CIVIL
RIGHTS
How does the author (David Howard-Pitney) characterize
Martin Luther King? Malcolm X?
David Howard characterizes Martin
Luther King Jr. as a man with complex intellectual understanding of the human race and individuals’ rights to a
free world. The King emphasized different influences, marked his audience, and
presented cases based on the black religious experiences.[1] Through the understanding of the black religious
doctrines, which did treat every human equal, the king was able to initiate
various waves of public protests that were purely designed to call for public
attention to the injustice of economic and social segregations. The series of
protests in Howard’s writing portray Martin Luther king as a leader who could
be trusted, patient, brave, and persistent. Martin Luther Knew that he had to
remain patient, brave, trustworthy and persistent if he truly wanted to succeed
in his quest for a more balanced society; a society where people are not judged
by their color but by the content of their brain.
Just like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X was
brought up in middle class life of relative comfort and as the son of a Baptist
Minister; he saw the violence suffered by blacks. He saw his father suffer and
killed by white supremacists as well as his mother being a victim of the
indifferent white-ruled government. This made Malcolm to link whites with evil,
which formed the main theme of his speeches in late years. While building a
strong foundation as a revolutionist, Malcolm X found salvation in the hands of
black messenger. The new religion saw Malcolm X walk from a life of dissipation
to a life of purpose vested in fighting for racial independence and leadership
movements.
What is historically significant about each man?
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X
were some of the great civil right activists and leaders in history. Their
fight for human right and civilization presented two wings of revolt with a
focus on the effects of racism on blacks. In the fight against racism, both the
King and Malcolm X advocated for nonviolent resistance and revolution.[2] David Howard identifies
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as men of purpose, and even though their
advocated for a peaceful protest with an aim of securing social equality
between the blacks and whites, they ended up dying violently in the hand of the
US government who could not withstand their position and influence among
people. According to David Howard, Malcolm X offered alternative understanding
to the mainstream of civil right movements in which he advocated for an
established separate black community and violence in self-defense. Malcolm
believed that the uncompromising evils of white man were a threat to the black
community and the only solution was to avoid community integration. In David
Howard work, Martin Luther King is depicted as the voice of American civil
right, which was focused on equal rights for both the blacks and whites. Unlike
Malcolm X, Martin Luther stood for nonviolent resistance as the only means to
eliminate injustices and put to an end segregation laws.[3]
Even though Martin Luther King and
Malcolm X held different views on the best strategies to fight social
injustices and segregation, the two civil right activists believed in a common
course. The introduction does not provide enough proofs to believe that Martin
Luther and Malcolm were opposite. For example, the introduction only points to
the religious differences that existed between the two human right activists
while in a wider perspective, both Martin Luther and Malcolm had a massage of
social empowerment and maintained dignity, which was perceived as a threat to
the white community. The two human right activists were raised from a middle
social class, experienced various kinds of injustices, and built a leadership
that was deeply rooted in righteousness and commitment to ensuring social
justice. Even though the two civil right activists at times criticized, each
other based on religion, which was seen to be different, the still retained
moral authority to spearhead a movement that was dedicated to social
responsibility and communal growth.[4]
Chapter 3: Means of Struggle: Nonviolence v. By Any Means Necessary
What is the major topic of the
chapter?
The chapter discusses the differences
between the two civil activists based on the means of achieving social
recognition and victory over the oppressive rules of the white dominated
region.
What is the major point of view of
each writer?
While Martin Luther King advocated
for nonviolence protests and evolution as the best approach towards ensuring
social freedom, Malcolm X advocated for other means especially where the
nonviolence means have failed to achieve its course.
How are the views similar and/or
different?
The views of the two civil activists
remain similar in the sense that they advocated for the most appropriate and
prompt means of achieving social freedom. On the other hand, the views were
seen to be different in the sense that Martin Luther advocated for peaceful
demonstration while Malcolm demonstrated the importance of using other means
like violence.
Is there change over time in the
thinking of either man?
There is a change in thinking of
Malcolm on the use of violence or other means as the approach towards ensuring
social equality. Due to opposing forces between the two civil right activists,
they ended up believing on a common course and process towards social
liberation.
Do the writings support the
description of each leader given in the introduction? Why or why not?
The writings support the description
of each leader given in the introduction because they point to the kind of
consensus that would occur after several criticisms arising from either side.
