He was a very important figure as he attracted many new converts by his influential, powerful oratory. He convinced people such as Muhammad Ali to become a member of the nation of Islam. Malcolm X was highly critical of Martin Luther King, addressing him as ‘Uncle Tom’ and the civil rights movement. He argued that the SCLC and the NAACP trusted the American system and believed in the ‘American dream’ therefore they’d never be able to set the black people free and gain them independence. He also criticised Martin Luther king by saying that he was preventing black people from effectively fighting for their rights by involving religion, which he explained in his speech, ‘The ballot or the
(Jacqueline Jones) To his admirers, he was a man who was an audacious advocate for the Civil Rights of African Americans who indicted white American in the harshest of terms (violence) for their crimes against blacks. When he was in the Nation of Islam, he taught black supremacy and actually advocated the separation of blacks and whites which is completely the opposite of what the civil rights movement was about. When he left the association, he became a Sunni Muslim which did not support racism and he was willing to work with civil rights leaders though his philosophy still emphasizing self defense and black
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader and civil rights activist, said he had a dream that his children would live in a world where no one is judged by the color of their skin, but by their character. Segregation leads to problems such as riots, protests, boycotts, and rebellion. Segregated schools cause problems and build barriers between students. The Constitution protects everyone, regardless of race, and states that citizens cannot be stripped of their rights without the process of law. The separation of black and white based on skin color is unfair and unjust.
Also, as a Civil Rights leader he must convince the enemy to stop hating blacks. A brave step in the opposite direction, Campbell visits “Klan County.” He writes,” I made the trip to what was being referred to by Peter Young as Klan County” (Campbell 246). Will was crazy to go visit Klansmen who he was fighting against. The change, however, did no harm. Campbell says, “I didn’t lie to them and they didn’t lie to me.
Woodson also stressed that society did not make a valid effort in trying to domesticate the African-American after the oppression of slavery ended. Instead of having shackles around their wrists and ankles, African-Americans now had to deal with an industrialized world which purposely got a head start and left them behind. However, it was also stated by Woodson that African-Americans should forgive but never forget how they were placed in such an economical, physical, emotional, and social deficit, but use it as a tool of hope and determination for the
Yet, while both Malcolm X and James Brown wanted Black unity, Black pride, and both had a great following, they both had different ideas of how to make the aspiration of true Black unity a reality. Malcolm X approached the situation of White oppression with an absolute Black radical perspective and followed a total separatist agenda. While the civil rights movement fought against racial segregation, Malcolm advocated the complete division of African Americans from white people and claimed that Blacks could take care of themselves if only they were given the opportunity to do so. Malcolm X also staunchly opposed the civil rights movement's strategy of nonviolence as a means of advocating for better treatment. Malcolm did not believe that nonviolent protest or peace marches were not the way to get White America’s attention about the plight of Black America.
All black everything is not the way to go, both black and white is what should show. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. are the two most well known Civil Rights leaders in America from the 1960’s, but they both had different views of solving the racial problems in America. Malcolm X’s philosophy was to keep segregation, but have a mutual respect between blacks and whites. He also believed in violence if necessary, and seemed to be a radical “Black Power” activist. Martin Luther King Jr. on the other hand took after the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, and believed in nonviolence and boycotting.
As James Weldon Johnson accounts in his chronicle, “Dairy of an Ex Colored Man” Johnson describes acts of hate and violence toward African Americans. Many thought Blacks inferior and urged they could not and will never become civilized; “you freed nigger and you gave him a ballot, but you couldn’t make a citizen out of him.”(75) Johnson lived first hand in a society Griffith wished to enforce and even proliferate. His testimony shows that what Griffith believed was the solution to a “black problem” was already in practice. But more than that, Johnson knew that this was not an issue of Black vs. White in the protection of a righteous civilization. He argued that “modern civilization hit ignorance of the masses through the means of popular education.
Nixon did not attempt to gain the African American vote, due to African Americans trying to desegregate themselves. Nixon thought if he supported the African Americans he would lose votes of American voters. Opposing Nixon, Kennedy supported the desegregation of African Americas from the American population. Kennedy reinforced the civil rights movements and went on record stating he has and will endorse Martin Luther King Jr’s acts after Kennedy secured King’s release from imprisonment. Kennedy’s campaign advisers advised him not to support the African American race because he would lose voters in the south.
Zack Ketchum Professor Rodgers Essay #2 27 November 2013 “Upbringing as a factor of King and Malcom X’s Political Ideologies” Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are two of the most well-known American civil rights activists of the 1960’s. Though different, their methods of protest were very important, as both men fought for the end of second-class-citizen treatment of African Americans. Often times, their methods are considered opposites - while King frequently endorsed peaceful methods such as harmless protests and speeches, Malcolm X employed violence in order to demonstrate his discontent and desire for change of the status quo. The issue that arises when one looks to compare the two men and their methods, then, is who was better?