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Black Power Scholar Illustrates How MLK And Malcolm X Influenced Each Other

Terry Gross

A man walks past a mural of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. in London. Thabo Jaiyesimi/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

A man walks past a mural of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. in London.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are frequently seen as opposing forces in the struggle for civil rights and against white supremacy; King is often portrayed as a nonviolent insider, while Malcolm X is characterized as a by-any-means-necessary political renegade. But author and Black Power scholar Peniel Joseph says the truth is more nuanced.

"I've always been fascinated by Malcolm X and Dr. King ... and dissatisfied in how they're usually portrayed — both in books and in popular culture," Joseph says.

In his book, The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., Joseph braids together the lives of the two civil rights leaders. He says that King and Malcolm X had "convergent visions" for Black America — but their strategies for how to reach the goal was informed by their different upbringings.

"Malcolm X is really scarred by racial trauma at a very early age," Joseph says. "King, in contrast, has a very gilded childhood, and he's the son of an upper-middle-class, African-American family, prosperous family that runs one of the most important churches in Black Atlanta."

Joseph says that, over time, each man became the other's "alter ego." Malcolm X, he says, "injects a political radicalism on the national scene that absolutely makes Dr. King and his movement much more palatable to mainstream Americans."

Now, with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Joseph says that King and Malcolm X's visions have converged: "What's really extraordinary is that the Black Lives Matter protesters really are protesting for radical Black dignity and citizenship and see that you need both. So Malcolm and Martin are the revolutionary sides of the same coin, and really the BLM movement has amplified that."

Interview highlights

On what Malcolm X meant by racial separatism

This idea of separatism is really interesting. The deeper I investigated Malcolm X, the more I understood what he meant and what the Nation of Islam meant by racial separatism. It wasn't segregation. It was separatism, they argued, and Malcolm does this in a series of debates against Bayard Rustin , against Jim Farmer , against James Baldwin , Louis Lomax. He says that racial separatism is required because white people do not want Black people to be citizens and have dignity. And if they did, you wouldn't have to protest and experience police violence and police brutality: small children trying to integrate Little Rock High School, young people trying to integrate lunch counters, and they're arrested and brutalized, sometimes people were killed, of course. So what's interesting about this idea of separatism, Malcolm argues separatism is Black people having enough self-love and enough confidence in themselves to organize and build parallel institutions. Because America was so infected with the disease of racism, they could never racially integrate into American democracy.

On Malcolm X's vision of "by any means necessary" protest

Code Switch

Malcolm x's public speaking power.

Malcolm is making the argument that, one, Black people have the right to self-defense and to defend themselves against police brutality. It's really striking when you follow Malcolm X in the 1950s and '60s, the number of court appearances he's making, whether it's in Buffalo, N.Y., or Los Angeles or Rochester, N.Y., where members of the Nation of Islam have been brutalized [and], at times, killed by police violence. So Malcolm is arguing that, one, Black people have a right to defend themselves. Second part of Malcolm's argument — because he travels to the Middle East by 1959, travels for 25 weeks overseas in 1964 — is that because there [are] anti-colonial revolutions raging across Africa and the Third World in the context of the 1950s and '60s, he makes the argument that the Black revolution in the United States is only going to be a true revolution once Black people start utilizing self-defense to end the racial terror they're experiencing both in the 1950s and '60s, but historically. And one of the reasons Malcolm makes that argument, obviously, is because his father and his family had experienced that racial terror.

On King's policy of non-violent protest v. self defense

One thing that's important to know is that when we think about nonviolence versus self-defense, it's very, very complex, because even though Martin Luther King Jr. is America's apostle and a follower of Gandhi and believes in nonviolence, there are always people around King who are trying to protect him and in demonstrations, who actually are armed, they're not armed in the same way that, say, the Black Panthers would arm themselves later, but they're armed to actually protect and defend peaceful civil rights activists from racial terror. And of course, King famously had had armed guards around him in Montgomery, Ala., after his home was firebombed during the bus boycott of 1955 to '56. And it's Bayard Rustin who famously told him he couldn't have those armed guards if he wanted to live out the practice of nonviolence.

The Power Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Anger

So King usually does not have his own people being armed. But when he's in the Deep South, there are civil rights activists who actually are armed and at times protecting him. They're not necessarily connected to his Southern Christian Leadership Conference, but the movement always had people who were trying to protect peaceful demonstrators against racial terror.

On King's response to Malcolm X's argument against non-violent civil disobedience

Peniel E. Joseph, Ph.D., is the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas, Austin. Kelvin Ma/Basic Books hide caption

Peniel E. Joseph, Ph.D., is the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas, Austin.

King has several responses: One is that nonviolence is both a moral and political strategy. So the morality and the religious argument is that Black people could not succumb to enemy politics. And this idea that when we think about white racism, we would become as bad as the people who are oppressing us. So he pushes back against that. Politically, he says, well, then there aren't enough Black people, even if they arm themselves to win some kind of armed conflict and struggle. And then finally, he says and there's a great speech in 1963 in Los Angeles where he doesn't mention Malcolm X, but he's speaking out against Malcolm X in terms of what's happening in Birmingham. And Malcolm has called him an Uncle Tom and all kinds of names. He says that non-violence is the weapon of strength. It's the weapon of people who are powerful and courageous and brave and heroic and disciplined. It's not the weapon of the weak, because we're going to use this non-violent strategy to actually transform the United States of America against its own will. ...

I say Malcolm is Black America's prosecuting attorney. He's prosecuting white America for a series of crimes against Black humanity that date back to racial slavery. Dr. King is Black America's defense attorney — but he's very interesting: He defends both sides of the color line. He defends Black people to white people and tells white people that Black people don't want Black supremacy. They don't want reverse racism. They don't want revenge for racial slavery and Jim Crow segregation. They just want to be included in the body politic and have citizenship. But he also defends white people to Black people. He's constantly telling — especially as the movement gets further radicalized — Black people that white people are good people, that white people, we can redeem the souls of the nation. And we have white allies who have fought and struggled and died with us to achieve Black citizenship. So it's very interesting, the roles they both play. But over time, after Malcolm's assassination, one of the biggest ironies and transformations is that King becomes Black America's prosecuting attorney.

On how Malcolm X and King's visions merged

They start to merge, especially in the aftermath of Malcolm's assassination on Feb. 21, 1965. And in a way, when we think about King, right after Malcolm's assassination, King has what he later calls one of those "mountaintop moments." And he always says there are these mountaintop moments, but then you have to go back to the valley. And that mountaintop moment is going to be the Selma to Montgomery march, even though initially, when we think about March 7, 1965 — Bloody Sunday — demonstrators, including the late Congressman John Lewis , are battered by Alabama state troopers, non-violent demonstrators, peaceful demonstrators on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

'A Proud Walk': 3 Voices On The March From Selma To Montgomery

But by March 15, LBJ, the president, is going to say these protesters are right and they are part of a long pantheon of American heroes dating back to the revolution. And then March 21 to the 25, the Selma to Montgomery demonstration is going to attract 30,000 Americans — including white allies, Jewish allies like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel — to King and the movement. So King is going to make his last, fully nationally televised speech on March 25, 1965, where he talks about American democracy, racial justice, but the long road ahead. By that August, Aug. 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act has passed. So these are real high points.

