Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X
Martin Luther king Jr. and Malcolm X remain two of the most significant figures in the era of Civil Rights Movements in America. Though they both were bitterly fighting against the systemic discrimination and separatism that prevailed in America, there exist major disparities in their approaches as well as their philosophies.
Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Junior were born in a period when African Americans were being subjected to immense racial discrimination and other racial injustices that had prevailed for ages. Blacks in America were economically and politically subjugated and had minimal legal protections. It is in the backdrop of such harsh realities that these two great figures were raised their agitation for radical changes in the system was informed by these prevailing circumstances. However, this is as far as the congruence in their thinking extends their approaches and proposed strategies to free the blacks from the debilitating yoke of racism and endemic discrimination took different turns from here.
Before delving into a critical analysis of their existing differences, it is crucial to shed a light at the possible roots of the departure in their philosophies. Most scholars have traced these dissimilarities to the different upbringings as well as the contrasting environments. It comes as no secret that oppressive laws and hostilities against the blacks were more pronounced in the South than in the North. Martin Luther King Junior was brought up in the South where the Jim Crow laws had reduced African Americans into obscure citizens who were constant targets of white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. In contrast, Malcolm X grew up in the North, which compared to the south was considered a haven for blacks. Lacking in the oppressive Jim Crow laws, blacks in the North had more freedom than their counterparts in the South. It is these differences that are said to have influenced these two individuals thinking as well as their proposed solutions to the problems facing the African American community.
While King recognized the problems dogging African Americans as having been perpetuated for ages since the days of slavery, he agitated for a calm and idealistic approach to these challenges reiterating on the need for a non-violent solution. He believed in the peaceful co-existence of blacks and whites as can be seen in the popular I Dream speech. Though strongly pushing for radical legal and political reforms that would culminate into the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, King believed that for equality to be fully realized amongst blacks and whites, blacks had to develop a sense of self confidence, wok ethics, a strong moral background and capable leadership.
In a sharp contrast, Malcolm X had a rather hostile view of the whites. To him, the solution did not lie in the peaceful coexistence advocated by King but rather in separatism and Black Nationalism. Most analysts see Malcolm X as a black racist who believed that whites bore no moral conscience and were to blame for the sad state of affairs that blacks found themselves in. As a Muslim minister, Malcolm Xs philosophy bore bare extremism and promotion of black supremacy. It is however crucial to point out that prior to his death and after severing links with the Black Muslim movement, Malcolm X reconciled with some of his extremist views and started agitating for non violent tactics.
Indeed these two figures remain champions of the Civil Rights Movement. Their role in shaping peoples beliefs and reactions to the endemic injustices that prevailed has remained well chronicled. However, as can be discerned from their speeches and philosophies, they had varied visions of the future and the solutions to the injustices facing their community. While King preached for non violence means, Malcolm X believed in violence and separatism as the path that would help blacks proclaim their freedom and justice.
Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Junior were born in a period when African Americans were being subjected to immense racial discrimination and other racial injustices that had prevailed for ages. Blacks in America were economically and politically subjugated and had minimal legal protections. It is in the backdrop of such harsh realities that these two great figures were raised their agitation for radical changes in the system was informed by these prevailing circumstances. However, this is as far as the congruence in their thinking extends their approaches and proposed strategies to free the blacks from the debilitating yoke of racism and endemic discrimination took different turns from here.
Before delving into a critical analysis of their existing differences, it is crucial to shed a light at the possible roots of the departure in their philosophies. Most scholars have traced these dissimilarities to the different upbringings as well as the contrasting environments. It comes as no secret that oppressive laws and hostilities against the blacks were more pronounced in the South than in the North. Martin Luther King Junior was brought up in the South where the Jim Crow laws had reduced African Americans into obscure citizens who were constant targets of white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. In contrast, Malcolm X grew up in the North, which compared to the south was considered a haven for blacks. Lacking in the oppressive Jim Crow laws, blacks in the North had more freedom than their counterparts in the South. It is these differences that are said to have influenced these two individuals thinking as well as their proposed solutions to the problems facing the African American community.
While King recognized the problems dogging African Americans as having been perpetuated for ages since the days of slavery, he agitated for a calm and idealistic approach to these challenges reiterating on the need for a non-violent solution. He believed in the peaceful co-existence of blacks and whites as can be seen in the popular I Dream speech. Though strongly pushing for radical legal and political reforms that would culminate into the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, King believed that for equality to be fully realized amongst blacks and whites, blacks had to develop a sense of self confidence, wok ethics, a strong moral background and capable leadership.
In a sharp contrast, Malcolm X had a rather hostile view of the whites. To him, the solution did not lie in the peaceful coexistence advocated by King but rather in separatism and Black Nationalism. Most analysts see Malcolm X as a black racist who believed that whites bore no moral conscience and were to blame for the sad state of affairs that blacks found themselves in. As a Muslim minister, Malcolm Xs philosophy bore bare extremism and promotion of black supremacy. It is however crucial to point out that prior to his death and after severing links with the Black Muslim movement, Malcolm X reconciled with some of his extremist views and started agitating for non violent tactics.
Indeed these two figures remain champions of the Civil Rights Movement. Their role in shaping peoples beliefs and reactions to the endemic injustices that prevailed has remained well chronicled. However, as can be discerned from their speeches and philosophies, they had varied visions of the future and the solutions to the injustices facing their community. While King preached for non violence means, Malcolm X believed in violence and separatism as the path that would help blacks proclaim their freedom and justice.
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