sMalcom X versus Martin Luther King Emily Voutes Malcolm X (1925-1965): Even his own name is a stab to the opinions of prejudice white folks during his era. This is true because his own, self declared last name "X" represents "the rejection of slave-names” and the absence of an inherited African name to take its place." Meaning that he was prepared to create a personal identity that represented himself and his race, and not a name that a white man forced upon him. Though they had similar characteristics and morals; his approach to the civil rights movement compared to the strategies of other civil rights leaders of his time, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. differed greatly. Rather than trying to integrate the black community into the white, Malcom X focused on the complete separation of the two races.
In 1937, Malcolm was taken from his family by welfare caseworkers. By the time he reached high school age, he had dropped out of school and moved to Boston, where he became increasingly involved in criminal activities. In 1946, at the age of 21, Malcolm was sent to prison on a burglary conviction. It was there he encountered the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, whose members are popularly known as Black Muslims. The Nation of Islam advocated black nationalism and racial separatism and condemned Americans of European descent as immoral "devils."
Throughout his life and up until the day he dies, Malcolm X tries to pursue this ultimate goal of seeing white racism in a positive light and making something good come out of the events that happened in his life. The four factors that greatly influenced Malcolm X to become a successful activist were his family life, growing up and living in an urban ghetto environment, prison, and his religion. The horrific events of Malcolm’s childhood would have led anyone else to a depression and a downfall. However, these events sparked his reasoning for becoming a successful activist. When Malcolm Little was in the womb, members of the Ku Klux Klan broke all the windows in his family’s home in Omaha, Nebraska.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X Rhetorical Analysis Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two principal leaders of the African-American people, fighting for their people’s freedom and justice. Although the priorities of these two historical icons are one, their approaches toward it are distinct, as shown in their literary works. Upon Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream” speech, his major argument is that all men should be treated equally, for all men are created equally, and that this, which is his “dream,” shall be done in a peaceful manner. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King asks, “Isn't this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery?” in response to segregationists’ claims that a black man fighting for his rights causes violence. In asking this rhetorical question, Dr. King refutes one’s such claim, and shows that violence is not a result of a black man’s struggle for his rights, but rather the result is one that usually comes within a person’s life: freedom.
The Rise of Black Nationalism in the 1960’s The Black Nationalism Movement of the 1960’s is often identified with the avocation of black separatism that was inspired by Malcolm X after he converted to the Islamic faith. As the Black Nationalism Movement surged in popularity, pre-existing groups such as SNCC and CORE, as well as new groups such as the Black Panther Party began to advocate black power and restricted membership to blacks only. The Black Panther Party was formed in October of 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The party was devoted to black power, ‘non-violence’ and militant self-defense. Though the party was committed to ‘non-violence, aggression quickly became associated with black power and with the Black Panther Party through mistreatment of women, robberies, and shootings, especially after Huey Newton was arrested in 1967 for shooting and killing a police officer.
Early on, Malcolm X was aware of racism. As a young child, he recalled his house being burned down and his father being murdered by a white supremacy group called the Black Legion. As a teenager and young adult he witnessed and lived the impoverished hustler life on the streets of Harlem. While in jail, he was introduced to Elijah Muhammad’s church, the Nation of Islam, which preached for the advancement of black men and the evil of white supremacy. Upon release, Malcolm X rapidly gained prominence in the Nation of Islam and traveled the United States, founding new mosques in many cities.
D as well. After his educational exploits, at age 24, King moved to Montgomery, Alabama, to become a Pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Conversely, Malcolm X was born into a very poor and deprived home, which is affirmed by his official website. Malcolm had nine brothers and sisters, three brothers having died violently at the hands of white men. The Ku Klux Klan lynched Malcolm’s uncle and killed his father before he was six years old.
Clarence Darrow defended Scopes while William Jennings Bryan went against him defending the bible/the prosecution. Clarence Darrow represented New America because he had a free idea of thinking while William Jennings Bryan represented Old America because he took everything stated in the Bible literally. The 1920s was a time when people were more conservative and literal. Similarly, race was also a continuous conflict between New and Old America. Blacks started to migrate to the North from the South during the Great Migration to find jobs and for overall better lives.
African-American Literature 121 Response Paper #2 October 12, 2011 Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois I will show the different views of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois on racial progress and education. Both men had great ideas about both but totally different views as to how they felt or seen a resolution to the problem of racial progress and education. Booker T. Washington and W.E. B. Dubois wanted freedom from oppression for African Americans, but their approach towards this goal would create a great deal of conflict between the two. Booker T. Washington was born on April 5, 1856 in Franklin County, Virginia.
“On Civil Disobedience” by Mohandas Gandhi, an excerpt from “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., and an excerpt from “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, all show how all three of them have similar views towards civil disobedience. Some people may believe that civil disobedience is not an effective way to attain change. However, they may not have realized that civil disobedience has helped many people achieve his or her goals, proving that civil disobedience is effective. For example, civil disobedience has helped African Americans gain certain rights and free them from racial injustice. In “Letter from Birmingham City Jail”, King talks about how African Americans were treated differently due to the color of their skin.