Comparison between the Tactics and Philosophies of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X (Essay Sample)

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TACTICS AND PHILOSOPHIES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING AND MALCOLM X Name Instructor Course Date Comparison between the Tactics and Philosophies of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are some of the most historic figures in the US. Their legacy is mostly associated with the civil rights movement where they played a significant part in bringing an end to systemic racial injustices to the people of color. They both had an important role to play in advocating for the rights of African Americans and other minority groups in the 1960s in the US. However, while they both championed for the same course of emancipating the people of color, they employed different approaches to promoting their ideologies over what constituted freedom for the Blacks and other groups. Furthermore, they both differed in how they pushed for the agenda. These differences in their approaches have prompted some commentators to state that the two leaders were not friendly to each other and that they could not see eye-to-eye. However, there are many areas of similarities and differences that exist between the two leaders. This paper will analyze some of the similarities and differences in the tactical approaches and philosophies that both Martine Luther King Junior and Malcolm X employed in advancing their courses. The paper begins by describing their backgrounds to comprehend how it influenced their approach to leadership.[Howard-Pitney, D. (2004). Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A brief history with documents. Boston, Mass.: Bedford/St. Martin's., p.38.] [Waldschmidt-Nelson, B., & Waldschmidt-Nelson, B. (2012). Dreams and nightmares: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the struggle for Black equality in America. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. P. 73] [Howard-Pitney, D. (2004). Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A brief history with documents. Boston, Mass.: Bedford/St. Martin's..p..47.] Historical Background Malcolm X emerged as a courageous young leader in the 1960s fighting against racism and violence against the Blacks. He had a troubled childhood after his father was murdered while he was only six years old. His mother was subsequently placed in a mental hospital when Malcolm X was 13 years. He lived in a series of foster homes with different relatives and friends throughout his childhood. He was incarcerated at the age of 20 for charges of breaking and entering. It is while in prison that he joined the Nation of Islam (NOI), where he eventually rose to become one of its topmost leaders. However, he later became disillusioned by the organization's leadership and direction under Elijah Muhammad, subsequently quitting the organization in 1964 to embrace Sunni Islamic views. He was later assassinated by members of the NOI in 1965.[Simmons, G. Z. (2008). Living It Out: Martin Luther King Jr. Revisited. Journal Of Feminist Studies In Religion (Indiana University Press), 24(2), 189-213., p.192.] [Waldschmidt-Nelson, B., & Waldschmidt-Nelson, B. (2012). Dreams and nightmares: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the struggle for Black equality in America. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, p.79] [Simmons, G. Z. (2008). Living It Out: Martin Luther King Jr. Revisited. Journal Of Feminist Studies In Religion (Indiana University Press), 24(2), 189-213., p.197] Martin Luther King, on the other hand, was a minister in the Baptist church; King endeavored to use Christian values of love and respect for each other in promoting civil disobedience through peace protests. His main objective was to promote racial equality. He was originally from Atlanta, Georgia, a state that was caught up in the middle of racism. He first rose to national prominence in 1955 when he participated in the Montgomery Protests in support for Rosa Parks, an African-American woman who had been arrested for her civil disobedience. Dr. King successfully led a grassroots movement that culminated in the Montgomery bus boycott. In 1957, Dr. King formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) along with other prominent religious leaders in the South with the objective of organizing non-violent protests with their African-American congregations. Dr. King was arrested for about 30 times during his involvement in the civil rights movement. He is widely known for his eloquence and leadership philosophy that revolved around peaceful protests.[Waldschmidt-Nelson, B., & Waldschmidt-Nelson, B. (2012). Dreams and nightmares: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the struggle for Black equality in America. Gainesville: University Press of Florida., p.83] [Worthington, B. (2013). Martin Luther King Jr. As Identificatory Conglomerate. Black Theology: An International Journal, 11(2), 219-239., p.200] [Waldschmidt-Nelson, B., & Waldschmidt-Nelson, B. (2012). Dreams and nightmares: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the struggle for Black equality in America. Gainesville: University Press of Florida., p.46] Similarities There are various similarities between the approach and leadership philosophy that both Dr. King and Malcolm X employed. One similarity that stands out is their religious approach in promoting their courses. Both Malcolm X and Dr. King were devoted religious men preaching in the mosque and church respectively. As such, religion played a key role in their leadership. Secondly, both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Junior were very eloquent speakers. Therefore, they used their eloquence to give powerful and motivating speeches to their audiences to convince them to join in their course. Both Malcolm X and Dr. King spoke with passion and to young people and people from ghettos and underprivileged areas.[Simmons, G. Z. (2008). Living It Out: Martin Luther King Jr. Revisited. Journal Of Feminist Studies In Religion (Indiana University Press), 24(2), 189-213., p. 200.] Differences Malcolm X's philosophy revolved around the need for granting African Americans their civil rights using any means necessary. He considered it necessary for violence to be used in other cases if need be in order to ensure that the African Americans received the freedom they demanded. As such, this approach embraced using both legal and illegal means to achieve what they wanted. Besides, while he was a member of the Nation of Islam, he propagated the ideology that African Americans were superior beings that directly came from God while the whites were devils. Consequently, his approach was very radical harsh and demanded that whites and Blacks be separated in order to ensure that the Blacks had the much-needed freedom.[Worthington, B. (2013). Martin Luther King Jr. As Identificatory Conglomerate. Black Theology: An International Journal, 11(2), 219-239., p. 222.] [Miller, W. J. (2013). "Don't Turn Back”: Langston Hughes, Barack Obama, and Martin Luther King, Jr. African American Review, 46(2/3), 425-438., p. 427] On the other hand, Martin Luther King promoted the philosophy of non-violent disobedience, which involved peaceful protests and demonstrations. Dr. King promoted the integration of Whites and Blacks in the American society as opposed to the separationist agenda that was propagated by Malcolm X.[Worthington, B. (2013). Martin Luther King Jr. As Identificatory Conglomerate. Black Theology: An International Journal, 11(2), 219-239., p.237] N...