Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

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In life, we make many decisions, the good, the bad, the procrastinated and the ruminated ones. How do we know which one is the right one? For human beings, the right decision is measured upon its success, monetary value and/or happiness.People with different moral values, upbringings and principles will have their own customized version of decision-making. In today’s times, unjust laws are prevalent in society all around the world and our ultimate goal is to seek justice. What is the most effective means of protesting an unjust law? Socrates, Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X illuminated their different means of decision making for their approaches in their work. I believe that the Dr. King believes that the best route of action is a direct action in the form of …show more content…

Dr. King argued that civil disobedience was not only justified as a means of action against these laws, saying, “one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Dr. King wrote " Letter from a Birmingham Jail" to refute the notion that direct, grassroots action was too extreme a method for furthering the cause of civil rights. The three different leaders, Socrates, Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X illuminated their different means of decision making for their approaches in their works, Crito, A Letter from Birmingham Jail, and “The Ballot or the Bullet”, respectively. Socrates believed in mere persuasion in order to maintain peace for the state. Martin Luther King used some of Socrates learning, but believed in an affirmative, non-violent plan that led to direct action. Malcolm X believed that black people have been oppressed for so long as their patience has been tested through time, and Malcolm X believed that enough “time has already run out” and therefore Malcolm X believed in the “any means necessary”