But then five days after the Voting Rights Act is passed, Watts, Los Angeles explodes in really the largest civil disturbance in American history up until that point. And when we think about after Watts, that's where King and Malcolm start to converge, because Malcolm had criticized the March on Washington as the "farce on Washington," because he said that King and the movement should have paralyzed Washington, D.C., and forced a reckoning about race in America. And they didn't do that. By 1965, King says that in this essay, "Beyond the Los Angeles Riots," that what he's going to start doing is use non-violent civil disobedience as a peaceful sword that paralyzes cities to produce justice that goes beyond civil rights and voting rights acts.

Sam Briger and Thea Chaloner produced and edited the audio of this interview. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the Web.

MLK and Malcolm X were more alike than we thought. Here's why.

Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century and of the civil rights movement. Both men were leaders of their own separate movements, with King serving as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Malcolm X as a minister and leading national spokesperson for the Nation of Islam (NOI). However, most people believe the two men had very different approaches to the challenge of achieving racial justice and equality in the U.S.

"The mythology around both men frames them as opposites," said Peniel Joseph, the Barbara Jordan chair in ethics and political values at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin. "It frames Malcolm as King's evil twin and King as this saint who would just give everybody a hug if he was alive right now. That really takes away from understanding the depth and breadth of their political power, their political radicalism and their evolution over time." 

"I think they both needed each other," Joseph said. "They both had misapprehensions about each other, and they made mistakes about each other. When they started out, King thought Malcolm was this narrow, anti-white, Black nationalist. Malcolm thought King was this bourgeois, reform-minded, Uncle Tom. Neither of them were those things, so they both needed the other.

"King remains a major, global political mobilizer, and the way in which he framed this idea of racial justice globally is very important," Joseph added. "Malcolm X was the first modern activist who was really saying 'Black Lives Matter' in a really deep and definitive way and became the avatar of the Black Power movement."

Joseph believes that, while the differences between King and Malcolm X cannot be ignored, the two men were, in fact, much closer than commonly believed, though their upbringings could not have been more different. "Martin Luther King Jr. was raised in an upper-middle class, elite household in Atlanta, Georgia," Joseph explained. "His father was a preacher, his mother was present in his life and it was a very comfortable upbringing. 

Related: Read a free issue of All About History magazine

"On the other hand, Malcolm X was raised in Omaha, [Nebraska], and in Lansing, Michigan, on farms, so he was a country boy, whose father was murdered by white supremacists when he was 6 years old," Joseph said. "[H]is mother was put in a psychiatric facility, so he was a foster child by the time he was in elementary school. He then became a hustler in Boston and Harlem as a teenager, and he was finally arrested for theft and spent seven years in prison. 

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"When Malcolm was in prison, King was attending Morehouse College, the most prestigious historically Black, all-men's college that you could go to then or now," Joseph added. "He received a theological degree at seminary school, Crozer Theological school in Chester, Pennsylvania, and then got a Ph.D. at Boston University." 

King's strong religious upbringing had a massive influence on his life, and he became a preacher as well as a political activist, including his faith within his speeches. Meanwhile, Malcolm's tough upbringing and the tragedies he endured make a lot of sense when held against the righteous anger and pain he was able to express as a minister for the NOI. 

It was during his time in prison that Malcolm was introduced to Islam by some of his siblings, and he formally joined the Nation of Islam. The NOI's leader, Elijah Muhammad, took a personal interest in Malcolm, before he was released in 1952. Malcolm abandoned what he called his "slave" name, Little, and became Malcolm X. As a minister in the NOI, he advocated for Black separatism (which was the policy of the organization), first in Chicago and later in Harlem, New York, which would become his base for years to come. 

The formative years of Malcolm X's and King's lives are ultimately what frame them as polarized voices in a similar struggle.

"Malcolm X was really Black America's prosecuting attorney, and he was going to be charging white America with a series of crimes against Black humanity," Joseph said. "I argue in 'The Sword and the Shield' [that], in a way, his life's work boils down to radical Black dignity. And what he means by Black dignity is really Black people having the political self-determination to decide their own political futures and fates. They define racism, and they define anti-racism and what social justice looks like for themselves. It's connected to the United States, but globally, it's also connected to African decolonization, African independence, Third World independence, Middle East politics, all of it." 

By contrast, "Martin Luther King Jr. was really the defense attorney; he defended Black lives to white people and white lives to Black people," Joseph said. "He was really advocating for radical Black citizenship, and his notion of citizenship became more expansive over time. iIt was going to be more than just voting rights and ending segregation. It would become about ending poverty, food justice, health care, a living wage, universal basic income for everyone." 

Related: What was the Black Panther Party?

These two approaches — one that builds personal identity, and another that looks to express that identity and have it recognized by a system that is set up to ignore Black voices — seem more complementary than adversarial when observed objectively. "Their differences really become differences of tactics rather than goals," Joseph said. "They're both going to come to see that you need dignity and citizenship, and those goals are going to converge over time. But it's the tactics and how we get to those goals" that differ.

Famously, the pair did not always see eye to eye. On multiple occasions, Malcolm X took aim at King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, referring to him as an "Uncle Tom" (though he later drew back from using the term ). For his part, King warned that "fiery, demagogic oratory in the Black ghettos, urging Negroes to arm themselves and prepare to engage in violence, as [Malcolm X] has done, can reap nothing but grief," according to The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.

Despite the public animosity, Malcolm X attempted to reach out to King over the years, sending articles and NOI reading materials and even inviting him to speeches and meetings. On July 31, 1963, Malcolm X even publicly called for unity. 

"If capitalistic Kennedy and communistic Khrushchev can find something in common on which to form a United Front despite their tremendous ideological differences, it is a disgrace for Negro leaders not to be able to submerge our 'minor' differences in order to seek a common solution to a common problem posed by a Common Enemy," he wrote, inviting civil rights leaders to join him in Harlem to speak at a rally. But they did not attend, perhaps because shortly thereafter, they would be attending the March on Washington, and they were deep in planning. The slight was taken, though, with Malcolm X dismissing the August 1963 event as the "Farce on Washington."

Joseph thinks that, despite the rhetoric, Malcolm X was still learning much from King's activities. "King was the person who helped mobilize Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963, and [he faced] German shepherds and fire hoses and was a big, global media spectacle," Joseph said. "King wrote his famous 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' during that period. Malcolm X was in Washington, D.C., for most of that spring as temporary head of Mosque No. 4, and he [was] really influenced by King's mobilizations — his ability to mobilize large numbers of people — even as he's critical of King because of the nonviolence and the fact that so many kids and women were being brutalized."

Related: Frederick Douglass: The slave who became a statesman

A major turning point for Malcolm X came the following year as he gradually broke away from the NOI and sought to define his own path. "By 1964, in 'The Ballot or the Bullet' speech (April 3, 1964), you see Malcolm X talking about voting rights as part of Black liberation and freedom. You see him in an interview with [writer] Robert Penn Warren, saying that he and King have the same goals, which is human dignity, but they have different ways of getting there," Joseph explained.

