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Compare Contrast Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Compare Contrast Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nyria Madison 11-12-12 Word count 553 Response Paper 3

Malcolm x and Martin Luther King Jr. are both powerful leaders. Malcolm X believed in violence and Martin Luther King believed in nonviolence. These two leader shared belief and hopes but they also had their differences. Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. Malcolm did not believe in nonviolence or advocate integration. (Harold 610) He attracted black people’s attention and was eloquent, passionate, and a courageously out spoken champion of black people and a critic of American racism. (Harold 610) Malcolm popularity created tension between himself and the leadership of the nation of Islam. His militant advocacy of self-defense that deprives African Americans of basic human rights, helped radicalized other black leaders of the civil rights movement. The X in Malcolm x name represents the unknown name of his African ancestors and their culture that had been lost during slavery. The reason why Malcolm X did not believe in non-violence Because Martin Luther King Jr’s peaceful approach at gaining civil rights and failed, so many blacks including Malcolm X believed that to gain power they needed to make something happen, which turned out to be violence.(Johnson 12) Also Malcolm x believe in the right of African Americans. He wanted to show the crimes that the white people in America were doing against the African Americans. He also wanted to bring attention to the important things performed by African Americans. The reason why he is important because he wanted to reach out to young Americans that felt like the civil right was not achieving anything and he made civil right a civil right movement. Malcolm X view of violence was if anyone uses violence on you first then you should always defend yourself with the violence that is being used to keep you alive. Martin Luther king Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He reflected often on his understanding of

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