The similarities of Martin Luther King and Malcom X
...egation. On the other hand, Malcolm X was born in Nebraska to a self-sufficient black preacher, but when he was six his father was gunned down and killed. After the death to his father, Malcolm lived with his mother and many of their siblings. They struggled through the Great Depression of the 30’s, but the struggles eventually caught up and his mother was admitted to a mental institution. Malcolm was then a ward of the state and was put into foster care. Eighth grade was the last year of Malcolm’s formal education. At the age of 15 he moved to live with his sister in Boston. Once there, he turned to a life of crime, until eventually he was caught and sent to jail. In jail, Malcolm began to educate himself, reading many books he because a follower of the Nation of Islam led by Elijah Mohammad. Malcolm X’s approach was violent and forceful. He wanted isolation of the black race and believed, through the Nation of Islam, judgment day would come for those of the white race. Malcolm’s speeches were very convincing and encouraged the black community to hold onto their culture and shun white influences. He suggested the use of any means possible to be heard and recognized. In the later years, before each of their assassinations many of their ideas and feelings changed towards to whole Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King became more aggressive and was noted in saying that using forceful tactics to be heard would be better than nothing at all. His speeches and manor too became more aggressive as he pushed for the black community to rise up and speak their minds. King was and had always been a supporter of interracial integration, but one began to hear more about maintaining the black culture and pride they had always had. All in all, MLK began to be antagonistic on his ideas about Civil Rights and how to go about getting these rights acknowledged. While MLK began to be more aggressive, Malcolm X began to tone down his violent behavior. He began to support MLK and the ideas of Civil Rights and Liberties. When Malcolm’s manor began to calm down as did his violent speeches. It was also interesting to note that during this time Malcolm was noted, on different occasions, that he would protect, support, and defend Martin Luther King and his push for civil rights. The most important thing Malcolm X began to do was support interracial integration and the civil rights movement. Before his assassination he was one of the leading figures in the civil rights movement. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were very deep and complex people, so it is easy to recognize the complexity of their mentality and ideals. These men grew up completely different but in many ways they were brought together by the same cause. For example Martin Luther King believed in equality of all races, but he believed it through his ideals, his mentality, his faith, and every aspect of his life. This is the same for Malcolm X as well. These men are very strong, proud, and opinionated people. Malcolm X’s beliefs are more violent and hate driven because of all the white on black crime he experienced...