Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

The Different Perspectives of Martin Luther King, Jr, and Malcolm X

In the mid-20th century, the Civil Rights movement was created to stop discrimination and set legal rights for people of color. There are many well-known activists who significantly influenced and attributed to the movement; however, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Malcolm X are two of the best known activists that contributed to this campaign. While Malcolm X and Martin Luther King both fought to gain equal rights for African Americans, their methods and opinions varied widely.

Malcolm X believed that separation and Pan-African integration would be the solution to racism, and that African Americans should empower themselves without any influence from white people. Unlike

(“Abridged Biography of Malcolm X on Violence and Integration”). He also had stated that white liberals would only harm black people and their progress (“Abridged Biography Of Malcolm X”, “Martin Luther King & Malcolm X on Violence and Integration”). These strict beliefs may have been established during his childhood. Malcolm X’s father was heavily influenced by Marcus Garvey, who preached for race segregation (Trueman). If Malcolm X’s father had these beliefs while raising his son, Malcolm X may have been raised to believe this. Malcolm X also had rough and violent childhood experiences, like his father being killed by a group of white supremacists when Malcolm X was six years old. After his childhood, he had many other experiences that may have changed his perspective. For example, in 1946, Malcolm X was placed in prison (“Abridged Biography of Malcolm X”). The circumstances he faced in prison could have affected his views about many sensitive topics, especially about other races. Once out of prison, Malcolm X studied the beliefs of Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad believed whites worked to keep blacks from empowering their race (“Abridged Biography of Malcolm X”). Therefore, the opinions he heard about during his studies may

King’s childhood was vastly different than Malcolm X’s. He grew up in one of the most prosperous communities for African Americans and went to segregated schools (“Martin Luther King, Jr”). In his childhood, he was rarely subject to racial prejudice (“Martin Luther King & Malcolm X on Violence and Integration”). Because he did not experience a great amount of discrimination in his childhood—unlike Malcolm X—King had a different outlook on discrimination. King did not specifically blame the whole discriminative race, but the racists. When King got older, he studied sociology; therefore, King’s beliefs were heavily affected by Mahatma Gandhi and activist Bayard Rustin, who he studied regularly (“Martin Luther King, Jr”). King wanted equality and human rights for everyone, specifically the disadvantaged and victims of inequality. (“Martin Luther King, Jr”). While Malcolm X did not always take the peaceful way to achieve things, Martin Luther King did. He fought for rights through peaceful speeches and protests. King stated, “The line separating defensive violence and aggressive violence is very thin” (“Martin Luther King & Malcolm X on Violence and Integration”). This quote shows how King believed that creating an activist group that used self-defense would be difficult, and may step into the