not just African Americans. This meant that peaceful co-existence between the races had to be a prerequisite, and hence the non-violence approach. On the other hand, Malcolm X was seemingly concerned with short-run results on African American lives. These differences did not stop either of the leaders to achieve certain goals. Martin Luther achieved the integration of American races in both public and private sectors. In addition, his movement saw the segregation that had characterized lifestyle start to wane (Karim). Though Malcolm X did not live to achieve his goals, his followers were instrumental in the rise of Black Power as an authority in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 70s (OAH 12). However, Black Power’s activities were in the authorities’ spotlight, which resulted in to decline in its membership and relevance in the civil rights fraternity.

The above analysis has compared two of the most dominant civil rights movement leaders. It has been established that the differences in respective approach styles developed from the leader’s upbringing. Martin Luther’s religious background was instrumental in his nonviolent approach. Malcolm X’s hardship in life resulted in the agitation of armed resistance. Martin Luther was, however, the one who was most successful in meeting the goals—Malcolm died before attaining his goals. His followers were also unsuccessful in reaching their fallen leaders’ aspirations.

Howard-Pitney, David. Martin Luther, Malcolm X and the Civil Rights. New York: Bedford, 2004.

MLK Online. MLK Bibliography. mlkonline.net. 2008. Web.

Karim, Imam (Edt.). Black Man’s History. Malcolmx.org. 2009. Web.

OAH. “MLK and Malcolm X.” OAH Magazine. 2005.

Ogbar, Jeffrey. Black Power. JHU: Baltimore, 2003.

Stanford University. King Bibliography. Stanford. 2009. Web.

• Autobiography of Malcolm X
• Malcolm X’s Influence across the World
• Martin Luther King and Malcolm X: Who Is Closer to Success?
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• Abraham Lincoln’s Personal Connection in the Gettysburg Address
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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Arrests: a Closer Look

This essay about Martin Luther King Jr. highlights his numerous arrests as a symbol of his unwavering commitment to the Civil Rights Movement. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to anti-Vietnam War protests, King’s arrests underscored his dedication to nonviolent resistance against racial segregation and social injustice. His legacy of moral courage and nonviolent activism continues to inspire the global fight for equality and justice.

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Martin Luther King Jr., an indomitable force in the American Civil Rights Movement, confronted numerous obstacles in his relentless pursuit of equality and justice. Central to his activism were frequent clashes with the law, symbolizing his unwavering commitment to dismantling racial segregation and oppression.

King’s initial notable arrest unfolded in 1956 during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama, ignited by Rosa Parks’ courageous defiance of segregation on public buses. As a pivotal organizer of the boycott, King’s arrest marked the beginning of a series of legal challenges he would face in his crusade for civil rights.

In the ensuing years, King steadfastly advocated for racial equality through nonviolent protests and acts of civil disobedience, often resulting in further arrests. A pivotal moment arose in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was arrested for leading demonstrations against segregation. His articulate response, the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” eloquently defended the necessity and morality of nonviolent direct action against injustice.

King’s activism transcended geographical boundaries. In 1967, he faced arrest during an anti-Vietnam War protest in California, underscoring his broader commitment to peace and social justice. His arrests, totaling at least 29 documented instances, were not merely legal entanglements but powerful symbols of resistance against systemic racism and inequality.

Beyond the count of arrests, King’s enduring legacy lies in his steadfast leadership and philosophy of nonviolent resistance, inspiring millions globally to confront oppression and advocate for equity. Despite encountering hostility, violence, and ultimately assassination in 1968, King’s moral courage and dedication to justice continue to resonate today.

Ultimately, Martin Luther King Jr.’s arrests were pivotal milestones in his pursuit of civil rights, embodying his unyielding determination and the sacrifices made in the struggle for a more just society. His legacy serves as a guiding light and a call to action, reminding us of the ongoing quest for equality and urging us to uphold his vision of a world where justice and dignity prevail for all.

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrests: A Closer Look. (2024, Jun 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/martin-luther-king-jr-s-arrests-a-closer-look/

"Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrests: A Closer Look." PapersOwl.com , 28 Jun 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/martin-luther-king-jr-s-arrests-a-closer-look/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrests: A Closer Look . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/martin-luther-king-jr-s-arrests-a-closer-look/ [Accessed: 28 Jun. 2024]

"Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrests: A Closer Look." PapersOwl.com, Jun 28, 2024. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/martin-luther-king-jr-s-arrests-a-closer-look/

"Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrests: A Closer Look," PapersOwl.com , 28-Jun-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/martin-luther-king-jr-s-arrests-a-closer-look/. [Accessed: 28-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrests: A Closer Look . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/martin-luther-king-jr-s-arrests-a-closer-look/ [Accessed: 28-Jun-2024]

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