The l1960s Civil Rights Movement was one of the most significant events that was crucial to the racial equality we have today. Since the abolition of slavery in 1863, there has not been a day that goes by that there is not conflict because of race. People of color have their rights violated for no reason other than the color of their skin. Alas, as the movement caused change for the better, it brought violence as well. The hatred against african americans simply wanting equality has led to the deaths of the famous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. This movement was sanctioned between two polar opposites of black activists. One group was rather violent, and one believed in peaceful nonviolent resistance. On one side we have our violent group led by Malcolm X’s beliefs, who demanded their rights and change with aggression. The Black Panthers were fans of militant self-defense. They defended minority communities against the U.S. government. Then we have the non violent peaceful group. Martin Luther King Jr. who was strict on not becoming violent no matter how hard it was. They pushed the boundaries of laws but were not violent when the consequences came. African Americans had to fight tooth and nail to move an inch closer to their dreams. They had to struggle for their god given rights that they were simply refused because of the color of their skin.
Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Little had seven siblings and lived with the both of his parents, Earl and Louise Little. Earl was a preacher, supporter of black nationalist, Marcus Garvey and a member of UNIO, Universal Negro Improvement Association. Due to Earl’s activism, him and his family became a target by the Ku Klux Klan and Black Legion, which are both anti-black groups. In a desperate attempt to save his family, the Little family moved from Omaha to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and then to Lansing, Michigan in the first few years of Malcolm's life. When settled in Lansing, the racism was proved to be more than they had expected. They were greeted with a mob who burned down their home while white first responders stood and watched. In 1931, Earl Little's dead body was discovered lying across streetcar tracks. Although Malcolm X's family believed his father was murdered by white supremacists, who gave him frequent death threats, the police ruled his death an accident. Malcolm X’s mother could not handle life without her husband so she was put in a mental institution, where she stayed for 26 years. Malcolm and his seven siblings were separated and put into foster homes. In 1938, Malcolm was kicked out of school and sent to a juvenile detention home in Mason, Michigan. At the age of 15, Malcolm X dropped out of school to live with his older sister in Boston and slowly entered the criminal underground until he will be imprisoned for burglary in 1946. During his time in prison, he converted to a “ black nationalist religious and social movement, the Nation of Islam led by Elijah Muhammad, was the catalyst for his resurgence. Malcolm’s desire to serve Muhammad’s Nation was the motivating force behind his drive for self- education and reformation” (X46). Malcolm X’s practices were the base and foundation of the Black Panther Party. Malcolm X had represented both a militant insurgence, with the power to fight and stand up to achieve racial equalities for every minority. Malcom did this while being a role model for young kids, he also was very motivated about bringing positive change to social services, the Black Panthers would take this to new heights. The Panthers believed if they remained non violent, they would not achieve what they want. The Panthers focused more on how poorly blacks were treated rather than laws that affected their rights. The Panthers followed Malcolm's belief of working with the whole spectrum of color and gender, so this led to the Panther Party uniting with various minority and white revolutionary groups. Although they were advocates for violence, this organization also focused on the much needed child care infrastructure to many black citizens all over the country. The Muslims were opposed to Malcolm X’s mindset that blacks deserve equality and change to do so, if not given they are going to take it. The Muslims posed a violent threat to Malcolm X but that did not stop him from making such an influence. Although, violence was a significant piece of the Civil Rights Movement it was shown to be far less effective in leading to change. Violence leads to fear and separation, and ultimately to only more violence. The Black Panther was influential and crucial to the changes made in the movement, but its proven a peaceful route was more successful.
Martin Luther King Jr, by far the most prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. King was a Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, had a unmeasurable impact on fight for racial equality race in the United States. King grew up in a secure and loving environment. No matter how hard they tried, King’s parents couldn’t shield him completely from racism. Martin Luther King Sr. fought against racial prejudice, he strongly discouraged any sense of class superiority in his children which left a lasting impression on Martin Jr. King attended Morehouse College in Atlanta at age 15, in 1944. Despite his family being heavily involved with the church, King questioned religion and was uncomfortable with it. This stuck with him, that he decided to not enter the ministry against his father’s wishes. During his junior year, Martin took a Bible class, that would spark interest in having a career in ministry. Martin Luther King Jr. met Coretta Scott, an aspiring singer and musician, at the New England Conservatory school in Boston. They were married in June 1953 and had four children. At the age of 25, he completed his Ph.D. and earned his degree. On December 1, 1955, one of the most famous and influential events occurred. This marked the day where 42-year-old Rosa Parks boarded a bus to go home after an exhausting day at work. She sat in the first row of the "colored" section in the middle of the bus. As the white section filled up, she was demanded that she give up her seat for the white passengers. She refused after many tries, then Parks was arrested, booked, and fined for violating the Montgomery City Code. On the night that Rosa Parks was arrested, E.D. Nixon, head of the local NAACP chapter met with Martin Luther King Jr. to plan a citywide bus boycott. King was elected to lead the boycott because he had strong credibility with the black community. The bus boycott involved 382 days of walking to work, harassment, violence and intimidation for the Montgomery's African-American community. This shows his non violent approach that he was famous for. Both King's and E.D. Nixon's homes were attacked. But the African-American community also took legal action against the city arguing that it was unconstitutional based on the Supreme Court's "separate is never equal" decision in Brown v. Board of Education. It resulted in the city of Montgomery lifted the law mandating segregated public transportation. King’s theory of nonviolence: "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community, which has constantly refused to negotiate, is forced to confront the issue." On August 28, 1963, the historic March on Washington drew more than 200,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. It was here that King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, emphasizing his belief regation of public accommodations and outlawing discrimination in publicly owned facilities. This also led to Martin Luther King receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Through his activism and inspirational speeches he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the United States, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. among several other honors. He was assassinated in April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most influential and inspirational African-American leaders in history.
Both Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were key to the success of the Civil Rights Movement. One that comes from detached family, traumatizing childhood and one with a wholesome traditional household. That reflects on their beliefs and how they approached society when wanting change. From Baptist to Muslim, the methods the two men used couldn’t be more different but still had the same message. All men are the same, they should not be judged by the color of their skin. It was soon realized that violence was not the answer it was not going to allow people to hear what you have to say if they are too busy seeing the distraught you’re causing. Malcolm X speaks on the differences between him and other activists and the “disagreements with traditional civil rights leaders and organizations were not over the final end but over the best way of achieving it” (Pitney 19). King's patient, non-violent approach and appeal to white middle-class citizens alienated many black militants who considered his methods too weak, too late and ineffective. Both of their deaths cannot change their message. This is a message that is accepted as a matter of fact today and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s is largely responsible for this.