Examine the Beliefs of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Comment on the Differences Between Them.
On 21st February, 1965, one of the most influential civil right fighters was shot. This was Malcolm X. Another civil rights leader, Martin Luther King sent a telegram to Betty Shabazz, Malcolm 's wife with his commiserations:
"While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems that we face as a race."
Three years later on 4th April, 1968, Martin Luther King Junior was also fatally shot. At the time of these deaths President Johnson was in power. His response to the tragedy of Martin Luther King 's death was: "The heart of America grieves today. A leader of his people -- a teacher of all people -- has fallen. Martin Luther King, Jr., has been struck down by the violence against which he preached and worked."
These two inspirational leaders were fighting for the same cause; equal rights for black and white Americans. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had very different beliefs and tangible differences in the actions of their followers in how to achieve equal rights. Martin Luther King was fighting for a colour-blind ' society where people would be judged and valued on their skills and characters rather than the colour of their skin:
" I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers."
Malcolm X, on the other hand, was fighting in favour for a black power, ' instead of integration. He ridiculed civil rights campaigners such as Martin Luther King who were fighting for
"While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems that we face as a race."
Three years later on 4th April, 1968, Martin Luther King Junior was also fatally shot. At the time of these deaths President Johnson was in power. His response to the tragedy of Martin Luther King 's death was: "The heart of America grieves today. A leader of his people -- a teacher of all people -- has fallen. Martin Luther King, Jr., has been struck down by the violence against which he preached and worked."
These two inspirational leaders were fighting for the same cause; equal rights for black and white Americans. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had very different beliefs and tangible differences in the actions of their followers in how to achieve equal rights. Martin Luther King was fighting for a colour-blind ' society where people would be judged and valued on their skills and characters rather than the colour of their skin:
" I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers."
Malcolm X, on the other hand, was fighting in favour for a black power, ' instead of integration. He ridiculed civil rights campaigners such as Martin Luther King who were fighting for
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