Chapter 4: On America: Dream or Nightmare
What is the major topic of the
chapter?
The chapter discusses the
relationship between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s ideas of America
with controversial legacies.
What is the major point of view of
each writer?
While Martin Luther King believed on
the sense of better life for the black races in America to be best described as
a dream, Malcolm believed on the sense of a life best described as a nightmare.[5]
How are the views similar and/or
different?
The views of the sense of American
life as presented by Martin Luther King and Malcolm remain similar in the sense
that their focus on an improved future life of black Americans. On the
contrary, the King’s dream for better America is pegged on social equality
between the blacks and whites while Malcolm X’s nightmare is rooted on social
segregation and independent black community.
Is there change over time in the
thinking of either man?
From the discussions presented by
David Howard, the two civil right activists remain opposite in their thinking
for better America and this was the main source of criticism.
Do the writings support the
description of each leader given in the introduction? Why or why not?
The writings support the description
of each leader given in the introduction because they relate to the religious
beliefs of each leader.[6] Christians believe on
human equality as presented in Biblical teaching while Muslims believe on
social superiority, violence, and vengeances.
Chapter 5: Critiques of Rival Racial Programs and
Philosophies
What is the major topic of the
chapter?
The topic points to the racial rival
that existed between the white Americans and Black Americans, the programs and
philosophies as well as their critics.
What is the major point of view of
each writer?
While Martin Luther believed that
the rival racial programs and philosophies were unnecessary among the people of
America, Malcolm believed that rival racial programs and philosophies were some
of the methods that could be used to alienate population and develop a more
independent community.
How are the views similar and/or
different?
The views are only similar up to the
point where they advocate for a peaceful relationship between the white
Americans and Black Americans but become different when one leader focuses on
community segregation other than a country that recognizes social equality and
communal unity.
Is there change over time in the
thinking of either man?
On the issues of communal
segregation and individual independence, the thinking of the two leaders remain
clipped on their understanding of the importance of each process. There are no
indications that either leader was able to deviate from his understanding of
the most appropriate due process that would result into social optimization.
Do the writings support the
description of each leader given in the introduction? Why or why not?
On King’s
social equality, the writings seem to deviate from his planned approach of
nonviolent demonstrations while in the side of Malcolm X, the writings support
his concepts of other means of gaining social independence.
Chapter 6: Eras of Convergence: Late Directions
What is the major topic of the
chapter?
The chapter discusses the growing
pessimism and doubts raised on the social relationships among the people of
America.
What is the major point of view of
each writer?
While Martin Luther King Jr.
believes that self-confidence could result into a more civilized society than
those primitive and backward societies, Malcolm X’s understanding on eras on
convergence is based on the forms of social evolution and hard economic times
the black Americans faced during the periods of oppression.
How are the views similar and/or
different?
The views are similar in the sense
that they give directions on the best approaches that could be used to provide
social and economic protection by enhancing social integration. The views are
different in the sense that while Martin Luther King believed on those factors
that could unite the two societies, Malcolm X believed on that a community can
only be economically viable is there are some forms of independence.
Is there change over time in the
thinking of either man?
There is no change in the thinking
of either man on the importance of social convergences, especially when it
comes to improving the relationships between the white and black communities.
Do the writings support the
description of each leader given in the introduction? Why or why not?
The
writings support the description of each leader given in the introduction. For
example, the writings support King’s understanding of social convergence as the
main process towards ensuring equality among American population.[7] Similarly, the writings
support Malcolm X’s view of social convergence as the leading process towards
improving economic performance and social recognition of the population.
Bibliography
Howard-Pitney,
David, ed. 2004. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights
Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief History with Documents. Boston:
Bedford/. Martin’s.
[1] Howard-Pitney,
David, ed. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle
of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/.
Martin’s, 2004) pp. 131.
[2] Howard-Pitney, David, ed. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief
History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/. Martin’s, 2004) pp. 133.
[3] ibid
[4] Howard-Pitney, David, ed. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief
History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/. Martin’s, 2004) pp. 135.
[5] Howard-Pitney, David, ed. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief
History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/. Martin’s, 2004) pp. 136.
[6] Howard-Pitney, David, ed. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief
History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/. Martin’s, 2004) pp. 140.
[7] Howard-Pitney, David, ed. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief
History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/. Martin’s, 2004) pp. 144.
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