Martin Luther King & Malcolm X (Essay Sample)

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Most people believe that Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are the heroes of the struggle for civil rights for blacks. These are two cult personalities of contemporary African-American culture. Their passionate speech about the future of the free black America has inspired thousands of people to fight for the rights. King and Malcolm X believed that the freedom begins with gaining self-esteem. And although the leaders had one goal, the means of achieving this objective were opposed diametrically.
This topic is relevant because it requires a detailed study of the views of two prominent figures and compares their actions, ideological orientation. King and Malcolm X became the leaders of the two opposing forces of the movement for the rights of blacks in America; the struggle of these leaders shocked not only the American nation, but the whole world. Eventually, their beliefs become more similar; they were able to find common ground. This topic has been widely discussed the books, films, and articles. Compare the ideological views of two figures referring to the movie about Malcolm X, which was filmed in 1992, and historical critics such as Rogov, Goldman, Maude and others.
Keywords: Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, nationality, human rights.
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Bibliographic data of these leaders should be considered to understand the origin of their ideas and attitudes to a problem. Malcolm X is a bright revolutionary fighter of the African-American national liberation movement of the 60-ies of XX century. Malcolm X was the son of a Baptist minister as Martin Luther King. The activity of this person was very efficient. Malcolm X wanted to transform amorphous, downtrodden, disenfranchised and faceless mass of "Negroes" of America in proud and self-sufficient people. First of all, he is a religious figure, and, as opposed to Martin Luther King, he is a Muslim religious leader. Malcolm was not simply a Muslim preacher, and he was a preacher of the moral, psychological, cultural and social revolution. He was the epitome of the revolutionary religiosity. Malcolm's life is amazing and symbolic. Also his personal example does not cease to inspire millions of people, not only in his country (Malcolm, 2015).
After moving to New York, he got in touch with crime. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is familiar with the organization "Nation of Islam" or "Black Muslims" in jail. It was a religious sect that supported the idea of the return of blacks to Africa and the purity of the black race. According to the First Amendment to the US Constitution, there was freedom of speech, and black people could express their will open. Malcolm X actively used this right. He was not similar to Martin Luther King. He became the most prominent orator of the Nation of Islam, called white people as "blue-eyed devils." Charming speaker, Malcolm X rejected the principles of nonviolence of Martin Luther King, with whom he had met only once and called the March on Washington in 1963 as "circus" and "betrayal" (Malcolm, 2015). He insisted that black Americans should resist by all possible means at their oppression. Subsequently, Malcolm was deeply disappointed by the lack of political and economic programs of the Nation.
King has redefined the essence of the American democratic dreams. As a politician, he was a real unique figure. And according to traditional standards of American political opinion, he is a leader who believed in Christian love. Martin Luther King raised the blacks to fight for their civil rights based on the teachings of Gandhi. Martin was a highly educated person, who saw in racial segregation most acute moral and social problem in America. In his book "Path to Freedom" King formulated six principles of nonviolent struggle:
Policy of non-violence is not the way of cowards, this resistance
The goal is not to destroy the enemy; it is important to gain the love and respect
Nonviolent struggle is not directed against specific people based on a racist, but against evil
Willingness to take punches and do not respond to them
Nonviolence eliminates external physical violence and domestic violence to the spirit of the person
The world order is the side of justice (Fleming, 2008).
The main idea of these principles is that the only love can stop the violence. In this interpretation, love is not a sentimental and tender affection, but rather it is an understanding, goodwill toward all people.
The most massive rally in the history of the struggle for civil rights, the so-called "March on Washington" was held on August 28, 1963. 250 thousand people attended it. The apogee of the march was the famous speech of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream." The speech marked the highest point in the struggle for civil rights, organized by Martin Luther King. The event was very ambitious, and John F. Kennedy promised that the government would continue its efforts to increase employment and stop the practice of discriminatory treatment. A year later, Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. After that, he also had a great influence on the movement of blacks in many regions and major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Chicago.
Why were the political views of the two greatest leaders of African Americans opposite? According to their political opinions, Malcolm X insisted on the radical nationalist and separatist struggle, and Martin Luther King believed in the peaceful resolution of disputes through reforms. He was convinced that blacks can achieve recognition of their rights and freedoms and to take its rightful place in society only through revolution. Malcolm X was a radical nationalist revolutionary, an implacable enemy of the American state system, Western civilization, capitalism, and imperialism. Martin Luther King considered himself an integral part of this European civilization, believed in the American democratic values and called for reform of the US government and economic system, not dismantle. He was not a revolutionary; he was closer to the evolutionary nature of the changes.
Malcolm X referred to the use of force against an aggressor; Martin Luther King was a fan of the philosophy of Gandhi and Tolstoy. But they have similarities that were more important than striking differences. Firstly, they were both staunch fighters against oppression and injustice. Each of them was devoted to people and sincerely want to change his life for the better, struggled for African Americans began dignified and respected nation in the country and the world. They fought to the end, gave their lives defending the rights of the people, both became martyrs of the African-American liberation movement. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were brave, courageous persons, motivated individuals for whom their ideas were more expensive than own life.
There is also a symbolic similarity. Islamic name of Malcolm X is Malik, which means "king" in Arabic it is the same as the surname King translated into English. In the newspaper "New York Times" was wrote about them: "If such a brilliant leader, Martin Luther King, decides to make a change in his conception of struggle, there is only one direction to Malcolm X." (Fleming, 2008).
Per stay of Malcolm X in the ranks of the "Nation of Islam," his relationship with Martin Luther King could not be called otherwise than hostile. Martin Luther King refused to debate with Malcolm, considering useless debate with those whose position leads to a dead end initially.
During a speech in Los Angeles in 1962, Malcolm X dedicated this speech denouncing police brutality against African Americans, said: "Our first and main enemy is the white man. Our second enemy - it's Uncle Toms, such as Martin Luther King Jr. with his method of turning the other cheek. "(Malcolm, 2015).
However in due course their beliefs have become more similar, they can find common ground. Malcolm X completely revised his views after the departure of the radical movement and perfect. He refused to black racism and all ideas that did not conform to Islamic teachings. He felt euphoric, watching ethnically diverse and at the same time spiritually united mass of people. In Islam, he saw cosmopolitanism, which contradicts the ideology of the sect "Nation of Islam". Thereafter, his relationship with Martin Luther King became friendlier; he was even going to team up with King and other progressive leaders of the civil rights of black.
According to King, he was wrong, hoping to find in the ideals of American "...