Equality in rights was very important because MLK believed that African-Americans should have the same rights other Americans had. To extent upon that, he also wished that African-Americans and White-Americans could work together and fight to eliminate other inequalities in the American society. In the “Martin and Malcolm DBQ“ packet document 2, MLK says “With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to climb up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” This was part of his famous speech “I Have a Dream”. This excerpt essentially means that he wants black and white societies to assimilate and live their life together. This philosophy made more sense than Malcolm X’s philosophy because Malcolm X wanted segregation of societies. MLK’s philosophy made the most sense for America in the 1960s because America was always a country about rights and freedoms, but then suddenly, African-Americans came and they did not have the same rights other Americans had. America was also a democratic country and working together to create a better society was also another important thing, and that is what MLK wished for.
Another thing MLK wished for was equality in education; he wished that whites and blacks could study side by side. From document 4 of the “Martin and Malcolm DBQ“ packet, MLK says “Let us march on segregated schools until vestige of segregation and inferior education becomes a thing of the past and Negroes and whites study side by side in the socially healing context of the classroom.” This made the most sense in the 1960s because it was better to let White-Americans to learn about the African-Americans. Comparing this to Malcolm X’s philosophy, Malcolm X wants to create only-black educational methods and procedures, which also means no interaction between whites and blacks. That does not take African-American rights anywhere, because it is similar to saying they refuse to study with whites. This is not a good step to take when trying to fight for equality.
The last and one of the most important philosophies of MLK is non-violence. MLK and many other African-Americans were very determined to gain equality and freedom, and MLK knew that violence was not the way to accomplish their goal. From document 8 from the “Martin and Malcolm DBQ“packet, MLK said “Violence may go to the point of murdering the hater, but it doesn’t murder hate. It may increase hate. It is always a descending spiral leading nowhere. This is the ultimate weakness of violence: it multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesn’t solve any problems.” This excerpt is trying to say that hate and violence cannot lead to solving problems. It also cannot help them gain freedom, therefore, MLK tells his people that they should demonstrate and fight for equality peacefully. This obviously made a lot of sense to America because they didn’t want a chaotic society; protesting by destroying property or anything or that nature.
Malcolm X although had his own philosophy which also made sense, but MLK’s philosophy made the most sense because he wanted development between the white and black societies, whereas Malcolm X wanted people to just understand every other and remain segregated. MLK favored assimilation and working together with whites, he favored assimilation in education and non-violent resistance in the process of fighting for equality. Later, his philosophy was proven to be better because to this day, American is how he wanted it to be and it will continue to remain this way in the future.
