Short Term Significance Of Malcolm X On The Civil Rights Movement During The 1960s

What was the short term significance of Malcolm X on the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s?

Malcolm X was born in 1925 in the city of Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm X grew up in a society that was racist towards African Americans and the murder of his father was most likely committed by the KKK. After serving time in prison for gang related crimes he converted to the Nation of Islam and became a prominent speaker for Civil Rights. Malcom X had different approach to civil rights than Martin Luther King, since he focused more on economic and social changes rather than legislative action, rejected integration and advocated the use of violence in self-defence. His views were considered by some to be highly critical of White-Americans, even those

The Black Panther party were a militant civil rights group. The main focus of the Black Panthers was to end white capitalist control and police brutality. It’s leaders, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale produced a ten-point program which outlined their political aims. Some of the points were practical, like “decent housing, fit for shelter of human beings” [5]. They also wanted “The power to determine the destiny of our black community” [5]. These Ten points where only used to highlight the goals of the Black Panther party. They draw close parallels with Malcolm X’s teachings, because whilst he wanted a separate community for African-Americans, Malcolm would also campaign for better living conditions. This suggests that Malcolm X did leave an impact on the Civil Rights Movement and the abandonment of the Black Panther Party in 1982 highlights how Malcolm X’s significance on the Civil Rights Movement was mainly in the short

Martin Luther Kings campaigns for desegregation were often successful in changing laws, but they were rarely enforced properly. This can be shown by the 1963 stand in the schoolhouse door where the Alabama state governor George Wallace can be seen with federal marshals blocking entry to a 'desegregated' university in order to prevent African-American students from entering[6] .This photo is reliable because it captures a moment in history, but photos can be staged. The situation was eventually resolved when president Kennedy federalised the Alabama national guard and ordered Wallace to stand aside. The stand in the schoolhouse door highlights how a lot of the legislative changes made by civil rights groups had little impact when they wouldn't be enforced properly. However, the changes that Malcolm X strived for were focused on more practical and social needs like jobs and housing. An example of this is the 1965-68 Los Angeles Race Riots, known as the 'Long Hot Summers'. Rioters heavily influenced by Malcolm X's ideas of fighting for civil rights began looting and burning buildings, the violence led to countless deaths, arrests and millions of dollars worth of damage. The causes of the riots were investigated by the Kerner Commission and after 6 months they concluded that the riots were caused by racial discrimination, and a lack of