On March 26, 1964, King and Malcolm X crossed paths on Capitol Hill, during the debate over the Civil Rights Act as it was being filibustered on the Senate floor. "They were both talking to reporters and doing press conferences in support of the Civil Rights Act," Joseph recounted. "They were both coming there for the same reason. People were surprised that Malcolm was there and he was watching the Senate and he was doing his interviews. 

"[T]here was a point when Malcolm was in the same room as King and on the couch, while King was doing his press conference, and they met afterwards, exchanging pleasantries," Joseph continued. "It was a moment captured by only a couple of photos, in mid-conversation, with Malcolm recorded as saying, 'I'm throwing myself into the heart of the Civil Rights struggle.'" 

This was the first and only time the two men met. 

On Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated in Manhattan, while about to give a speech. The impact of his death would be felt throughout the civil rights movement, but no less so on King.

"One of the surprising things is that we don't discuss the way in which the person who is most radicalized by Malcolm's assassination is Martin Luther King Jr.," Joseph said. "On April 4, 1967, he breaks with President Lyndon Johnson with the Riverside Church speech in New York, where he says that the United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world. Malcolm had always talked about racial slavery and how racial slavery had shaped the present, and King talks about that much more after 1965."

It is perhaps because they evolved and were willing to learn from each other that each man has remained as relevant today as in the 1960s. "Even with George Floyd and Black Lives Matter and the global protests, the only way to understand these movements is to understand Malcolm and Martin," Joseph said. "[They] were talking about so much of these issues of police brutality and the criminal justice system, racial segregation and poverty and state-sanctioned violence." 

Joseph's published books include "The Sword And the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr" (Basic Books, 2020) and "Waiting 'Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America" (Griffin, 2007).

This interview originally appeared in All About History issue 96. 

Jonathan is the Editor of All About History magazine, running the day to day operations of the brand. He has a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Leeds . He has previously worked as Editor of video game magazines games™ and X-ONE and tech magazines iCreate and Apps. He is currently based in Bournemouth, UK.

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Comparing MLK with Malcolm X Essay

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were the two major leaders in the Civil Rights Movement of mid 20 th century. While both leaders had similar goals of demanding recognition and protection of African American liberties in society, their respective backgrounds, approaches, remained widely divergent. Concurrent sections of this essay shall highlight these differences and their impacts on the Civil Rights Movement. Both short-term and long-term impacts of the two approaches will be investigated.

The differences in both leaders’ backgrounds had significant impacts on respective civil rights struggles. Malcolm X was born of a Baptist father who had been a major champion of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (Karim). Malcolm’s father’s intense involvement in movement activities resulted in being at loggerheads with law enforcement. This placed his family in danger and thus embarked on constant relocation from one part of the country to the other before settling in Michigan. Malcolm’s father was later run over by a streetcar. His mother was later declared insane and sent to the mental care facility. These were sad times for the young Malcolm, who started living with foster families while attending various reform schools (Ogbar, 203). He later moved to Boston and got engaged in criminal activities that led to his confinement. It is during this imprisonment that Malcolm came to learn of Elijah Mohamed’s Islamic teachings and henceforth decided to become a Muslim, as well as being seriously involved in civil rights issues. Malcolm’s background is the opposite of that experienced by Martin Luther King (MLK). MLK was born of Baptist parents; his father was a minister, a post inherited from his father (MLK’s grandfather). This provided MLK with a strong religious foundation that would later influence his teachings and practices. After attending elementary school in Atlanta, MLK was admitted to the Pennsylvania-based Crozer Theological Seminary and later Boston University, where he received a Ph.D. in systematic Theology in 1955. He immediately took the ministerial role at Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church (Stanford University) and became increasingly engaged in civil rights issues.

The influence of both leaders’ backgrounds can be seen in the methods applied in their respective leadership roles. On his part, Martin Luther chooses a nonviolent approach in achieving movement goals. Without a doubt, the choice of his approach was influenced by the extensive theological teachings he had received since his childhood. Despite the pressure from some quarters within the movement to push for speedy agitations through violence, MLK relentlessly preached and practice a nonviolence approach. Many civil rights movements participants, including Malcolm X, had concluded that MLK’s approach would take longer to achieve the intended goals (MLK Online) but Martin was ready to wait. Malcolm X was on the view that armed violence was the best measure to meeting civil movement goals. The difference between both approaches led to disagreements between the two leaders to point that they could not merge and strengthen their ties. Each group thus retorted to continuing with putting pressure on the government using the means they so fit: Malcolm X continued with agitating for armed approaches whereas MLK kept preaching peace and nonviolence approach. Though both leaders had similar goals of having African American liberties becoming more recognized and protected by authorities, there were some other little differences regarding specific short and long-term goals of the Civil Rights Movement. On his part, Martin Luther King was determined to have African Americans being treated as equal under the rule of law with their white counterparts. In this regard, MLK intended to have greater integration of American people despite their race, religion, or sex. Luther’s goals, therefore, extended beyond the African American population in the country—he had all minorities included in his long-term goals. Malcolm would hear none of this; instead, he saw the complete “separation from the white man” as the best measure to address the crisis (Howard-Pitney 120). For sure, such a hard stance could not have been incorporated with Martin Luther’s non-violence approach.

Martin Luther was concerned with positive impacts in American society, not just African Americans. This meant that peaceful co-existence between the races had to be a prerequisite, and hence the non-violence approach. On the other hand, Malcolm X was seemingly concerned with short-run results on African American lives. These differences did not stop either of the leaders to achieve certain goals. Martin Luther achieved the integration of American races in both public and private sectors. In addition, his movement saw the segregation that had characterized lifestyle start to wane (Karim). Though Malcolm X did not live to achieve his goals, his followers were instrumental in the rise of Black Power as an authority in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 70s (OAH 12). However, Black Power’s activities were in the authorities’ spotlight, which resulted in to decline in its membership and relevance in the civil rights fraternity.

The above analysis has compared two of the most dominant civil rights movement leaders. It has been established that the differences in respective approach styles developed from the leader’s upbringing. Martin Luther’s religious background was instrumental in his nonviolent approach. Malcolm X’s hardship in life resulted in the agitation of armed resistance. Martin Luther was, however, the one who was most successful in meeting the goals—Malcolm died before attaining his goals. His followers were also unsuccessful in reaching their fallen leaders’ aspirations.

Howard-Pitney, David. Martin Luther, Malcolm X and the Civil Rights. New York: Bedford, 2004.

MLK Online. MLK Bibliography. mlkonline.net. 2008. Web.

Karim, Imam (Edt.). Black Man’s History. Malcolmx.org. 2009. Web.

OAH. “MLK and Malcolm X.” OAH Magazine. 2005.

Ogbar, Jeffrey. Black Power. JHU: Baltimore, 2003.

