The Unfinished Dialogue of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X The Common Ground of King and X

Popular Views of King and X Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a Dream” Non-Violence Baptist Minister (Christian) SCLC-Southern Christian Leadership Conference Nobel Prize for Peace 1964

Popular Views of X Malcolm X “By any means necessary” Militant Black Nationalist/Separatist Islamic Minister Nation of Islam (Black Muslims) Renamed himself X to represent the African name he’d never know.

Formative Years Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Atlanta 1929 Father: Politically active Baptist Preacher “Fearless and courageous” Contributes his lifelong optimism about human nature to: Congenial Relationship of his Parents “…in a family where love was central.” Lived through Depression in relative comfort

Formative Years Malcolm X Born in Omaha in 1925 Father: Politically active Baptist Preacher “Not a frightened Negro, as most of them were…” UNIA-Universal Negro Improvement Association---Marcus Garvey “Belligerent toward all the children, except me” Difficult life during the Depression

Formative Years Summary Malcolm X Father died in 1931 Mother institutionalized in an asylum Raised by white foster parents and reform schools Attended white public schools in Michigan Martin Luther King Jr. As a child, never experienced physical attacks from whites “never experienced feeling of not having the basic necessities” Attended all black schools in Atlanta

Early Adulthood Malcolm X Criminal activity lands him in prison Converts to Islam under direction of Elijah Muhammad Became the nation’s best known advocate of black nationalism/separatism Very little exposure during his youth to positive black culture and history. Nation of Islam a religious group on the margins of Black Society---thousands of members

Early Adulthood Martin Luther King Attends Morehouse college at age 15 Several positive black role models Baptist is the most popular religious affiliation among black Americans Identified himself with mainstream African American freedom struggles

Similarities King AND X Invited by countries in Africa and Asia to visit and meet with leaders Acknowledged connection between African-American struggle and anti-colonialsim Were forced to realize that the emerging Civil Rights movement was growing larger than any one leader could contain, direct, or control.

Criticisms of Each Other Martin Luther King Jr. “…do not emulate the hatred and despair of the black nationalist…there is a more excellent way of love and non-violent protest…if this philosophy had not emerged, by now many streets of the South would, I am convinced, be flowing with blood.”

Criticisms of Each Other Malcolm X King ignored X’s invitation to attend a black Muslim rally in NY a few weeks before the march on Washington “ …[King] allowed [himself] to be used against the Negro Revolution…” “…the March’s white financial backers have manipulated black leaders, thereby transforming a potentially militant mass protest into a picnic…a circus.”

March 26, 1964 Only meeting between the two men Malcolm had broken ties with Nation of Islam and had intentionally orchestrated the meeting.

Malcolm’s Visit to Selma While Martin was in Jail in Selma, Malcolm came to speak. Publicly spoke in favor of violent means if necessary—still anti-King? Private meeting with Coretta Supposedly admired MLK

King’s comments about X’s Visit “He thought he could help me more by attacking me than praising me. He thought it would make it easier for me in the long run” According to King, Malcolm went on to tell Coretta: “If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King”

Assassinations February 21st 1965 April 4th 1968 Malcolm X is killed by 3 black men affiliated with the Nation of Islam April 4th 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. is killed in Memphis Had these men lived, might they have achieved a common ground? Did African Americans have to choose between Martin’s or Malcolm’s views? Was there a middle road?