Table of Contents
Cover Page ………………………………………………………………………………..1
Introduction to MLK………………………………………………………………………2
NAACP……………………………………………………………………………………3
Gandhi’s Method………………………………………………………………………….4
Introduction to Malcom X………………………………………………………………...5
X…………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Same Goal………………………………………………………………………………...7
Work Cited………………………………………………………………………………..8
Sanguma & Swearegene 1
MLK vs. Malcolm X
“I Have a Dream”
“By Any Means Necessary”
By: Gene Sanguma & Darius Swearegene
ETHN 201W Dr. Kebba Darboe
Sanguma & Swearegene 2
Gene Sanguma & Darius Swearegene
ETHN 201W
Dr. Kebba Darboe
April 26, 2017
Martin Luther King Jr vs. Malcolm X
Probably one of the two most influential people during the civil rights movement was
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. One believed in a peaceful approach, and the other
believed in a more direct approach. Both wanting the same goal, equal rights for all people of
color. How can 2 very different individuals with 2 very different visions on how to get equal
rights get along so well? Maybe it was the amount of respect they had for each other or maybe it
was the fact that they needed both sides of the approach to accomplish their goal.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15th, 1929. Born in Atlanta, Georgia Martin was
the middle child in his family. His father Michael King Sr. and mother Alberta Williams King
resided in rural Georgia. With a deep family history in ministry Martin Luther King Jr’s
grandfather A.D. Williams was a minister in rural Georgia, he then moved to Atlanta where he
took over Ebenezer Baptist church. The church had a vibrant 13 members. Michael King Sr. was
born into a family of sharecroppers, married Alberta, MLK Jr’s mother. Michael King Sr. then
inherited the small church and he too became a prominent member of this church and
community. Eventually passing it onto Michael Jr, but they both inherited the name Martin
Luther in honor of German protestant leader Martin Luther.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a staple in not only the black community but in the United
States and other countries as well. Martin Luther King Jr’s peaceful philosophy was adapted
from Gandhi MLK took a non-violent approach to overcome adversity and find common ground
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for civil rights for minorities. MLK gained acceptance into Morehouse college at the age of 15 in
hjkk1944. Martin Luther King Jr originally questioned religion but his faith was renewed his
junior year of college after taking a bible course. Martin Luther King Jr. graduated with a
sociology degree in 1948. After graduating college, he then attended his theology seminar in
Chester, Pennsylvania. Now that’s where it all began with the Montgomery bus boycott on
March 2nd, 1995. A young woman named Claudette Colvin whom was 15 years of age at the
time refused to give her seat up to a white man. The NAACP wanted to use this instance as a
spark for change in the Montgomery segregation policy in place, but Claudette Colvin was a
pregnant teen. The NAACP was then skeptical because of Claudette’s creditability. Once again,
the NAACP had another opportunity to when Rosa Parks refused to give her seat up. Parks was
then arrested and booked for violating the bus policy at the Montgomery bus company. When
word got out about Rosa Parks arrest the head of the NAACP Ed Nixon met with Martin Luther
King Jr and many other civil rights leaders to begin to organize a citywide boycott of the
Montgomery bus company.
All the other civil rights leaders seemed to have taken a liking to King. They liked him so
much they elected him to lead the boycott. King was chosen to lead because of his strong family
ties, young age, and professionalism. Also, being a fresh new face in the black community, King
had little to no enemies at all almost giving him a strong hand in the African American
Community. One of the first acts of nonviolence that King took was delivering a speech stating
“We have no alternative but to protest. For many years, we have shown an amazing patience.”.
King spoke clearly and precisely, after delivering that speech the civil rights struggle ensued
while boycotting. The bus boycott lasted 382 days and African Americans found themselves
walking to work and being harassed by white people. African Americans also started to take
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more legal action although very costly with many losses, the Supreme Courts separate but never
equal helped Brown v. Board of Education. Which also forced Montgomery to lift their
segregation policy. Overjoyed with victory African American civil right movement leaders
formed a national organization called “The southern Christian leadership conference. Made up of
ministers, King being one of them. This gave King a huge threshold in the south. All of this was
established in 1957.
