Introduction
Many notable individuals have discussed the struggles of the African American population, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. For example, in 1963, King assessed the troubles and efforts of black people toward a better life in his text, “Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” Nearly a year later, in 1964, Malcolm X expressed his concerns and potential solutions to the issues of racial oppression in his speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet.” Both King and Malcolm X concentrate on uplifting the status of black people; however, the latter’s approach appears to have more compelling elements, as evidenced by the presented evidence, examples, and focus on a single issue.
Debate
In their texts, the two activists debate the subject of overcoming discrimination practiced by white people against the African American population. For example, King (1963) remarks on black individuals in Birmingham continuously being victims of broken promises on such topics as the removal of racially humiliating signs from city stores. Similarly, throughout his speech, Malcolm X (1964) repeatedly states that African Americans are being misled, deceived, and manipulated by white persons, particularly in terms of politics.
Nonetheless, King and Malcolm X differ in their approaches to helping those who are oppressed. While the former proposes focusing on integration, the latter suggests promoting black nationalism (King, 1963; Malcolm X, 1964). Consequently, the subject of debate between the examined activists can be defined as the selection of an approach to ending discrimination against African American people.
Positions
The two advocates for black persons’ rights have varying positions on achieving their goals. King (1963) suggests that nonviolent direct action can help reduce segregation and thereby facilitate the integration of distinct racial groups within a nation. Such an approach aims to create a crisis and establish tension within society, driving people to confront issues and engage in dialogue toward finding solutions (King, 1963). On the other hand, Malcolm X (1964) views black nationalism, which may require using force, as a way of bringing justice to oppressed African Americans. Such a strategy is based on uniting black individuals to take control over their political, economic, and social activities within one community (Malcolm X, 1964).
Notably, the activists have conflicting opinions about each other’s standings. King (1963) associates black nationalism with feelings of hatred and despair. In comparison, Malcolm X (1964) alludes that integration is misleading and is utilized by white people to gain control over the African American population. Accordingly, while both advocates share a common purpose, their positions on improving the lives of black people vary.
Compelling Elements
Both examined standings have compelling elements, which, in “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” are critical thinking and provide details. King (1963) provides substantial details about the mistreatment of African Americans, contributing to the persuasiveness of his text as evidence of his knowledge of the matter and, thus, potentially informing suitable solutions. For instance, as noted above, the activist suggests that black people have witnessed promises made to them being broken for a long period and that direct action can bring attention to unfulfilled oaths (King, 1963).
At the same time, the advocate demonstrates critical thinking by acknowledging that not all white persons oppress the African American population, which indicates his ability to consider other perspectives (King, 1963). Nonetheless, the activist incorporates numerous religious concerns into his discussion, which seems to divert the focus away from racism and the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. Overall, “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” has compelling elements that demonstrate considerable knowledge of racial oppression.
“The Ballot or the Bullet” features convincing components, including examples, evidence, and a single focus, which lend credibility to the provided discussion. First, Malcolm X (1964) presents instances of how African Americans have been misled by white people in terms of politics and economy, thus illustrating the significance of black individuals taking control within their community. One such example concerns black persons needing reeducation to become more intelligent and confront those who are white.
Second, the activist offers evidence of black nationalism’s practicality by connecting the approach to the ideas that motivated white people to seek freedom from England (Malcolm X, 1964). Third, unlike King, Malcolm X (1964) concentrates on racism and his proposed solution without repeatedly shifting his and the audience’s attention to religious aspects of the matter. Moreover, Malcolm X (1964) suggests that black nationalism does not necessarily require bloodshed and is meant to drive society to recognize and respect African American rights. Therefore, the components of “The Ballot or the Bullet” seem convincing because they demonstrate the activist’s understanding of and focus on the issue and its potential solution.
Conclusion
To summarize, King and Malcolm X discuss the advancement of black people’s status; however, the latter’s text has more compelling elements, including evidence, examples, and a focused approach. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” King proposes that integration achieved through direct action is a way to help the African American population live better. Malcolm X, in his “The Ballot or the Bullet,” suggests black nationalism as an approach to uniting black persons within one community free of white individuals’ control. While the effectiveness of each solution can be argued further, Malcolm X’s position has more compelling components that reflect his apprehension of the matter and a focus on the proposed solution.
References
King, M. L., Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham city jail. African Studies Center. Web.
Malcolm X. (1964). The ballot or the bullet. Middlebury. Web.