The 1960s brought enormous cultural and social change to the United States. The civil rights movement rose to prominence as the call for equality grew stronger in American society. Black activists joined the fight and began an active push for desegregation. The new generation, primarily represented by the student movement, participated in a growing number of protests, marches, boycotts, and sit-ins (Locke & Wright, 2019). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were the most renowned and respected leaders of black activism in the 1960s. Two leaders and two fighters — both were guided by the idea of justice and equality for African Americans. However, their vision of the ultimate goal and means of achieving it differed significantly.
As a Protestant Christian minister, Dr. Martin Luther King advocated for nonviolent civil actions. In 1957, he participated in the creation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization that organized massive yet peaceful resistance against Jim Crow laws (Locke & Wright, 2019). The Birmingham campaign of 1963 is a perfect example of King’s ideas. Business boycotts, sit-ins, and peaceful marches forced the authorities to desegregate public accommodations in Alabama’s largest city (Locke & Wright, 2019). Overall, King urged for the integration of African Americans in society and racial conciliation at the national level.
In contrast, Malcolm X and his Nation of Islam (NOI) drew inspiration from the radical Black Power movement. In particular, Malcolm X advocated armed resistance, calling it “self-defense” and “intelligence” rather than “violence” (Locke & Wright, 2019, p. 332). In this regard, one can argue that Malcolm X opposed the conciliatory rhetoric of King and perceived African Americans as a united political force. He envisioned black Americans as a cohesive entity that protects black interests instead of relying on an interracial approach. Therefore, Malcolm X can be considered one of the founders of American black nationalism.
Reference
Locke, J. L., & Wright, B. (Eds.). (2019). The American yawp: A massively collaborative open U.S. history textbook. Vol. 2: Since 1877. Stanford University Press.