An Analysis of The Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

Among the popular activists in the history of America are Martin Luther King Junior and Malcolm X. The two have been documented in historical studies relating to human rights and racism, appearing in the front line. However, the two activists depicted varied ideologies and approaches to human rights in the 1960s. Their varied ideologies can be related to their attitude towards the whites. However, some scholars relate the cause of these attitudes to their religious attribution, although they were all fighting on a political line and not a religious fight. Malcolm X was born in May 1925. He was an African American Muslim. He had lost his mother at the age of six, and his mother developed a mental disorder at the age of thirteen. Malcolm was first imprisoned at the age of 20, alleged of crime and violence. Martin Luther King Junior was born in January 1929 in Atlanta – Georgia. He was a strong Christian believer who advocated for the rights of blacks but in a peaceful approach (Howard-Pitney, 56).

Both Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X wanted the blacks to have equal rights to the whites in America and Europe in general. They were both civil rights activists in 1960s. However, Malcolm X had a negative attitude towards the whites. Due to this altitude, Malcolm wanted a total separation between the whites and the blacks. When he was imprisoned, Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam (NOI). This made him change his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. After his release in 1952, he served as a public figure, advocating for the rights of the blacks through the separation of the blacks and whites. Malcolm’s theme was to promote black supremacy and blacks’ self-determination. According to him, Malcolm believed that through the separation of the blacks and whites, blacks would be free from discrimination and racism, independent and established (Clark, Kenneth B., et al 15-89). Although Malcolm was fighting for human rights, he was very much against the civil rights movement, which was equally advocating for the same.