Who Was More Successful In The Fight For Civil Rights
Who was more successful in the fight for Civil Rights, Malcolm X or Martin Luther King?
The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s was led in two distinctive ways by two very different men with all but the same aims and goals. Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King wanted a better life for African Americans, although it is clear that Martin Luther King was far more successful than his rival. King’s leadership and inspiration as a figurehead for the movement, as well as his establishment of the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) were vital in the resurgence of the movement in February 1960 and onward. Malcolm X however was a role model and respected leader to the black youth of America, with aggressive methods that provided a stark contrast to that of King. King’s methods were what enabled him to see more success than Malcolm X in the fight for African American Civil Rights. Critics and cynics often branded King a ‘glory seeker’ but it was clear that his ultimate leadership in rhetoric and direction was what made the movement. NAACP leader Roy Wilkins described King as presumptuous and self promoting, but King felt that God had called him to leadership. The March on Washington in August 1963 is a testament and historic moment in King’s leadership of the movement. Despite his fear that non-violence was decreasingly popular amongst blacks, many of whom were embittered by then slow pace of change, he felt the march would maintain black morale in advertising the effectiveness of non-violent protest. His memorable speech made a powerful appeal to not only black America, but white America too. King was seen to have coordinated a collaboration of the major civil rights leaders and united them through a national undertaking. Additionally King set up the SCLC in 1957 with the aim of improving the black situation in the South by attracting national attention to racial inequality, a more reasonable platform than that of Malcolm X. King was far more successful
The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s was led in two distinctive ways by two very different men with all but the same aims and goals. Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King wanted a better life for African Americans, although it is clear that Martin Luther King was far more successful than his rival. King’s leadership and inspiration as a figurehead for the movement, as well as his establishment of the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) were vital in the resurgence of the movement in February 1960 and onward. Malcolm X however was a role model and respected leader to the black youth of America, with aggressive methods that provided a stark contrast to that of King. King’s methods were what enabled him to see more success than Malcolm X in the fight for African American Civil Rights. Critics and cynics often branded King a ‘glory seeker’ but it was clear that his ultimate leadership in rhetoric and direction was what made the movement. NAACP leader Roy Wilkins described King as presumptuous and self promoting, but King felt that God had called him to leadership. The March on Washington in August 1963 is a testament and historic moment in King’s leadership of the movement. Despite his fear that non-violence was decreasingly popular amongst blacks, many of whom were embittered by then slow pace of change, he felt the march would maintain black morale in advertising the effectiveness of non-violent protest. His memorable speech made a powerful appeal to not only black America, but white America too. King was seen to have coordinated a collaboration of the major civil rights leaders and united them through a national undertaking. Additionally King set up the SCLC in 1957 with the aim of improving the black situation in the South by attracting national attention to racial inequality, a more reasonable platform than that of Malcolm X. King was far more successful