Leaders of the Civil Rights

Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activists, came across as a very peaceful and hopeful person. In general, the mood he gave his audience was a calming sensation and reassurance that things will get better. “Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.” This quote from King exposes his strong opinions against using violence to convey equality among all races. King views it as counterproductive to use violence in hopes to get a peaceful outcome. In King’s speeches he leaves his audience feelings motivated to make a change using non violent methods.

Malcolm X, who was also a very influential leader in the Civil Rights Movement, had a very different tone in his speeches than King. His speeches were filled with rage toward the white race for the injustices African Americans had to experience. Malcolm X comes off as very powerful and confident in his speeches when he encourages the use of violence in self defense. "I don't mean go out and get violent; but at the same time you should never be nonviolent unless you run into some nonviolence. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. But when you drop that violence on me, then you've made me go insane, and I'm not responsible for what I do." This quote clearly shows how Malcolm X was not afraid to engage in violence to fight for his belief of racial equality. "The common enemy is the white man." After a speech with such a powerful quote Malcolm X leaves his audience furious and ready to take action. The mood he leaves his audience with is one of resentment towards the white race and the disadvantage African Americans have in America.

Martin...