Malcolm X: Civil Rights Activist

America’s most well-known Civil Rights’ activist, Martin Luther King, believed it was never right to use violence. His nonviolent activism achieved more genuine progress towards racial equality in American history. In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, King declared that America would be a land of freedom where all men are created equal. Malcolm X, who was also one of the most historically known Human Rights’ activist and advocate for the rights of African-American, had a different approach and perspective. Malcolm X was willing to use “by any means necessary”, violent or nonviolent, to achieve civil right and equality. They both share the same goal but using violence to bring social change will only make the tension between the two parties
He believed that the two races will never unite and the segregation cannot solve the racial problem with equality. In his famous “Stop Singing and Start Swinging” speech, he points out that there is no practical gain that Black people have in the Civil Rights’ movement. When Malcolm addresses “It’s a victory that you can talk about but it’s a victory you can’t show me” specifies Malcolm did not believe nonviolence brought factual liberty for black people. He wants his people to be prepared to defend themselves than being defenseless. In one of his interviews, Malcolm says, “Being defenseless in one of the cruel beasts that have ever taken the people into captivity that is the American White Man and they have proved it throughout the country”. What White man did to African-American people in the past was cruel and unforgivable but no matter what the past holds, it is unethical and illogical to defeat violence with violence when the other party has more power to destroy. Malcolm’s general philosophy was that tactics based solely on morality can only succeed when dealing with moral people or a moral system, and a system which opposes a man because of his color is immoral. Thus, nonviolence cannot bring a true
Returning violence for violence will only bring more hate and brutality on both sides. If African Americans were to fight for their justice with violence, they will lose because the police have higher defensive force and power. There will be many people who are likely to lose their lives or get injured on the field compared to nonviolent protest. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King’s moral view could be driven by their different experience in a different situation. Regardless of their background and experience, in order to bring a social change, violence should never be the answer no matter what the opposing side