Civil Rights Dbq Essay

The beginning of the Civil Rights movement was the beginning of a new America. It cannot be pinpointed to a certain day, location, or person. Two young black men, however, have risen up to be the most recognizable faces of the new era: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm Little (X). These two men are polar opposites in many aspects. Martin Luther King Jr. was in the middle class, whereas Malcolm X was in poverty. Martin Luther King Jr. preached anti-violence while Malcolm X was encouraging anti-white sentiments. MLK Jr. believed in unity of all colors but Malcolm believed in African-Americans working together and “sincere whites” working together. MLK Jr. was Christian but Malcolm X was a believer in the Nation of Islam although he cut ties

These life experiences will all greatly affect how these men will lead the movement. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence made the most sense for America in the 1960s because he tried to push African Americans forward with integration, and was nonviolent. Integration was the right choice to make when approaching this issue as schools in the South have already started desegregating schools (Little Rock 9 1957), buses (Montgomery Bus Boycott 1956), etc. According to Document B, “With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to climb up for freedom together knowing that we will be free one day” (Doc B). If African Americans were to demand more and more equality in various aspects of everyday life, then the goal of desegregation would be achieved faster. Instead of the state paying double for all public facilities, they would save money and only have one. Integration could potentially decrease stereotypes and discrimination as racism is taught. When these two races spend time with each other and are compatible with one another, then white people can get used to the idea of equal in the races. African Americans can change the law, but the prejudice that many white people feel will not go

According to Document M, Malcolm X states, “They always want to use methods that push one Negro at a time, then they use him to turn around and tell the masses, ‘You see, we’re solving the problem.’ And the problem is still unsolved…” (Doc. M). What Malcolm X is saying here is that However, it is evident that the nonviolent approach have enraptured the citizens of the U.S as essentially the ideas that African Americans were barbaric were being dismantled. As soon as the negroes start to become violent, the issue becomes the violence, and all moral problems aside, people would on the bloodshed. According to Document J, “Violence may murder the murderer, but it doesn’t murder murder...This is the ultimate weakness of violence: It multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesn’t solve any problems.” (Doc. J). While violence may feel satisfactory in the moment, the crime would still exist, even thrive in the unrest. It would eventually accomplish nothing, leaving the African Americans back to where they started, with people believing that they don’t deserve equality. Therefore, only the path untraveled (non-violence) would lead to change. Also, the non violence led to broader support for the movement and since nobody was hurt in civil disobedience, people were willing to accept