Comparison between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X
The history of the struggle of civil rights in the United States is majorly attributed to two great activists; Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Malcolm X was an American Muslim leader born in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a prominent African American leader who was known for his ideas of race, pride, and Black Nationalism. Malcolm X grew in a less privileged family and barely had any schooling, on the other hand, Martin Luther King was a social activist and Baptist minister who was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in a middle-class family and was educated. The purpose of this paper is to compare the attribute of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and conclude who among the two was more successful and influential than the other.
King championed for non-violent action and partial resistance to achieve equal civil rights to all people. Malcolm X used a violent approach towards the rejection of white Americans and Christianity. Malcolm preached the supremacy of the blacks over the whites. Malcolm encouraged the black Americans to respond with violence whenever the whites oppressed them. Luther, on the other hand, appealed to black Americans to respond to their oppressors with love. He is quoted to say that, hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
In my opinion, Martin Luther King was better than Malcolm X. Luther championed for equality of all races while Malcolm championed for black supremacy which only continued to stir hatred among the two races of people. Luther’s non-violent approach in the championing of civil rights also makes him better than Malcolm X since his approach was more effective and influential than Malcolm’s violent ways. Martin Luther King was, therefore, better than Malcolm X.