People, Power & Politics - Essay Example

He was a Minister of Christian views based on Biblical principles. Malcolm X did not have the same opportunity afforded King. Malcolm X was almost entirely self educated and grew up in a poor family. Malcolm X was a follower of Islam as opposed to King’s Christian convictions. Obviously, the4se two men came from very different backgrounds. King in his famous speech entitled “American Dream”, outlines his desire for equality not only in treatment between blacks and whites but also in possessions and class standings.

He wanted to see cultural change that allowed for blacks and whites to be afforded the same opportunities both educationally and economically. Malcolm X, for much of his time as a public speaker and representative for black youth, felt that the black community had suffered enough injustice at the hands of the white man, and deserved to not only receive what they were deprived of but also deserved to seek revenge from white society. Malcolm X countered the speech “the American Dream” given by King, by giving the equally famous speech “the American Nightmare” where he details his notion of “an eye for an eye”.

King’s method of making a change was done through a passive mode of justice whereas Malcolm X sought revenge for the many years of oppression inflicted on African -Americans at the hand of whites. Both Malcolm X and King sought racial justice and equality. King’s approach was to pursue though non-violence, a coexistence of love between blacks and whites alike. King once said “the reason I can’t follow the old eye for an eye philosophy, is that it ends up leaving everybody blind”.

Inversely, Malcolm X saw violence as a necessity as the only way to achieve change would be to challenge adversity by fighting or physically rising up. As the two great leaders approached the end of their lives, they began to see things in a more