Preview

Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X Comparison Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1738 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X Comparison Essay
Society is locked up in the jail of racism, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X have the key to its freedom. Similar to society, Martin Luther King Jr. is locked in jail and uses his situation to write “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, a letter pushing for the end of racism. The other civil rights leader, Malcolm X, is building support to fight discrimination with “Racism: The Cancer that is Destroying America”. It takes a lot to convince people to think a certain way, let alone to act out on behalf of those thoughts. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are both masters of rhetoric and use different styles in their writing, such as: conveying a trustworthy character, using a convincing tone of voice, emotionally-manipulating word choice, …show more content…
are both inspiring writers, but King is gentle in his word choice while X is assertive in his wording. King is respectful and delicate in the way he writes. Gently and unarguably, King assures that “any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust,” (Martin Luther King Jr. 6) showing that he cares about the way people are being treated and [fix this quote]. Malcolm is assertive in the way he speaks because he wants things to be done, and wants them to be done now. Without disrespecting readers he isn’t directly addressing or sharing his goal with, he says what’s important to him. He says America and “its system would have to undergo a drastic and painful revolutionary change… or REVOLUTION” because he is angry about the way he is being treated (Malcolm X 305). The unfairness in the way he and fellow African Americans is being treated will either stop due to the white people improving their actions, or the African Americans will take a violent stand to end it the hard way. Malcolm is offering the white people a second chance, something the white people never do to the African Americans. Wording is dependent on the reader’s personal preference to language, and both writers are doing everything they can to appeal to the kind of people that they want to join their

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Jackpot, lucky seven and snake eyes, these are just a few words that fill the air in a casino. A casino is the place to gamble money in order to make quick change. Just like the 1960s, people gambled their time and lives away in order to change the world. While there are many who gambled for racial equality, two were extremely good at it. Their names were Malcom X, and Martin Luther King Jr. Though there methods were different, they both made change. Although the change made isn’t money, but a change in the people in order for them to strive for racial equality. Evidently, when Malcom begins to guide the people, he becomes a card dealer instead of the gambler, making the people gamble at his ideas. Therefore when Malcom X gives his speech, like a dealer in a casino, he…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racism, segregation, and Unfair treatment thrive two great leaders to make a difference; Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. Dr. King used religious background to influence his campaign in civil disobedience influenced by Gandhi's methods of nonviolence. Whereas Malcolm X wanted to completely split from the white America altogether with the black panther party. However, MLK proved to be more appealing through his use of pathos and logos to convey universal togetherness along with non-violent protesting.…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Written by Martin Luther King Jr., the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a paragon of persuasive writing that takes advantage of ethos, pathos, and logos in order to convince its readers to take MLK’s side during the American civil rights movement. The use of ethos defines MLK as a credible writer; the use of pathos appeals to his audience on a personal level; and the use of logos layers his arguments and claims with irrefutable reasoning and logic. By using all three techniques, MLK is able to hold the attention of his readers and persuade them to take his side in the battle against segregation.…

    • 1184 Words
    • 34 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetoric to persuade readers into supporting his cause. His letter addresses white men questioning his actions, though his message is for gaining supporters throughout America. Addressing the criticism of white men questioning and criticizing his recent behaviors, he begins explaining the motives behind his actions, their justification, and his next endeavors to rid America of its social injustices.…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    With many different views it is difficult to remember Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both fighting the same war for the same people. King and Malcolm X fought the same battle using different methods. Both wanted to end racism and discrimination. King agreed with Malcolm X that Blacks had to love themselves. Both were instilled with a hope for a better day, society and world. King dreamed of a society of peace, freedom, justice, and equality. They became role models for African-American youth and achieved much with their efforts. They introduced self-pride to their people. Both methods were effective. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were both great men who died trying to make their home and country better but in the end both men’s…

