The perception of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X is one where the two men are diametrically opposed figures in the battle against white supremacy (political insider vs. political renegade). The truth is more nuanced. King and Malcolm X shared “convergent visions” for the betterment of Black America. However, their strategies to attain their shared goal were shaped by their disparate upbringings.
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As Civil Rights protests spread across the South and the nation, King continued to blend peaceful methods of protest with his theological training, striving for equal rights for African Americans. On August 28, 1963, King participated in the March on Washington, a rally where 250,000 people of all races expressed their support for the civil rights bill pending in Congress.
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At the end of the day, standing at the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now-legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Rooted in biblical and constitutional ideals, his words conveyed the hope that his dream of equality for all would one day become a reality.
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Malcolm X’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement began after he transformed his life following a period of incarceration and aligned himself with the Nation of Islam. While in prison, his siblings wrote to him, sharing the beliefs of this new religious movement, which advocated for complete racial separation as the solution to the challenges faced by black Americans.
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The Nation of Islam preached self-reliance, non-destructive behavior, strict discipline, and advocated for the eventual repatriation of blacks to Africa to achieve true liberation from white supremacy. In 1950, having fully embraced the teachings, Malcolm replaced his birth surname “Little” with “X,” symbolizing the African family name that had been denied to him.
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Malcolm X then became a convert to the Nation of Islam and significantly raised the religious movement’s profile, preaching his message first on street corners and then moving to larger venues as the movement grew in popularity.
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Although both men emerged as influential voices in the 1960s Civil Rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X differed significantly in their philosophies and approaches to addressing racial inequality. King advocated for nonviolent direct action and complete integration as the means to achieve full civil rights, contrasting with his fellow activist.
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Malcolm X championed complete racial separation, rejecting any form of integration, and opposing King’s philosophy of nonviolence as a form of protest. Malcolm X viewed King’s nonviolent approach as defenseless against white racism.
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Additionally, the two men diverged in matters of religion, which strongly influenced their respective philosophies. King, a Christian Baptist pastor, led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and delivered his message primarily within churches.
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Meanwhile, Malcolm X was a minister and prominent national spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. Nevertheless, their approaches to achieving racial justice and equality in the United States are widely perceived as divergent.
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