Stanford University. King Bibliography. Stanford. 2009. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, October 28). Comparing MLK with Malcolm X. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparing-mlk-with-malcolm-x/

"Comparing MLK with Malcolm X." IvyPanda , 28 Oct. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/comparing-mlk-with-malcolm-x/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Comparing MLK with Malcolm X'. 28 October.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Comparing MLK with Malcolm X." October 28, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparing-mlk-with-malcolm-x/.

1. IvyPanda . "Comparing MLK with Malcolm X." October 28, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparing-mlk-with-malcolm-x/.

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May 19, 1925 to February 21, 1965

As the nation’s most visible proponent of  Black Nationalism , Malcolm X’s challenge to the multiracial, nonviolent approach of Martin Luther King, Jr., helped set the tone for the ideological and tactical conflicts that took place within the black freedom struggle of the 1960s. Given Malcolm X’s abrasive criticism of King and his advocacy of racial separatism, it is not surprising that King rejected the occasional overtures from one of his fiercest critics. However, after Malcolm’s assassination in 1965, King wrote to his widow, Betty Shabazz: “While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem” (King, 26 February 1965).

Malcolm Little was born to Louise and Earl Little in Omaha, Nebraska, on 19 May 1925. His father died when he was six years old—the victim, he believed, of a white racist group. Following his father’s death, Malcolm recalled, “Some kind of psychological deterioration hit our family circle and began to eat away our pride” (Malcolm X,  Autobiography , 14). By the end of the 1930s Malcolm’s mother had been institutionalized, and he became a ward of the court to be raised by white guardians in various reform schools and foster homes.

Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam (NOI) while serving a prison term in Massachusetts on burglary charges. Shortly after his release in 1952, he moved to Chicago and became a minister under Elijah Muhammad, abandoning his “slave name,” and becoming Malcolm X (Malcolm X, “We Are Rising”). By the late 1950s, Malcolm had become the NOI’s leading spokesman.

Although Malcolm rejected King’s message of  nonviolence , he respected King as a “fellow-leader of our people,” sending King NOI articles as early as 1957 and inviting him to participate in mass meetings throughout the early 1960s ( Papers  5:491 ). Although Malcolm was particularly interested that King hear Elijah Muhammad’s message, he also sought to create an open forum for black leaders to explore solutions to the “race problem” (Malcolm X, 31 July 1963). King never accepted Malcolm’s invitations, however, leaving communication with him to his secretary, Maude  Ballou .

Despite his repeated overtures to King, Malcolm did not refrain from criticizing him publicly. “The only revolution in which the goal is loving your enemy,” Malcolm told an audience in 1963, “is the Negro revolution … That’s no revolution” (Malcolm X, “Message to the Grassroots,” 9).

In the spring of 1964, Malcolm broke away from the NOI and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. When he returned he began following a course that paralleled King’s—combining religious leadership and political action. Although King told reporters that Malcolm’s separation from Elijah Muhammad “holds no particular significance to the present civil rights efforts,” he argued that if “tangible gains are not made soon all across the country, we must honestly face the prospect that some Negroes might be tempted to accept some oblique path [such] as that Malcolm X proposes” (King, 16 March 1964).

Ten days later, during the Senate debate on the  Civil Rights Act of 1964 , King and Malcolm met for the first and only time. After holding a press conference in the Capitol on the proceedings, King encountered Malcolm in the hallway. As King recalled in a 3 April letter, “At the end of the conference, he came and spoke to me, and I readily shook his hand.” King defended shaking the hand of an adversary by saying that “my position is that of kindness and reconciliation” (King, 3 April 1965).

Malcolm’s primary concern during the remainder of 1964 was to establish ties with the black activists he saw as more militant than King. He met with a number of workers from the  Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee  (SNCC), including SNCC chairman John  Lewis  and Mississippi organizer Fannie Lou  Hamer . Malcolm saw his newly created Organization of African American Unity (OAAU) as a potential source of ideological guidance for the more militant veterans of the southern civil rights movement. At the same time, he looked to the southern struggle for inspiration in his effort to revitalize the Black Nationalist movement.

In January 1965, he revealed in an interview that the OAAU would “support fully and without compromise any action by any group that is designed to get meaningful immediate results” (Malcolm X,  Two Speeches , 31). Malcolm urged civil rights groups to unite, telling a gathering at a symposium sponsored by the  Congress of Racial Equality : “We want freedom now, but we’re not going to get it saying ‘We Shall Overcome.’ We've got to fight to overcome” (Malcolm X,  Malcolm X Speaks , 38).

In early 1965, while King was jailed in Selma, Alabama, Malcolm traveled to Selma, where he had a private meeting with Coretta Scott  King . “I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult,” he assured Coretta. “I really did come thinking that I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King” (Scott King, 256).

On 21 February 1965, just a few weeks after his visit to Selma, Malcolm X was assassinated. King called his murder a “great tragedy” and expressed his regret that it “occurred at a time when Malcolm X was … moving toward a greater understanding of the nonviolent movement” (King, 24 February 1965). He asserted that Malcolm’s murder deprived “the world of a potentially great leader” (King, “The Nightmare of Violence”). Malcolm’s death signaled the beginning of bitter battles involving proponents of the ideological alternatives the two men represented.

Maude L. Ballou to Malcolm X, 1 February 1957, in  Papers  4:117 .

Goldman, Death and Life of Malcolm X , 1973.

King, “The Nightmare of Violence,”  New York Amsterdam News , 13 March 1965.

King, Press conference on Malcolm X’s assassination, 24 February 1965,  MLKJP-GAMK .

King, Statement on Malcolm X’s break with Elijah Muhammad, 16 March 1964,  MCMLK-RWWL .

King to Abram Eisenman, 3 April 1964,  MLKJP-GAMK .

King to Shabazz, 26 February 1965,  MCMLK-RWWL .

(Scott) King,  My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. , 1969.

Malcolm X, Interview by Harry Ring over Station WBAI-FM in New York, in  Two Speeches by Malcolm X , 1965.

Malcolm X, “Message to the Grassroots,”  in Malcolm X Speaks , ed. George Breitman, 1965.

Malcolm X, “We Are Rising From the Dead Since We Heard Messenger Muhammad Speak,”  Pittsburgh Courier , 15 December 1956.

Malcolm X to King, 21 July 1960, in  Papers  5:491 .

Malcolm X to King, 31 July 1963, 

Malcolm X with Haley,  Autobiography of Malcolm X , 1965.

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Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X: A Comparative Analysis

Table of contents, philosophies and approaches, rhetorical styles, approaches to integration, legacy and impact.

• Branch, T. (2006). Parting the waters: America in the King years, 1954-63. Simon and Schuster.
• Marable, M. (2011). Manning Marable speaks on Malcolm X: A documentary film. AK Press.
• Carson, C., & Shepard, S. (2001). A call to conscience: The landmark speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Grand Central Publishing.
• Haley, A. (1965). The autobiography of Malcolm X. Ballantine Books.
• Garrow, D. J. (1986). Bearing the cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. HarperOne.

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The American civil rights movement, a pivotal era in the nation’s history, was marked by the emergence of two prominent leaders: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Their visions and methods for achieving racial equality and freedom were distinctly different, offering diverse perspectives within the struggle for civil rights. This essay explores the differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King in their approaches to achieving racial justice for African Americans.

