George McGrath

2/21/2017

MLK and Malcolm X

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were both influential figures in the civil rights

movement. Although they have that purpose in common, they were very different, in factors

ranging from their personalities, early lives, values, and more.

A particularly interesting difference is their modus operandi. While MLK used pacifism

and speech to accomplish his goals, Malcolm X believed in using any means necessary. Even

though they both fought for the same thing, they used very opposing strategies.

Both MLK and Malcolm X were known for being fantastic public speakers. What was

different between the two of them were their audiences. While Malcolm Xs audience was

predominantly African-American, MLKs speeches were viewed by people of all races.

Their idea of what an ideal world should be varied extremely. MLKs end goal was to

have all races integrate, and have equal rights. Malcolm X, on the other hand, wanted the

opposite. He felt that whites and blacks could never get along, and wanted both to sever ties

completely. He said that MLKs dream was not a dream, but a nightmare. Although their ideas of

how to reach their goals were different, they both still wanted equal rights for all Americans.

The two of them both went to prison at some point in their lives. When he was 20,

Malcolm X was sentenced to ten years for breaking and entering, after a failed burglary. This is

where Malcolm X learned to read, converted to Islam, and changed his life view. He was

released on the seventh year on parole. MLK went to jail 29 times in his lifetime, most of which
were because of his protesting. Luckily, he usually only stayed in prison for a couple of weeks

each time. Their jail times never got in the way of their dreams.

MLK and Malcolm X didnt share religions. MLK was a devoted Christian, and became a

co-pastor in the Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1960. He kept this position until his death in 1968.

Malcolm X became a Muslim during his time in prison, and changed his name. While he

believed in violence, after he traveled to Jerusalem he changed his views. Funnily enough, both

of their fathers were Baptist preachers!

During their lifetimes, it was very uncommon for African-Americans to have a very good

education. Strangely enough, though, they were both married to women that had gone to college.

Betty Shabazz, Malcolm Xs wife, attended the Brooklyn State College School for Nursing, and

Coretta Scott King went to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

This, unfortunately, brings us to their deaths. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were

both assassinated at age 39 in 1965 and 1968, respectively. They were both expecting that they

would be killed eventually because of the countless threats on their lives. Even though both of

their killers were apprehended by the police, the victims families were unhappy with the results.

Members of both families thought that the police caught the wrong people, and that the arrested

killers werent actually the culprits.

Even though Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both fought for black rights, they

still had many differences that set them apart, along with strange similarities that bring them

together, too.