Different Paths to Achieving Civil Rights: A Comparison of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s Approaches

MLK practiced passive resistance to racial oppression; Malcolm X on the other hand, encouraged his followers to fight back

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Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most iconic figures of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1960s. While they were both fighting for the same cause, they had very different approaches when it came to achieving it.

Martin Luther King Jr. believed in nonviolence and passive resistance as a means of achieving civil rights for African Americans. He was heavily influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s successful nonviolent resistance movement in India. King believed that peaceful protests, sit-ins, boycotts, and other nonviolent tactics were more effective in changing the hearts and minds of the public and the government than violent protest or aggression.

Malcolm X, on the other hand, was an advocate for black nationalism and encouraged his followers to resist oppression through any means necessary, including violence. He believed that self-defense was a fundamental right and that African Americans should be willing to fight back against their oppressors. His teachings often included the use of violence as a means of achieving justice and change.

While their approaches differed, both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X recognized that change was needed to end racial inequality and discrimination. Their different approaches led to tensions between the two leaders, with King viewing Malcolm X’s teachings as dangerous and counterproductive to the civil rights movement. At the same time, Malcolm X accused King of compromising too much and not pushing for real change.

In conclusion, while MLK practiced passive resistance to racial oppression, Malcolm X encouraged his followers to fight back against the oppressors.

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