Historical Background

The mid-20th century in the United States was characterized by a profound struggle for civil rights, particularly for African Americans who faced rampant segregation and discrimination. This period was marked by significant social and political upheaval as African Americans actively sought to assert their rights and claim their rightful place in society. Amidst this backdrop, two influential figures emerged as leading voices in this struggle: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Both leaders, while united in their ultimate goal of achieving equality and freedom for African Americans, adopted markedly different philosophies and tactics in their pursuits. Malcolm X, known for his fiery and uncompromising rhetoric, advocated for a more radical approach to securing these rights. In contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. championed a path of nonviolent resistance, drawing on principles of peaceful protest. These divergent approaches highlighted the complexity and multifaceted nature of the fight for civil rights during this pivotal era in American history.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Non-Violence

Martin Luther King Jr., often abbreviated as MLK, was a proponent of non-violent protest. Influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, King believed in peaceful methods to achieve civil rights. He led marches and peaceful protests, advocating for integration and equality in a non-aggressive manner. King’s philosophy was one of love and forgiveness, aiming to unite rather than divide the nation. His leadership during events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington was instrumental in bringing national attention to the injustices faced by African Americans.

Malcolm X and Separatism

In contrast, Malcolm X, a member of the Nation of Islam, initially advocated for separatism rather than integration. He believed that African Americans should establish their own institutions and communities, separate from those of white Americans. Malcolm X’s approach was more radical, often perceived as militant. He famously stated that freedom should be achieved “by any means necessary,” which was interpreted as an endorsement of violence, if required, for self-defense. Malcolm X’s stance softened after leaving the Nation of Islam, where he began to advocate for racial unity but still maintained a more militant approach than King.

Ideology Differences and Community Impact

The core difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King lies in their ideologies. King’s approach was rooted in non-violence and peaceful protest, aiming to achieve racial integration and harmony. On the other hand, Malcolm X initially supported racial separatism and was open to using more aggressive means to defend and uplift African Americans. Their differing views on how to achieve freedom and equality reflected the diversity of thought within the civil rights movement.

Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had significant impacts on the civil rights movement. King’s non-violent approach garnered widespread support, leading to significant legislative changes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Malcolm X’s advocacy for black self-sufficiency and his later openness to racial harmony inspired many African Americans to fight more assertively for their rights. Their combined efforts contributed to the gradual dismantling of segregation and the advancement of civil rights in America.

In conclusion, while Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both aimed to achieve racial equality and freedom for African Americans, their methods and philosophies were notably different. King’s legacy of non-violent, peaceful protest and Malcolm X’s initial separatist stance, followed by a call for racial unity, represent the diverse strategies within the civil rights movement. Understanding the differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King is crucial in appreciating the multifaceted nature of the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Their distinct approaches played a significant role in shaping the nation’s journey towards racial equality.

Did Martin Luther King disagree with Malcolm X?

Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. did have disagreements with Malcolm X, primarily concerning their approaches to the civil rights movement. While both sought racial equality, King advocated for nonviolent resistance and peaceful protest, influenced by Christian ideals of love and forgiveness. Malcolm X, initially a member of the Nation of Islam, advocated for black empowerment, often perceived as endorsing a more militant stance. Their differing views on violence and integration versus separatism were central to their disagreements.

What were the religious differences between MLK and Malcolm X?

The religious beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X significantly influenced their approaches to civil rights. MLK, a Baptist minister, was deeply rooted in Christian teachings, which shaped his philosophy of nonviolent protest and love-based activism. Malcolm X, initially a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, held Islamic beliefs that emphasized black self-sufficiency and were critical of white America. His views evolved over time, but his Islamic faith remained a guiding factor in his activism.

What was a common goal of MLK and Malcolm X?

Despite their different approaches and philosophies, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X shared a common goal: achieving racial equality and freedom for African Americans. Both leaders were deeply committed to the advancement of civil rights and worked tirelessly to eradicate the systemic racism and injustices faced by African Americans. They sought to uplift the black community and ensure a society where all individuals were treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race.

What are the differences between MLK and Malcolm X?

The differences between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are primarily found in their methods and philosophies regarding the civil rights movement. MLK advocated for peaceful, nonviolent resistance and integration, inspired by Christian teachings. He believed in working within the existing system to achieve change. Conversely, Malcolm X, especially during his time with the Nation of Islam, supported the idea of black separatism and was open to the use of self-defense. His stance mellowed after leaving the Nation of Islam, advocating for racial unity but maintaining a more radical approach compared to King. Their contrasting views on violence, integration, and the role of religion in social activism marked the key differences in their strategies for racial equality.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Malcolm X — Malcolm X and Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Perspectives

Malcolm X and Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Perspectives

• Categories: Malcolm X Martin Luther King

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Words: 570 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 570 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Background and influences, approaches to civil rights activism, goals and messages, impact and legacy, comparison and contrast.

• "Malcolm X." Biography, A&E Television Networks, 19 April 2021, www.biography.com/activist/malcolm-x.
• "Martin Luther King Jr." The King Center, The King Center, 19 April 2021, www.thekingcenter.org/about-dr-king/biography/.

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Martin Luther King Vs Malcolm X

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Society today, will never understand the struggles of the black community, that had to endure to battle for racial equality and freedom, back in the day. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcom X were very influential African American individuals who had a goal to achieve and to accomplish one task, to fight for their rights. Years after the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, still remain the two of the world’s most respected political activists of the American Civil Rights movement.

The civil rights movement was a struggle for social justice that was taken place mainly in the timeframe between the 1950s and 1960s for blacks to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. This paper will discuss the similarities and difference of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, to explain the readers two civil rights leaders who wanted to improve that status of black people in the United States, but had different ideologies and techniques on how to approach and fix the situation.

Martin Luther King Jr was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, who grew up in a middle class family. He was a well-educated man, that believed in the Christian faith who was always against violence, throughout his entire ministry. His approach to civil rights was non-violent protesting, speaking out for non-violence, passive resistance, and what he called, “weapons of love”. According to Martin Luther King Jr., he believes that “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for man to overcome oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation for such method is love.” One of his famous accomplishments was the March from Washington to the Lincoln memorial taken place in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. Over 20,000 people came to march on, this event is where he became a huge influence of the civil rights movement. In the mind of Dr. King, he was convinced that self-respect would come through integration.

However, Malcom X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, who grew up in an underprivileged environment, with barely any schooling. His religion was Muslim and he believed in Muslim principles; he served as a spokesman and leader for the Nation of Islam while he was in the organization, he gained recognition worldwide. Malcolm considered the nonviolent message was not making any progress, he encouraged his followers for fighting back even psychically, whatever it took violence or not. As stated by Malcolm X, “We declare our right on this Earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this Earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” Malcolm was focused towards a segregationist approach, for races to be separated, instead of a peaceful protest.