    • 132 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although he did protest segregated seating on trains by sitting in cars reserved for whites, this is just…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When asked to compare the similarities and differences of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, it is shown that all though they had some different ideas, they used many similar speaking techniques known as Rhetorical devices. Through the uses of Rhetorical Devices and appeals, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were able to acquire a position of power. Many people believe Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were opposites because of their tactics, based on the fact that Martin Luther King Jr. was kind and peaceful, and Malcolm was aggressive yet effective, it’s obvious that they both wanted the same thing. Which was better? Stay tuned to find out.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Malcolm x and Martin Luther King Jr. are both powerful leaders. Malcolm X believed in violence and Martin Luther King believed in nonviolence. These two leader shared belief and hopes but they also had their differences. Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. Malcolm did not believe in nonviolence or advocate integration. (Harold 610) He attracted black people’s attention and was eloquent, passionate, and a courageously out spoken champion of black people and a critic of American racism.…

    • 562 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In two shining examples of rhetorical power “A letter to a Birmingham Jail” and “Malcom X’s debate at the Oxford Union” The two great leaders of the civil rights movement outline their platforms and justify their philosophies in regards to how the movement should go about achieving societal change. Although the civil rights movement was brought to national attention by the combined work of MLK and Malcom X, the rhetorical strategies employed by the two are quite different and hold varying degrees of effectiveness. These social justice warriors did not receive an equal amount of respect nor did their ideas have an equal amount of impact because…

    • 2233 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were important figures in Civil Rights and race equality, and both were active in the same time era. However, despite advocating for the same idea (rights for African Americans), Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had very different ideas on how exactly they would try to establish their ideas and expand their base of followers/supporters. This paper is to define their differences and similarities, while providing some background into both Malcolm X’s and Martin Luther King Jr’s and discussing how the differences in their upbringing may have influenced their ideals in their spokesperson career.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However there methods deferred because X was more aggressive and attacking while King was passive and trying to shame the people if the United States to make change. Malcolm X was a man who wanted to put aside differences among his own people and the people of the world to make a change that can be long lasting. MLK on the other hand was trying to fix the American system internally and by bringing the people up against the government. Regardless of their differences both were people who were influential in shaping the world into what we see and know today as they have brought forth civil rights legislature into fruition. The battles they fought allowed for many changes to be made that have given people the opportunities they were denied but…

    • 1518 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the United States, individuals from all backgrounds celebrate Martin Luther King Jr on Black History Month. One controversial black leader that doesn’t receive the same recognition in the mainstream media is Malcolm X. Malcolm X challenged the racist and oppressive system on underdeveloped neighborhoods through his speeches at rallies and wrote an autobiography. He empowered his African American community across the nation. In this essay I will be analyzing three discourses done by Malcolm X himself and how all three discourses were successful in getting his argument addressed to his intended audience.…

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Martin Luther King had one statement that people connected with the African American people, the punch line stated, “I have a dream.” Not relating the two people because they are very different and all Americans unlike Trump hold King to the highest integrity. That being said, they are and were both prominent figures in society. Both prominent speakers had a message that they used to define their makeup. Trump has used his own rhetoric to the same effect and connects himself with the voters. Trump has used distinct message, which is “Make America Great Again.” During his campaign so far Trump has used, the language of the people. Malansky states, “Trump has a clear narrative, a master story that he sticks to”. He also goes on to say “He speaks…

    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mlk Vs Malcolm X Essay

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages

    During the fifties and sixties, two main figureheads campaigned for equal African American civil rights, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Although both aimed to end the divide of inequality and racism, they went about in leading this change in very different ways. Malcolm X was influenced by his hate of white supremacy and need racial separation, yet equality, through any means necessary. While Martin Luther King Jr was motivated by his want for racial equality and complete integration through peace. Both leaders used public speeches and their faith to influence the public however King focused on success through peaceful protest and civil disobedience, while Malcolm X believed in pushing where it hurt and forcing whites to accept blacks as…

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King’s language choice, tone, and style in Letter from Birmingham Jail reflect his political viewpoint and personal character; just like his political actions, they are unapologetic, direct, respectful, and instruct others to act morally. King eloquently conveys the urgency of the Birmingham situation and guides the reader to understand the unjust circumstances and all the “broken promise[s]” that oppress black people. King’s open letter evidences his gift of purposeful and elegant language choice, and reflects his poised self-confidence in the moral mission of “carry[ing] the gospel of freedom”. He is not apologetic, defensive, nor disdainful in the face…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays