February is Black History Month

by Roman Hampton

Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were two very successful civil rights activists and leaders.
They were huge role models in the African American community. They fought for the same goals, but
they did not use the same strategies or techniques.
They both were introduced to segregation at an early age; King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia
where he found that black people and white people had different rights. If a black family wanted to eat at
a restaurant they had to sit in a separate section of the restaurant, and even use different restrooms. King
did not understand this.
Malcolm X was born in Indiana, and his father was murdered there, but the murder wasn't given
an investigation. His mother suffered an emotional breakdown, and was put in a mental institution while
Malcolm and his siblings were split up into various foster homes. The events show how segregation made
their childhoods hard.
They both were civil rights activists and were both assassinated because of it. Martin Luther King
Jr. fought against racial prejudice, not just because his race suffered, but because he considered racism
and segregation to be an affront to God's will.
Malcolm began to study the teachings of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad
thought that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves and
achieving political, economic, and social success. He had a more immediate approach to solving the
problems of racism because he felt African Americans had waited long enough so he believed it was
permissible to use force if necessary. On February 21, 1965, one week after his home was firebombed;
Malcolm X was shot to death by Nation of Islam members while speaking at a rally of his organization in
New York City.
April 4, 1968, King was standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel, where he
and associates were staying, when a snipers bullet struck him in the neck. He was rushed to a hospital,
where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, at the age of 39.
They believed in different religions. Malcolm was raised Baptist, but while in prison for burglary
he then converted to the Nation of Islam. King questioned his religion and was uncomfortable with it;
however in his junior year he took a Bible class which renewed his faith, and he began his career in
ministry.
King produced more tangible results. His strong belief in nonviolent protest helped the
movement. Boycotts, protests, and marches were eventually effective, and much legislation was passed
against racial discrimination. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law made it illegal to
treat people differently because of the color of their skin when they were trying to buy a house,
rent an apartment or go to a restaurant. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent
strategies to end racial prejudice. In 1965 the voting rights acts was passed.
Malcolm X was a public voice of the Black Muslim faith, challenged the mainstream civil rights
movement and the nonviolent pursuit of integration by Martin Luther King Jr. Martin luther king Jr and
Malcolm x were great civil rights leaders, and their strategies and their legacy lives on.