Essay on MLK and Malcolm X - 1279 Words

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were very influential civil rights advocates during the nineteen-fifties and nineteen-sixties, and continue to have an influence on people today. However, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X have quite different legacies, of which are based on quite different philosophies and tactics. To understand why Dr. King and Malcolm X had drastically different thoughts and approaches to civil rights in the United States, their lives must also be looked at — as their lives leading up to their leadership were drastically different. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Being born to a religious family, he eventually attended a seminary and became a minister, much like his†¦show more content†¦Also, by declaring Earl’s death a suicide, the Little family did not receive his life insurance policy. This event was tragic for the Little family. Malcolm’s mother was so traumatized that when she was admitted to a mental institution in 1937, she spent the rest of her life there. Because of this, Malcolm moved in with a friend of his family. Up until 1939, Malcolm was a very successful student (much like Martin Luther King, Jr.). This changed when he had a conversation with his English teacher. When asked what Malcolm wanted to be when he grew up, he said a lawyer. Although this never happened, he did become a very influential figure, which may have still happened had he been a lawyer. However, the response he received was not great — in fact, it was horrible. The teacher replied that such an occupation is unreasonable for a black person, and thus he should aim for a job as a laborer, such as a carpenter. Discouraged, Malcolm began to slack in school, and eventually dropped out at the age of fifteen, unlike Martin Luther King, Jr., who attended Morehouse College and the Crozer Theological Seminary. By the time Malcolm was a young adult, his life spiraled out of control. I nstead of being a successful student with a career path in mind, Malcolm got involved in drugs, prostitution, and many run-ins with the law. In 1946, Malcolm was arrested on charges of theft,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Letter From A Birmingham Jail By Mlk. Malcolm X s The Black Revolution1541 Words   |  7 Pagesand woman during this period in the 1960s; some important figures included Martin Luther king Jr., John Lewis, Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin and Angela Davis. The letter from a Birmingham jail by MLK, Malcolm X’s The black Revolution, and Angela Davis’s I am a Revolutionary Black Woman are very important pieces of the civil rights movement in the united states for many reasons. The letter by MLK was created to response to criticism to the eight clergy man. The black revolution was a speech made to persuadeRead MoreMalcolm X And Martin Luther King Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesWhen it comes to the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. has oft en been portrayed prominence. Though this is true, the Civil Rights Movement involved other activists like Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Andrew Goodman, etc. Who all contributed to its success. Racism has always been a problem right from the United States’ creation. It involved discrimination and segregation of non-white races, and refusal to recognize and protect non-white citizenship rights enumerated in the constitutionRead MoreEssay on To Each His Own Opinion955 Words   |  4 PagesKing and Malcolm X. Even though each man had supported a different philosophy for how the ideal nation should be as well as distinctive methods to achieve that, the problem they were facing was the same, to help the Negros get out of their prejudice. To create change through a nation, a leader has to speak out to its people with a unique philosophy that can spark ideas and change beliefs. The philosophies of these men both vary greatly and the model nation they wanted was also different. MLK foughtRead MoreCivil Rights/Secret Life of Bees986 Words   |  4 Pagesout through both violent and non-violent acts with the support of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. MLK Jr. stood on the side of non-violence, believing that by getting the public’s attention to how blacks were being treated there would be a sense of sympathy and change of heart towards African Americans. During one of the non-violent protests, March of Washington, MLK Jr. gave the famous â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech to 200,000 civil rights supporters who were gathered at the frontRead MoreMartin Luther King And Malcolm X988 Words   |  4 Pageswhy the way we are today. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are two very great examples and representations for this. What people do not realize is that there are a lot of similarities and differences between Malcolm and Martin. Martin was born and raised as a middle classes men and was extremely educated. On the other hand, Malcolm was not raised like Malcolm at all. Malcolm grew up in a deplorable environment and no school was around for Malcolm. Martin believed that violence was never theRead MoreCivil War Movement : Martin Luther King Jr Malcolm X1212 Words   |  5 Pages Research paper History 11.21 December 23, 2014 Civil War Movement: Martin Luther King Jr/ Malcolm X Many years after blacks had received citizenship and the right to vote there was still much bias against them. Because of their skin color African Americans hadn’t been treated fairly and did not have the same rights as whites. In the 1950’s theRead MoreMalcolm Vs Malcolm X2106 Words   |  9 Pages Both King and Malcolm shared different and similar social origins. Both were raised in Christian homes with fathers that were ministers. Both were above average intelligence and were healthy and energetic. As described in the Document An Autobiography of Religious Development, 1950, MLK states, â€Å" I was born in a very congenial home situation. My parents have always lived together very intimately, and I can hardly remember a time that they ever argued. I have never experienced the feelingRead MoreCivil Rights Leaders: Martin Luther King Jr. 1822 Words   |  8 Pagescivil rights leaders of his time, Martin Luther King (MLK) was the most influential. Back then, Blacks were not allowed to vote, and neither were women, and that became a fight for equality amongst all the African American men and women. As a result of this inequitable law, courageous people, like Martin Luther King Jr., became civil rights leaders that would change the view of racism all over America. Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, and Malcolm X have all created an impact on the way racism has changedRead MoreComparing Dante s Inferno And Shakespeare s Play King Lear1606 Words   |  7 Pagescreator perspective throughout history, specifically with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. MLK firmly believed that even if someone is sinning against you, the proper course of action is not to sin against them but instead to fight injustice with peace. MLK believed in using the tools that were used to hold him down, such as language, against his persecutors. This is evident in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. MLK knew that as a black man, he was expected to be illiterat e and simple-minded, butRead MoreComparing Martin Luther King And Malcolm X917 Words   |  4 PagesBrian Graichen - HST 325 - 06/17/2017 Q3: Compare and contrast Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both civil rights leaders during the 1960s, but had different ideologies on how civil rights should be won. Both men were also deeply religious, but followed different religions and paths. The Great Depression never ended for African Americans; while others enjoyed an economic recovery, Black unemployment rose. Martin Luther King says that economic inequality in