Historians may argue that there exists perhaps a no better case of contrasting ideologies that parallels the respective philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X that guided their cause for equality in a multiracial America. Luther is renowned for a pacifist approach which “I Have a Dream” indeed personifies. Luther, a prominent figure of the Civil Rights Movement, cautions fellow activists to proceed with the struggle only “on the high plane of dignity and discipline” and to avoid letting the protest “degenerate into physical violence” ("Martin Luther King - I Have a Dream Speech - August 28, 1963"). Malcolm X’s philosophy diverges from Luther’s. Malcolm’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” highlights that he instead perceives “an American nightmare” – not an American dream. The self-proclaimed revolutionary hence recommends even violent activism if the black community fails to institute a separate African-American state through the ballot ("Malcolm X - The Ballot or The Bullet - April 4, 1964"). Despite sharing a common objective, Malcolm X’s Black Nationalist ideology founded on the idea of fighting for equality on all fronts suits the contemporary effort to solve the social, political, and economic problems of the black community because it is more practical than Luther’s philosophy.
Whereas Luther’s speech elaborates the undesirable state of racial inequality in America, he fails to provide any meaningful practical methods of achieving full compliance with the Emancipation Proclamation Act which guarantees “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for all men regardless of their race. Luther’s speech contextualizes issues such as police brutality, discrimination at hotels and lodgings, and the denial of voting rights that African-Americans experience. He then proceeds to offer an exemplary oration of idealistic views of a future devoid of such problems in which, for example, Americas of diverse races could intermingle regardless of the historical hostilities that their forefathers perpetrated against one another ("Martin Luther King - I Have a Dream Speech - August 28, 1963"). Luther yet fails to at least describe to Americans could actualize his dream. On the other hand, Malcolm's Black Nationalism philosophy specifies that the black community could solve its social, economic, and political problems by voting for the formation of a separate African-American state. Malcolm even recommends that the community resorts to a violent revolution or whatever other means necessary to force its agenda if the ballot option fails. He argues that revolutions – bloody ones too – have worked before in France, Russia, Cuba, and even America ("Malcolm X - The Ballot or The Bullet - April 4, 1964"). Malcolm's philosophy is suitable because it is practical.
Malcolm's proposal for a separate African-American state is workable for the African-American community because such separation would grant them the ability to fraternize freely and govern themselves they choose. Malcolm and Luther indeed acknowledge America’s consistent failure to achieve equality and freedom for all citizens. Luther notes, for example, that “the Negro is still not free” one hundred years after the Emancipation Act ("Martin Luther King - I Have a Dream Speech - August 28, 1963"). Malcolm similarly observers that mixed communities are unsustainable because people eventually retreat to where they are the dominant racial group. It only seems reasonable to conclude that a separate African-American state would limit opportunities for racial hostilities. Malcolm contends further that separation would allow African-American manage their social issues and political and economic politics because they understand their situation better than the white man who “is too intelligent to let someone else come and gain control of the economy of his community” ("Malcolm X - The Ballot or The Bullet - April 4, 1964")
Travis Smiley’s revelations from an interview regarding the portrayal of Martin Luther in his book titled The Death of a King further diminishes the practicability of Luther’s philosophy and enhances the case for the alternative ideology of Malcolm X. Smiley suggests that young African-Americans had grown tired of their leader’s philosophy of nonviolence during the final year of Luther’s life when surging racial violence hit New York and Detroit among other cities ("The Jordan Journal - 9-26-14"). Smiley also mentions that historical problems affecting black people still exist and that too many Americans of all races have one all the right things and played by the rules, for example, to stay out of poverty. It becomes apparent that the right way to solve problems has not worked when the interviewee asserts that such narratives should not exist in the wealthiest country in the world. Finally, he recommends that America instead listen to its “truth-tellers” of which Malcolm X indeed fits the description.
Works Cited
"Martin Luther King - I Have a Dream Speech - August 28, 1963". Youtube, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs. Accessed 20 June 2018.
"Malcolm X - The Ballot or The Bullet - April 4, 1964". Youtube, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oVW3HfzXkg. Accessed 20 June 2018.
"The Jordan Journal - 9-26-14". The Jordan Journal, 2014. Accessed 24 June 2018.