Martin Luther King Jr visited Gandhi’s birthplace, this trip changed his life juristically.
African American Bayard Rustin was also an activist and soon to become Kings associate.
Rustin studied Gandhi’s method and soon helped King realize how vital a nonviolent approach
is. In Greensboro, North Carolina “sit-in” method became another boycott strategy in 1960. Sit
Ins were when an African American would sit at a lunch counter or restaurant or other
segregated places and seat peacefully until their equal rights were given. Martin Luther King Jr.
started to gain a national presence. King then organized a demonstration in Birmingham,
Alabama. Many attended this event and police attacked them, beat them, and used dogs to attack
and used high power water hoses on attendees. King and many others found themselves arrested
and he preached his nonviolence approach to the masses. He states in the article that “nonviolent
direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such tension that a those who refuse to
negotiate, are forced to confront the issue”. This was all a build up to the infamous “I have a
dream” speech. This speech knocked racial barriers in rubble, making citizens question Jim
Crow laws and ponder why African Americans were treated as second hand citizens. In 1965 to
1967 Kings nonviolent approach gained popularity amongst middle class white citizens but the
African Americans who saw this as weak started to push more toward Malcolm X’s ‘By any
means necessary” approach. King Was assassinated April 4th, 1968 while in doing his soon to be
Sanguma & Swearegene 5
known as the last crusade. Kings death ensued riots all over the nation but he still had a gigantic
impact on racial relations in the United States. Years after his death he is still honored as a
wholesome black figure who had flaws but approached racism fearlessly and with a nonviolent
approach.
Malcolm X, born as Malcolm Little, was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Malcolm, just like Martin was born in a Christian household. His father, Earl Little, was a
Baptist minister and an avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Sadly, Earl
Little’s body was found dead lying across train tracks. The police told the Little family that it
was an accident but “accidents” do not just happen to black folks especially in the south. The toll
of losing her husband and raising 8 children on her own drove Louise Little into a mental
breakdown, causing the children to be put into various foster homes and orphanages.
Malcolm, like any other kid had big dreams. He loved playing sports and staying active at
school, and was considered one of the more popular kids in school. His grades were good too, till
one day his teacher asked Malcolm what he wanted to be when he grew up. Malcolm simply
answered that he wanted to be a lawyer. Instead of encouraging Malcolm, and telling him that he
could do anything that he put his mind to. The teacher shook his head, and suggested that
Malcolm should focus on being something a negro can actually obtain, like a carpenter or
something. Hearing that lack of faith really hurt Malcolm. Malcolm soon after that just stopped
trying in school. What was the point? If all he could accomplish in life is becoming a carpenter?
Malcolm ended up dropping out of school, and started hanging out with the wrong crowd.
He and his long-time friend Malcolm “Shorty” Jarvis started committing crimes just to survive.
In 1946, they were arrested and convicted of burglary. Malcolm was convicted to 10 years in
prison. While in prison, Malcolm took the time to reflect on his life. Now a 21-year-old man
Sanguma & Swearegene 6
stuck in prison wasn’t the way he ever thought he would end up. Malcolm began to study the
teachings of Elijah Muhammad, who at the time, was the leader of the Nation of Islam(NOI).
