Malcolm X vs Martin Luther King Jr

Name:

Course:

Instructor:

Date:

Similarities and Differences of the ideology between Martin Luther King jr and Malcolm X

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 as Malcolm Little. He was an American Muslim minister and a human rights Activist. He was assassinated in February 1965 by three Nations of Islam Members ( Malcolm & Alex, 1965). Martin Luther King, jr was born on January 15, 1925 ( Clayborne, 1998). He was an American Baptist Minister, humanitarian and led in the African American Civil Rights Movement. He is best remembered for actively advocating for advancement of civil rights by nonviolent civil disobedience based on his staunch christian beliefs ( Clayborne, 1998).

Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are very prominent African American persons whose great works are always remembered. They were resolute in their fight for what they stood for though in different ways. Their different beliefs were based on the households from which they came. While Martin grew up in a middle class family and was well educated, Malcolm X grew up in a rather underprivileged environment that was very hostile and barely got any schooling. It is evident that Martin Luther King enjoyed the pleasures that life had to offer at that time especially because he had loving and caring parents( Oates, 1982). Malcolm X, on the other hand, had had a bitter childhood. He had witnessed his house being burned followed by the murder of his father. His mother suffered a breakdown as a result and this resulted into his family being broken( Malcolm & Alex, 1965).Based on their childhood and early years of life alone, that is issues of class, educational opportunities, level of household comfort and presence of a well knit family, it is clear to see where their beliefs were grounded on. Martin Luther King strongly advocated for equality and the goodness of man. He also believed in being able to do good in the name of goodness itself ( Oates, 1982). Malcolm X’s perspective of the world...