Martin Luther King and Malcolm X: Whose Philosophy Made the Most Sense for America in the 1960s? A Document Based Question (DBQ)Background Essay Martin and Malcolm BQ of 10 Martin Luther King and Malcolm X: > Whose Philosophy Made the Most Sense for America in the 1960s? Introduction King and Malcolm X documents, read the short On March 26, 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., biographies that follow. ‘and Malcolm X met for the first and only time. Maleolm X: Biographical Information Eby tr ¢ of the landmark Civil Rights bill. They met in iY the halls of the United States Capitol building and spoke for only a few minutes. Eyewitness reports, as well as photographs of the meeting, —_ was a preacher and suggest a respect and warmth between the a follower of His father, J. Barly Litde, 0. \ leaders. Just two weeks before this meeting, A}, % Malcol ced. < his break with Elijah Mu \d and the. ‘andtmostinlacntia & Nation of Islam, Now, free of the Black aaa Muslims’ ban on political activity, Malcolm. _,. planned to enter the fight for civil rights in died a violent “Whe nationavondered: Would King death, perhaps because of his political beliefs. His mother, Louise, was left to support eight children during the worst years of the Depression, “Our family was so poor,” Malcolm D never now. Malcolm was killed eleven months recalled, “that we would eat the hole out of « after his meeting with Dr. King, and just two doughnut...” J days before the two were to have met for a es ‘The strain of raising eigiammesgOniAe, nore formal discussion. He was 39 years Ol geapeiganinae to a mental breakcl when he died; King was also 39 when he was 2 assassinated three years later. ‘Many Americans think of King and ‘Although Malcolm was treated decently by his ‘Malcolm X as perfect opposites. white foster-care parents, the Swerlins, and excelled in an all white school (he was elected president of his seventh grade class), he was never comfortable. At the age of 15, he dropped out of school and moved to Boston, Butis this Massachusetts, to live with his half-sister. For view really accurate? Before examining the Enmet ) murdered in e§ QRO ony, Mississippi award Brooke y first bleck US. Hank Aaron Jesse Owens: Jackie Robinson wer st ; wins four lympie LZ st blackin genato: sce breaks Babo Puh’s odsintarin major leogves feconsraction “home un record | pichard wanes | president thea Gibson Native Son Truman desogrenstes | wins Wimbledon Black population 11% of US total is published \ — Taam Taa7 10a 7055 1957 7966 79701978 ‘armed forces ingles titlepacKgrouny essay \LUNunucUy — a SN OO in bringing about these historic changes, King did not leave school expecting to Z_, Shange the world. He was interested in becom- i a local [ngs local sso, Howes naman However, in “e tome week following Ei wantin Parks’ decision to remain seated in the front of a ‘Montgomery bus, ‘This DBQ asks you to examine the ideas of two men, one a Muslim who leaned towards racial separation, the other a Christian who was firmly integrationist. As you consider the documents that follow, remember that King and ‘Malcolm X privately admired each other’s style and courage. While they rarely praised each other in public, they were not enemies. ‘And now to the central question. How should America have confronted the inequalities of the 1960s? Or as this DBQ asks: Martin and his helpers staged a Luther King and Malcolm X: Whose Philosophy ‘Made the Most Sense for America in the 1960s? FO ‘This march convinced President Kennedy and his successor, Lyndon Jobnson, that they had enough support in the country to push hard for a now set of laws ending segregation in the South,Background Essay (Lonunued) Magtin and Malcolm UE 40h 10 the next six years Malcolm experienced the X set out to create his own organization excitement and dangers of the street, Wgitayed dedicated to achieving a better life for blacks in DB CPATOMMENNCK CRANES — America as well as all people of African qudgyacitarlllyicaUCIIRUSCTICHCCONORIS GS) clescent. Higgs oyeunivmionaig ice smicsiCeh _ ions UAW WeeteniDyeisa poste \\ ~~ Wytesinprisonvolcolmrcncommcapye § — (Ge g EOURTA TEN — i OUEAMMMMnadna ONTO Martin Luther King: Biographical Information WPSUAM. ‘The religion appealed to the young, angry Malcolm. Day and night Malcolm read and expanded his mind, He copied a dictionary es a from cover to cover and disciplined his thinking M@sitaponam Seite E \C through hours of intense debate with other "cee STN huh young ‘Prisoners. RTCA PTT OSM Martin's family was by no means rich, it was chianeedimraindvontientsal lyn des ianenye clearly middle class. The King family had many Trop OSOsille9GWMalcolemeeuasae positive role models and was full of Christian, dMOutcollogeeO! FlijalyMitlranmad MANE sisynatenimsiehialbediespencat Symbglizg;ivewsthioan hii testaodescouldine ner (GTB opiollowpvitasyeeRnanredueUesrs 0 had never before been aware of rcs. eiotfoReepanindememiuebertmorpies When he went = Naaonahen ThONuoMOlendcrMinler: — home and tearfully Compleloabsiedee HOMES andalcohol.a explained what Hafffilation orffoods such as poregstaceiulesof §— had happened, his \ prayetgenuistipiined iifettylenmnone nant parents sat him Epoch fooncisibrothiersyandsisterseNlNol down and told theseathings appealed:toMalcolm ss escon him about the parédathemyouhe-chaosuinlanalenceornis: facts of racism in cmt American life. But they also told young Martin, yoMaieel ar oMAe Na asec {allowers,of Eli jahsivistarhtiilchehe ea «( taugbt thaytheawhite raced brainiwasnee Wlcks, 10, be patientaybiloyenduaingyinjustiviefon cisisfette WIC Giigadopredgindiprexchedatis ¢ Cs itwas his ghritan dty not to hae the white v 5 {-antiwhite shetoric, and, hecauscsoiisis $ re en man, Martin took this teaching nor to heart In the last years of his life, Malcolm began to change. Two weeks before he died, Malcolm sa In this loving and strict household, the young King’s enormous talents were allowed to matur hool, and at age 15 passed th entrance exam to Morehouse University and enrolled in college. J, amass Ry TARO TO Jp NE oi seb MCHA issueeAe, Pete Deedee OF his tips TO Atrien and the p He excelled in s SOCIO MCA OMRNIER. Lseoabras cays 5 | tirasmapayaatonsiRie Rae ep yan D OSM ONMAWA By luc 1963 “Malcolm X had broken his ties with the Nation Seen eae of Islam. For the next year and a half, Malcolm :