Elijah Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African Americans from
empowering themselves and achieving political, economic, and social success. When Malcolm
was paroled in 1952, he was a devoted follower. Fresh out, Malcolm Little changed his last name
from “Little” to “X”. He believed that Little was his slave name because when his ancestors were
forcefully brought to this country they were given new names, so Malcolm didn’t know his
African name. That’s why he went by “X”. “X stands for the unknown.” Malcolm soon became
a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Word of Malcolm spread across the
country like wild fire. He was a very outspoken individual and wasn’t afraid to speak what was
on his mind. A famous quote like “By Any Means Necessary” was instilled in young black men
across the country. Martin Luther King’s teachings taught people to turn the other cheek when a
person does them wrong. Malcolm believed in a whole different approach. He would say don’t
go out looking for trouble, “but if anyone, puts their hands on you, brother you make sure that
they don’t ever put their hands on you, or anyone again.” At the time, to hear an African
American say those words shook the whole white population. Malcolm’s charisma, drive, and
conviction attracted an astounding number of new members. Malcolm increased the Nation of
Islam from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
In March 1964, Malcolm parted ways with the Nation of Islam and decided to found his
own religious organization, the Muslim Mosque, Inc. Malcolm was not a very liked individual
by a lot of people, there were countless of attempts on his life. On February 14, 1965, his home
where he and his wife Betty, and their four daughters lived in New York was bombed. Luckily,
they all escaped with no physical harm. A week later, Malcolm was rushed and gunned down by
Sanguma & Swearegene 7
three men at a speaking engagement in the Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom on February 21,
1965. The 39-year-old, Malcolm, was announced dead when they brought his body to the
hospital. Malcolm’s legacy still lives on till this day. Sure, he isn’t as liked as Martin Luther
King Jr. but Malcolm was the voice of the African Americans who were tired. Tired of the
mistreatment, tired of the injustice, and tired of being 2nd class citizens. He taught people to stand
up to hate instead of letting it ruin your life. If you had to fight violence with violence then so be
it.
Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. never worked directly with one another but they
did respect what each other stood for, and what each of them were trying to accomplish. They
were the 2 most influential people during the civil rights era, and they deserved every bit of it.
From “I have a dream.” To “By Any Means Necessary.” Two very different approaches, but two
very similar goals.
Sanguma & Swearegene 8
Works Cited
http://malcolmx.com/biography/. Malcom X. n.d. Document . 26 April 2017.
http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086. Martin Luther King Jr.
Biography . n.d. Document . 26 April 2017.
Jr., Martin Luther King. The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr. . Clayborne Carson , 1998.
Book .
Malcolm X, Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X . Grove Press , 1965. Book .
ETHN 201W: Perspectives on African Americans
Note: All topics should be related to African American Experiences
Paper Topics: Suggestions
1. Slavery by another name: peonage, convict leasing, sharecropping, vagrancy statutes
(laws made by a state legislative body), 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.
2. Redlining--Housing
3. Black Lives Matter—Protest Movement
4. What are the implications of racial microaggressions?
5. Affirmative Action vs. racial gerrymandering
6. Reparations—Slavery—“40 acres and a mule (land)” compensation
7. Compare and contrast the leadership styles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X
8. Black/White Wealth--economic inequality
9. Education--Social Inequality, i.e., Historically Black Colleges/Universities vs. White
Colleges/Universities (Morehouse College vs. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
10. Sports--opportunity costs--play for NFL or go to College
11. Inequality in Health Care
12. Racial Profiling-- “Driving While Black”
13. Welfare System--TANF
14. Inequality in the Criminal Justice System--Segregation of prison inmates by race
15. Tuskegee Airmen
16. Implications of Hurricane Katrina: A case study of New Orleans, Louisiana
17. Suppression & Disenfranchisement of the Black Vote--15th Amendment & 1965 Voting
Rights Act--political inequality
18. Environmental Racism--African American Communities—eminent domain impact
19. U.S. Military--African American Experiences, for example, General Colin Powell, etc.
20. Religious leaders, for example, Bishop Thomas D. Jakes
21. Challenges of African American women leaders in the 21st century
22. Gains during the Reconstruction Period, i.e., ratification of 13th, 14th, and 15th
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
23. Challenges of ex-felons (ex-offenders), i.e., reentry (reintegration) transition plan into
mainstream society, for example,
• Disenfranchisement, i.e., not allowed to vote
• Expungement, i.e., sealing or destruction of individual criminal records kept by
government agencies—social stigma
• De jure (sanctioned by law) and de facto (socioeconomic status) employment
discrimination, for example, “Ban the box,” i.e., a question on an employment
application form: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” Yes answer
eliminates applicant from the pool,
• Restoration of voting rights, employment, etc.—clemency granted to ex-felons by
some governors, for example, Florida
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