Essay Sample on Martin Luther King vs Malcolm X Civil Rights Movements

In the mid 20th century Martin Luther King and Malcolm X civil rights movements were all advocating for black American civil rights in America but martin Luther king adopted a better approach to the issue.

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Martin Luther King was a Christian minister from Atlanta, Georgia, and was educated to a Ph.D. level; hence he was referred to as Dr. King. Since he was raised up as a black American, he had seen all the rights violations the black American citizen had to endure. They were segregated in many fronts. They could not even access a restaurant and have a cup of coffee as white people could. They had white and coloured labels everywhere; there was a need for public interaction. Dr. King supported a more integrated approach to the issue. He believed that Americans were one people and they would be stronger if they fostered relations and existed as a unified group. His movement was that of a beloved community. Dr. King preached for the need for one community enjoying similar civil liberties without the need for violence. He was imprisoned in Birmingham, which was far away from his home town for participating in a non-violent demonstration against segregation (Martin Luther King, 1963). He was able to highlight the social injustices against the black people that everyone else was afraid of talking about openly as one of his most significant success. His biggest achievement was uniting the black people towards a common goal.

Malcolm X was a Muslim, and a minister at a mosque called Muslim mosque incorporated, which was in Harlem New York. He was also a civil rights activist who was very vocal about what the black Americans were going through. He was a fierce advocate against segregation; he called it slavery. His movement was that of black separatism; Although he was a minister, he was not afraid of preaching about violent measures to be used against the white man (Malcolm x, 1963). He had a phrase that said "ballot or bullet," which was translated to mean either way black people have to get their rights. He wanted a nation where blacks had their own separate nation. According to him, America was too racist to allow integration of blacks and whites in a single nation. He was also successful in uniting black people against a prevailing ideology, and he succeeded in highlighting and fighting for these rights.

Dr. King and Malcolm had many things in common; they were both influential religious leaders and believed in respect of civil rights, especially those of the black people. They were against black segregation by the white people. The most significant contrast in their ideologies was the execution of their ideas. Malcolm X wanted a separate nation for the blacks. As the spokesperson of the Nation of Islam, which was a black Islam movement headquartered in Harlem, Malcolm x was behind the movement that advocated for black separatism(Malcox X, nd). Martin Luther King was of the opinion that negotiation and sitting in one table to iron out the issue was the way to go. He did not think that force could solve these issues even if the black people were suffering, America as a country had common problems. I favor the martin Luther king's beloved community movement because it was more uniting that it was divisive. The movements had solutions, which would mean America could solve all problems as American problems. Dr. King once wrote, " whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly" (Martin Luther King, 1963). These words were a unifying factor then, and they still are. DR King preached better treatment not for black people because of the clour of their skin, but because they were Americans. He believed all Americans were supposed to live as one community. Dr king's ideology is relevant even today because it was geared towards equal treatment of all, not on the basis of the colour of their skin. The same problems that Dr king was addressing those days are still with us in society, and it is the same kind of thinking that is needed by every member within the society to brings about change.

In conclusion, both leaders were great advocates of black civil rights. They might have had different ideologies towards the goal, but had great achievements when it came to championing the violations towards black people. They both had different religious beliefs, but that did not stop them from uniting all black people. Martin Luther King and Malcolm x civil rights movements were all advocating for black American civil rights in America, but martin Luther king adopted a better approach to the issue.

References

Malcolm X. (nd). The ballot or the Bullet.Struggling to be free

Malcolm X, (1963). Message to grassroots

Martin Luther King (1963). Letter from Birmingham jail

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