The two civil rights activists shared a common goal, and there was no waiting, it had to be done. Dr. King and Malcom X knew racism was the biggest issue that had to be fixed, with the support of millions of followers. Unlike their differences of religion, the independent strong leaders had their own spiritual beliefs. Meanwhile, Malcolm X was older than Martin Luther King Jr., they were both assassinated at the same age. Malcolm was 39 when the members of the Nation of Islam gunned him down on February 21, 1965 as he gave his speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. King was 39 as well, when James Earl Ray shot him down on April 4 1968, as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee; he was in town to support striking African American sanitation workers. As Martin Luther King Jr, and Malcom X may have different takes on nonviolence, the two prominent leaders shared a great deal of similarities.

In conclusion, these men had a major influence on the civil rights movement causing these two to go down in history as heroes. The voices of King and X are even heard in modern day society and still impact individuals to have equality and give the people a chance to be who they want to be, with nobody stopping them, today. They gained justice and equality, as they were respected for their fight for freedom.

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Malcolm x vs martin luther king jr.: comparison between two great leaders’ ideologies .

Oct 24, 2021

The Civil Rights Movement against racism of the 1960s in the US gave birth to some of the most global-scale renowned activists. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, we all know these two great men. It is impossible to analyze the twentieth-century race conflicts without mentioning these two people. They are the civil rights leaders who have genuinely made a big change on the issue of racial equality in the US and around the world.

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What is most intriguing is that, although they were fighting for civil rights at the same time, their ideology and way of fighting were completely distinctive. This can be for a plethora of reasons: background, upbringing, the system of thought, and vision. But keep in mind, they devoted their whole life to the same prospect. 

So, what influenced the direction of these two's struggles? And in retrospect, can we figure out which ideal is more probable? 

Let's dig in! 

Table of Contents

Disparities in upbringings development , criminal vs pastor , christianity vs islam , identical fight, distinctive approaches , nothing but severe conflict , no right or wrong answer for all this stuff , they both fought for one future .

It can be said that the family situation has the most decisive influence on the ideology of the two civil rights activists. 

Malcolm X's childhood was as tragic as most black children at that time. Born into a poor and child-crowded family in Ohama to one of the black activist parents, Malcolm grew up under the threat and discrimination of white people. After many times suffering from beating, threatening, and enduring the pain of losing his father when he was only 6 years old, the terror and hatred towards white supremacists reached their peaks. 

Having been repeatedly bullied at work while trying to take care of her children, Louise Little (Malcolm X’s mother) suffered from severe mental health problems. She then was forced to send Malcolm X and his siblings to different charity houses. During this process, teenager Malcolm had to fight tooth and nail with white supremacists everywhere. Besides, joining gangs also made Malcolm understand how difficult life was for black people. With an insecure standard of living, low educational attainment, and oppression in every way, most African-Americans have become victims of violence, evils, alcohol abuse, rape, and many other crimes.

Malcolm X licensed under CC BY

Later in his civil rights activity, we can see that Malcolm's early concerns are still rather significant. Aside from unfavorable perceptions about white people, he felt that peaceful cohabitation between the two races was impossible. More crucially, the black community must resort to violence to fight for their rights. 

Martin, in another development, represents the rare middle-class black family with status in society. He was born into the family of a Baptist pastor. The wealth and status of his family allowed Martin early access to a higher level of knowledge than most blacks at the time. 

Unlike Malcolm's more extreme experiences, Martin experienced class inequality to a higher degree. For him, equality is more than just being provided with the most basic needs of the oppressed race. According to the martin ideal, equality must be present in the absolute harmony between the races and the eradication of all racial distinctions. That is, black people could achieve the same freedoms and rights as white people or any other color in the world. 

Despite his unstable home life, Malcolm was successful at school. Unlike the other children at the detention center who were sent to a reformatory, Malcolm was allowed to attend Mason Middle School, the only regular middle school in town. 

By the time he was in middle school, Malcolm had earned the best grades even among his white classmates. However, a white teacher told Malcolm he couldn't become a lawyer but should consider becoming a carpenter instead. Malcolm was so disturbed by the remarks that he dropped out right after finishing grade 8.  

After moving to Boston, Malcolm fell prey to the social evils here. This was the time when he started the heist, gambling, drug dealing, and bloody gang killings. After several attempts to circumvent the law, Malcolm was arrested in February 1946 for theft and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was sent to Charlestown State Prison in Boston. 

A mugshot of Malcolm X in 1944 , Public domain

Pastor Martin, on the contrary, goes further in his studies than anyone else. Entering university at the age of 15, having 2 university degrees, becoming a doctor of philosophy at the age of 26, Martin's talent is undeniable. In addition, he also received home education to become a prestigious ding Baptist pastor. 

While the only subjects Malcolm could deal with were criminals, illiterate people, alcoholics, and homeless people, Martin was able to converse with many forward-thinking people (including whites). The difference in the way they receive education is also evident in their views and the way to fight later. Although after his release from prison, Malcolm X has become an influential journalist and public speaker, his messages are still more direct and powerful than the peaceful and humble speeches of Martin. 

Their faith also had a significant impact on their future lives. King accepted his Christian views, which he showed in his famous address in 1963: 

“ I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists… that one day, right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers .” 

King frequently spoke of the "American Dream," referring to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution's notion of equality. King's ideal was worldwide and everlasting, not just for racial equality in the United States. A universal dream is shared by all peoples, regardless of color, sex, ethnicity, country. 

Malcolm X, on the other hand, was a Muslim cleric who advocated for African Americans' equal rights. He believed in racial segregation, the inherent wickedness of whites, and the necessity to embrace African culture as a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI). 

American Black Rights Activist Malcolm X  licensed under  CC BY

In comparison to Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm's tone was harsher in his critique of America and its tactics for attaining equality. Malcolm struggled with poverty, misery, and impotence. As a result, he attempted to inspire and enlighten black people as someone who had lived through the "American Nightmare" rather than the "American Dream." 

Dr. King and Malcolm X both worked hard to establish legal equality for blacks. These include voting rights, desegregation, and increased representation in government and politics. However, both men's tactics and strategies were vastly different. 

Negotiations, according to Dr. King, might be brought about by the perseverance of a peaceful approach. In the hearts and minds of the country, the oppressed people's determination would triumph against the oppressor's will. He was a staunch believer in Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent resistance approach, which had been effective in pushing the British out of India. 

According to King, the aim of the protestors, or black people, is not to embarrass the adversary (the white American), but to gain his affection and sympathy. He desired collaboration between Whites and African Americans to be one nation - America.

" We shall be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, go to jail together, to climb up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day ," he stated in his famous speech. He asserted that the heart of nonviolence is founded on the idea of love or understanding. Dr. King underlined that the white man should not be held accountable for the oppression of minorities and blacks. 

This is where the two leaders disagree. 

On the other hand, Malcolm X believed that social injustice and racism had gone on for far too long. Malcolm X stated unequivocally that he felt African Americans and White people should remain separate but be treated equally. He encouraged white people to " work alongside us—each of us working among our own kind. " 

Malcolm, who publicly denied being an American, worked for the Nation of Islam, which wanted to establish a distinct society for its members. Malcolm opposed integration with white America as a worthy goal, and he was especially opposed to nonviolence as a way of achieving it. In Malcolm's opinion, an African American could never give up his right to self-defense the white aggression " by any means necessary ".

