MLK And Malcolm X: The Leader Of The Civil Rights Movement

As America had approached the halfway point of the 20th century, changes in American society had begun to be made. When the 60s had come around the corner, change had begun to be so prevalent, that many Americans believed that the rapid change in society was a sign that marked the “end of days.” Perhaps the most radical and needed change came to fruition when Civil Rights acts issued brought about equality for many African Americans. Previous to the Civil Rights movement it had been noted that African Americans were treated harshly, as weak inferiors, subject to hate crimes and discrimination. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation and Civil War had rid of slavery, the continuous hate crimes, police brutality, and racism was still very prevalent and common in American society. After decades of enduring bigotry, it was not until the mid 20th century when African Americans could no longer tolerate the constant daily ridicule that they had been accustomed to.

Activists and reform groups began to arise during the Civil Rights movement as many sought to change the fate of African Americans in the nation. Perhaps, the most notable leaders of the movement included the likes of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Yet, although the two prominent leaders called for reform and equal rights for African Americans, the two represented the very different primary ideals many African Americans felt during the movement. Civil Rights activists, including MLK, represented the peaceful approach towards reform, whereas Malcolm X believed in a more forceful and violent approach to obtain Afro American equality. In this case, groups such as the Black Panther Party sought to bring about change through riots and seemingly forceful