A Comparison of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Philosophies

A COMPARISON of MARTIN LUTHER KING AND MALCOLM X PHILOSOPHIES

Jarrod Davis

History 115

Dr. Tamara Brown

November 16, 2017

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were prominent African American activists whose impact on American politics is worth remembrance.  The two individuals stood for the case of justice especially at a time when the African-Americans were highly victimized.  Their approach, tactics, and philosophies were vastly different.  While Martin adopted a rather peaceful and calm campaign, Malcolm was more of radical and ready to face discrimination with violence^[1].  His radicalness is attributed to the harsh environment that he grew up in and his religious outlook as a Muslim.  In fact, one of his most remembered phrases is "By Any Means Necessary."  Though his outlook and political outlook changed later, Malcolm was a radical political philosopher.  On the other hand, Martin Luther grew in a middle-class family and became a minister.  He was non-violent, carried a philosophy of peaceful campaigns for civil rights and for fair treatment of all regardless of their race.  Nonetheless, the need to free non-free people, fighting oppression and inequality are similar philosophies that the two shared.

Malcolm X grew up in a rather hostile environment.  As an African-American, and a Muslim too, Malcolm grew up in a segregated environment where it was believed that African American’s were treated with contempt.  He believed that the only way that African-Americans would find their way out of this bondage would only be through resistance.  Malcolm was encouraged by his Muslim background where he felt that as a son of Allah, he was given the chance to defend his own rights^[2].  This is the same outlook that he carried when he joined the political atmosphere.  Malcolm argued that the minority (African-Americans) too needed and wanted their say and their space just like the majority has their say.  In this regard, Malcolm and his followers engaged the existent governments in rather repulsive manners that were of violence. Inasmuch as it worked for some time, some people felt that the real solutions were never found.

Malcolm carried the political philosophy of Black Nationalism.  In his 1964 address, Malcolm said that it is either the black American gets justice by either the ballot or by the bullet^[3].  He said that he was the black man living under the authority of the white man.  Malcolm urged the black community that it was the time that they were governed by their own people.  Malcolm argued that if  the black population reiterates to their own location, then it was time.  His philosophy as he argues was led by a deep thought of the economic conditions meted on the black community after being led by the white man.  His argument was rather aggressive against the white man, and if justice was not to be served, then the bullet was the ultimate solution.