Aside from their differences in racial beliefs and ideologies, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King's struggles have a distinct trajectory. The most essential attribute of an activist is their capacity to inspire others as well as persuade others to follow their ideals. 

Malcolm X's manner of protest includes utilizing violence against violence and unequal rights, as well as advocating segregation of African Americans and whites. Martin Luther King's method, on the other hand, includes peaceful marches and struggles against violence, as well as pushing for black and white integration. During the Civil Rights Movement, the leadership styles of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X deliver significant evidence of how different styles of endeavor may result in very separate fights. 

In the 1960s black liberation struggle, King and Malcolm embody two opposing responses: nonviolence against violence. 

King was America's most well-known nonviolent activist. Nonviolence, he believed, was a successful approach for social transformation and the foundation of his life philosophy. He predicted that nonviolence would be an effective weapon for blacks in the American Civil Rights Movement, as well as for other oppressed people all over the world. The following successes highlight the strength of nonviolence: the Montgomery bus boycott (1955), student sit-ins (1960), Freedom Rides (1961), Birmingham protests (1963), the March on Washington (1963), the Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Selma March (1965).  

Martin Luther King, Jr. San Francisco June 30 1964   by  geoconklin2001  is licensed under  CC BY-ND 2.0

According to King, segregation in America and colonialism in the Third World were denials of human dignity and value. Through boycotts and marches, he hoped to end racial segregation. He felt that the abolition of segregation would improve the likelihood of integration. 

Malcolm X, on the other hand, spearheaded a movement for black empowerment. His goal was to restore the power of oppressed black people via spiritual teaching of racism, economic growth, and self-defense training. His political philosophy was founded on the connection between the struggle of African Americans and that of other oppressed peoples across the world. 

Malcolm, in contrast to King, was viewed as a preacher of hatred and violence. Malcolm X chastised King and his views on nonviolence. As a member of the Nation of Islam, he embraced white America's value system, making everything black good and everything white evil. Unlike Martin Luther King, Malcolm saw violence as a necessary response to illegal conduct. 

In reality, he encouraged self-defense rather than violence. He believed that the right to self-defense was the foundation of mankind. So he couldn't see how black people could be considered human if they don't protect themselves. If the government fails to protect black people, they have the right to defend themselves. 

According to the history of black movements in the United States since the days of slavery, the struggle for emancipation and equality has taken two distinct paths: integration and separation, with the latter requiring either a return to Africa or the formation of a distinct African-American society. Martin Luther King picked the first, whereas Malcolm X chose the second. 

In the last years of his life, Malcolm X did not consider Martin an adversary anymore. After breaking away from NOI ((Nation of Islam) and away from negative religious influences, Malcolm X looked at the issue of race in a completely different light. With this in mind, he founded African American Unity (OAAU). 

This new organization had nothing to do with religion. On the contrary, they appealed to African-Americans to participate regardless of their religious background and called for the creation of a widespread movement. The line of this organization clearly reflected the ideology of Malcolm at that time: Not encouraging revenge against white people or promoting violent resistance. However, this ideology was considered far more advanced than the nonviolent protest movement of the time and allowed self-defense against racist attacks. 

Although the movement still denied white participation, Malcolm's series of statements during this time showed a decline in hostility towards whites. He argued that, before the unification of whites and blacks could be achieved, blacks had to unite with each other. 

Malcolm X traveled to Washington in 1964 to testify on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He claimed that he was " throwing himself into the heart of the civil rights struggle ". During this period, Malcolm was also very interested in the black suffrage movements. During a speech arranged by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Selma, Alabama, he met with Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King's widow, and remarked, " I want Dr. King to know that I didn't come to Selma to make his work difficult. " 

While Malcolm never accepted Uncle Tom and his dedication to nonviolent resistance, he indicated his intentions of collaborating with this fellow preacher. They may not be allies, but they are no longer rivals in the fight for civil rights. Only at his last word did Malcolm admit: 

" Dr. King wants the same thing I want — freedom! " 

Perhaps for these reasons, not long after the two assassinations took place, Martin and Malcolm's wives expressed a strong fellowship. 

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X fought for the African-American dilemma from separate perspectives as a result of their diverse experiences. However, each of them showed remarkable leadership skills, extraordinary vision as well as a strong desire for justice. 

Decades after their deaths, the messages of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X still touch the hearts of millions. Despite their differences, they are both black civil rights activists who have made significant contributions to global racial equality. Their idea preceded and influenced the current thought. They were the forefathers of many generations of black people. 

One last fact: Although their common goal has deeply connected their lives, throughout their lives, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X only met once in just over a minute (Long enough just to take a single picture). Perhaps without the conflicts and injustices, difficulties and misunderstandings, they would have become real soulmates. 

As Martin Luther King Jr. once  said , " While we did not always see eye-to-eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems we face as a race.... " 

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These two Great Black Men Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Black Equality. Therefore Every Black Person Should Strive for Advancement and Black Excellence. Let’s Not let them Die in Vain!!!

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‘genius: mlk/x’ review: kelvin harrison jr. and aaron pierre play civil rights icons respectfully compared and contrasted.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are the subjects of National Geographic's follow-up to seasons about Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and Aretha Franklin.

By Daniel Fienberg

Daniel Fienberg

Chief Television Critic

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Over eight hours, Genius: MLK/X uses a frequently on-the-nose back-and-forth approach to the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. ( Kelvin Harrison Jr. ) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre), one that allows the series’ writers, starting with Jeff Stetson, to take two men who have been painted into the corner of being iconic ideological opposites and explore their philosophical journeys to surprising commonalities.

It’s reductive, but it gives the new Genius season a workable structure that the Pablo Picasso and Aretha Franklin seasons frequently lacked. There are complicated ideas that the structure lets Genius: MLK/X begin to reconcile, plus the writers are able to extend the structure to Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz as well.

What you get in MLK/X , though, is a predictable result: The series is a decent introductory perspective on what divided and united the two men, but an increasingly superficial examination of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as individuals. 

The series begins in 1964 with the only known meeting between them, a random passing at the Capitol in the moments leading up to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They pose for pictures and engage in amiable small talk, but it isn’t an epic summit or anything. Both men are aware that even this limited interaction runs the risk of alienating their followers or of being misconstrued in the press. 

For two episodes of character-building, Genius is on solid footing, showing how Young Malcolm and Young Martin’s respective strong-willed fathers (Lennie James as MLK Sr. and Gbenga Akinnagbe as Earl Little) shaped their early political upbringings in similar ways.  Other back-and-forth vignettes relate to how the men came to meet and eventually marry Coretta (Weruche Opia) and Betty (Jayme Lawson).

Were I to list all the overlaps, both genuine and forced, it would become like one of those conspiratorial lists connecting the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations (“Lincoln grew up in his father’s log cabin and Kennedy once spilled some Log Cabin syrup in his father’s Lincoln!”). That’s the kind of the level the series is working on, though it makes its points quickly and assertively.

