Martin Luther King Jr Vs Malcolm X Essay

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. depict a society that was built on the remnants of slavery within “Racism: The Cancer that is Destroying America” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. depict a society that was built on the remnants of slavery. With racism and segregation at the core of everyday life, both men joined the Civil Rights Movement with determination to make a change. Working towards the common goal of African American civil rights during the 1960’s, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X took a stand for civil justice in contrasting ways. Within their writing, both men used the theme of racism to convey a direct tone, used differing keywords and phrases, and referenced religious beliefs. During this time period, racism plagued society and divided a “united” nation. Malcolm X used examples of the grievances placed upon the African American population as a whole, while MLK used more specific examples. For instance, Malcolm X continually mentioned the “22 million Afro-Americans” that are denied their basic human rights. He did this to convey the message that

and Malcolm X both strived for unity because of their deep connection with religion. Both men used their religious beliefs as a moral compass to guide them through such adverse times. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister while Malcolm X was Sunni Muslim. Malcolm X was a follower of the Black Muslim faith, which decreed all white people as the enemy, until his pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca. His hajj renewed his outlook on not only race, but every aspect of life. MLK’s religious and racial views stayed stagnant throughout his life. Both men found a sense of “true brotherhood” within their faith, and fought to integrate that same feeling of brotherhood into society. While the men had varying perspectives when it came to the Civil Rights Movement they both used their belief in a higher power to fuel their fight for