MLK vs Malcom X
...ffective because they work together to affect different audiences, in turn affecting more people. Martin Luther King Jr’s intelligence and non-violent attitude were his two strongest weapons in his fight for human rights. Obviously he is a very good writer, as his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” has gone down in history as one of the most persuasive pieces of writing every produced. His intelligence and writing ability helped him persuade people who were stubbornly raised to think that Blacks were inferior, as well as White moderates that felt there were no problems at all. He began his response to the clergymen’s degrading and insulting letter in the calmest and most understanding fashion. In the first paragraph Dr. King sets forth his respect and reasonable attitude toward the clergymen by saying, “But since I feel that you are men of genuine goodwill and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms” (535). By starting the letter very positively and not sounding outraged, King attracts the attention of the clergymen and doesn’t scare them off. Since he had obtained their attention, he then proceeded to present his case and opinion. On the other hand, Malcolm X held nothing back in his autobiography as he tried to portray to the American population the huge injustice towards Blacks that had been going on for the last three hundred years. This helped him affect the people that simply did not want to listen to other civil rights leaders like King. Malcolm’s aggressive rhetoric and name calling probably offended many readers, but also forced them to realize that the oppression of Blacks was indeed unconstitutional and wrong. Malcolm X used personal examples and actual events in his life to show his hatred for the “white devil”. He was very blunt about his opinions of White, as well as Black people, and was not afraid to include a lot of name-calling. For example, when the welfare people began visiting his home in Michigan as a child, X stated, “They acted and looked at her, and at us, and around in our house, in a way that had about it the feeling – at least for me – that we were just things, that was all” (12). This statement does a good job of affecting upper class white citizens that think Blacks cause their own troubles. The welfare company broke apart their family, and insulted them while they were at it. This example shows readers that Black people have souls and feelings, and that they are not just things. Malcolm X uses vivid real life examples of travesties toward him, his family, and the Black race in general to fight the oppression of Blacks. Malcolm’s approach is a good compliment to that of Martin Luther King Jr. in that it approaches the situation in a completely different, yet equally effective way. King’s rhetoric is more reasonable and calm than X’s. He stated his opinions to the clergymen in the most calm, logical ways possible. By staying calm, and writing and speaking in a soft manner, King avoided scaring away or intimidating individuals as Malcolm X may have. King also used very catchy, intelligent statements such as, “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds” (536). Logical statements like this make readers realize that the past treatment of Blacks was wrong and unjust. Blacks, in fact, were treated as outsiders. King accomplished his goal in expressing the fact that Black Americans should be treated equally in every way to other Americans. It is morally basic, and also stated in the constitution that all men in our country are created equal, and all men should not be deprived of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He stressed the fact that Blacks were people too, and should be allocated the same rights as anybody else. King also uses very emotional rhetoric to hit the hearts of the clergymen, and other readers and listeners. He portrayed the lynching of mothers, fathers, and the drowning of brothers and sisters. By showing the clergymen the side of racism that Black people not only experience, but also feel, King gains a lot of support and respect. Other rhetoric he used that was very effective were the stories about his daughter. He tells how he must explain to his six year old daughter, “why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children” (539). By bringing children into the picture, King strengthens his emotional effect on the audience even further. Kings reasonable, calm attitude, and his ability to so vividly depict the emotions of the Black race make his approach to the end of racism and segregation a very strong and effective one. While X uses emotional rhetoric, he also includes his aggressive opinions in his autobiography. The first significant event in X’s life occurred when he was a child, when his father was murdered. He then tells how the insurance agents would not provide his family with the support money because they claimed his father committed suicide. This was one of the most significant events influencing his hatred for the white man. It also shows the reader how inconsiderate our country was toward the Black ...