The compare-contrast story works well for the early chapters of their lives because it helps give dimension to Martin and Malcolm as people before they became all-caps ICONS. Nobody is intimidated by either man at that stage, much less every person with whom they come into contact. Nor are they themselves intimidated by the responsibility to make every word out of their mouths come across like a slogan.

But the dam breaks in the third episode and the rest of the series suffers from a serious case of biopic-itis.

Minutes later, in the same episode in which the parallel structure is meant to make us understand that Martin and Malcolm are beginning to realize their budding influence, two white cops watch Malcolm in action and one, never seen before and never to be seen again, observes, “This is too much power for one man to have.”

That, kids, is just graceless writing and the next five episodes are packed with such moments — moments where people are very, very aware of the outside commentary imposed by history. For instance, when Martin returns from prison and his wife recounts her conversation with John F. Kennedy, a presidential candidate at the time, he observes, “That phone call probably changed the course of the election, of history.” Ugh.

The series is even more clunky with its handling of characters out of the immediate and direct sphere of its two heroes. Each scene with Donal Logue’s party-swapping Strom Thurmond is worse than the one before and not because Logue is bad. He’s as good as any actor could be with lines like, “Not today or tomorrow but soon, the Republican Party will come to represent all the values that make America great.” See what they did there? 

The weight of indelible history, not helped by inconsistent use of documentary footage, is just too much for Genius: MLK/X to live up to.

Pierre gives the stronger of the two lead performances, conveying Malcolm X’s rectitude in every bit of his physicality and embodying his persuasiveness, even if his cadences are much closer to Barack Obama than the actual Malcolm X. Harrison’s grasp of King’s voice comes and goes and there’s almost no resemblance at all, but sometimes when he gets into the flow of a speech or pronouncement, the actor vanishes entirely.

Both Opia and Lawson are excellent as Coretta and Betty, radiating different types of intelligence — one more nurturing, one more fierce. I don’t buy for a second, though, that Genius has done some great service in treating them as equals in the narrative. They’re just given a lot more time to be concerned or disapproving in the same way Civil Rights wives are so often treated. However respectful those presentations are, there’s a limit to how much feminist extra credit I can give to a series that treats Dorothy Cotton (Karina Willis) as little more than a secretary and Ella Baker (Erica Tazel) as possibly even less than that. These are significant figures turned into wallpaper. 

There’s some very funny stunt casting for LBJ and J. Edgar Hoover. It’s bad casting, but it’s funny enough that I don’t want to spoil it.

For a series with almost no subtlety at all — the use of modern songs that say almost exactly what’s happening onscreen is definitely a choice — the treatment of the two assassinations borders on understated. Before those assassinations occur, the finale effectively captures the way Malcolm X’s post-Nation of Islam politics and King’s anti-war sentiments were leading in the direction of a dovetail, presenting one of history’s great “What If?” tragedies. 

Did James Baldwin come to the same conclusions in two sentences that it takes Genius: MLK/X eight hours to arrive at? Sure, but I haven’t been a fan of the last two Genius seasons, so I mean it as a compliment to say that however clumsy the MLK/X storytelling sometimes is, the compare-contrast approach gives the season some momentum and yields some sturdy points.

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• Civil Rights
• Compare and Contrast

Related Topics

• Civil Disobedience
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Freedom of Speech
• Civil liberties
• Individual Rights
• Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King

Compare And Contrast Mlk And Malcolm X

Within the dark clouds, which had emerged from a distant place and gradually obliterated the once clear sky of this nation over many years, two important individuals emerged.

They were the fighters, the leaders, the teachers – the generals who led their forces of justice and equality against the numbering and thundering dark clouds. Their men stood together, side by side, and fought courageously to win the war against racism’s darkness. However, these men belonged to two distinct forces: one under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s guidance and a more assertive force led by Malcolm X.

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While they had distinct differences, Martin Luther King and Malcolm (Little) X shared a common dedication to a shared objective, albeit in different arenas. Both individuals were diligent learners who, despite encountering societal conflicts, maintained an open mindset. They actively pursued understanding of the world and formulated their own personal philosophies that they held as truths. Furthermore, both exhibited unwavering commitment to their respective ideologies.

They were both driven to eradicate the racism experienced by the African-American community in the world. With this shared objective, they embarked on a mission to abolish racism permanently. While they had some similarities and numerous differences, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both influential figures in the ongoing fight against racism throughout their lives.

Both leaders delivered powerful speeches on racism, but their intentions and styles differed. King adopted a more positive and idealistic approach, whereas Malcolm X expressed more pessimistic views. King remained hopeful, believing that someday blacks would achieve full equality with whites. He employed non-violent demonstrations and arguments as his strategies to attain equality.

Malcolm X, on the contrary, perceived non-violence and integration as means for the “whites maintaining the blacks in their designated positions”. Malcolm X expressed more anger towards white racism and advocated for more protests against white racists compared to King. Despite being more extreme, both men aimed for recognition of one’s culture and history. King’s optimistic outlook on the future of racism in our nation distinguished him as a distinct and superior activist in many aspects.

Malcolm X’s challenging upbringing and personal history influenced his pessimistic perspective. In contrast, King’s idealistic outlook provided greater optimism for black individuals. Malcolm X’s realistic speeches and viewpoints were frequently perceived as pessimistic, as they advocated for segregation and expressed doubt about the possibility of ever achieving equality for both blacks and whites. His arguments served as a constant reminder of the inequality faced by black individuals, while King offered ideas and visions for a future filled with hope.

Malcolm X came to the realization that his beliefs, which he had adopted from Elijah Mohammad, a prominent figure in the African American Muslim society known as the Nation of Islam, were incorrect. The Nation of Islam organized numerous events against the Caucasian race and employed illegal tactics in secret to promote the idea of racial separation between blacks and whites. However, after embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca, a holy city for Muslims, Malcolm X discovered that Islam actually teaches racial equality rather than inequality. On the other hand, Dr. King remained steadfast in his belief that blacks and whites are equal and that one day this equality would be recognized worldwide.

King never had to alter his convictions, in contrast Malcolm X’s frequent display of anger provided ammunition for white racists. King was a stronger advocate for non-violence, resulting in fewer criticisms from white individuals. Malcolm was more susceptible to attacks from whites due to his anger.

Malcolm X’s anger also generated more animosity within the black community. It might have been more successful if he had expressed his ideas in a manner more resembling King’s. Nonetheless, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were both highly influential figures from our past. They shared the ultimate objective of instilling hope in the African American population in our nation; however, they approached this goal with distinct ideologies.

King’s optimistic approach towards giving hope to African-Americans was more successful. Without King’s idealism, the African American vision for their future might not have been acknowledged. He provided the community with a powerful voice and a promising future to anticipate. Malcolm X’s perspectives, on the other hand, were perceived as leading towards a segregated nation, which was less motivating for African-Americans.

Ultimately, he ultimately changed his views and fought to present them differently towards the end of his career. Despite the painful fact that hostile bullets took these important figures away from us, the newer generation, their teachings remain intact. The above explanation unmistakably showcases the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Although Thomas Jefferson and Malcolm X had similarities and differences, their common goal was evident: to eradicate racism against African Americans. Their efforts in achieving this objective will forever be honored.

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