1. 1. QUESTION

      Critique    

      1. Select one of your classmate’ projects, and write a critique. The critique should have two primary components: textual analysis and evaluation. Consider the questions/concepts below: 
      1. Textual Analysis: These are the questions you need to be asking and taking note of while reading the article.
      1. What is the author’s thesis? You have to identify their thesis directly. 
      2. What arguments does the author use in support of their thesis? You need to identify all parts of the argument. 
      3. What evidence does the author present in support of the argument?
      2. Evaluation: You will offer your appraisal of the author’s work based upon the following questions. 
      1. Does the author offer an argumentative thesis that is related to the assigned prompt? You may wish to evaluate the degree to which the author’s submission accomplishes this goal. 
      2. Does the author offer a lucid, coherent argument in support of the thesis? You may wish to evaluate the degree to which the author’s submission accomplishes this goal.
      3. Are the author’s facts accurate? Are there significant portions of this story that the author failed to address?
      4. Is the evidence presented in support of the argument reliable? Does it demonstrate the author’s consideration of varying interpretations the event discussed?
      5. Does the text present and refute opposing points of view?
      6. What questions or observations does this article suggest? Does it point to areas for further study?
      3. Your critique can also point out errors of facts, interpretation, and spelling/grammar. 

       

      MLK vs Malcolm X

       

      Topic: “Explore one major division within the Civil Rights Movement itself. What caused the division? What impact did the division have on the overall movement?”

       

       

      The Civil Rights Movement faced multiple internal divisions. One of the most notorious of these was the different views of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These men chose to use their voices in different ways; while MLK became one of the most revered citizens in America, Malcolm X’s views were much more controversial. While both men are still well known today for their advocacy of Civil Rights, MLK’s legacy has surpassed that of Malcolm X. Both men were fighting for the same cause, but they had different ideas and philosophies. Due to their differences, they were labelled as opposites and were pitted against each other. People thought they had to take a side, and that by doing so they only fit into certain parts of the Civil Rights Movement.

       

      In order to better understand each of these men, insight into their backgrounds is integral. Before his assassination, Malcolm X wrote an autobiography, which provides detailed information on him. He was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, NE in 1925. His family suffered tragedies during his childhood, with his father being murdered and his mother being committed by a mental hospital. He eventually moved to Boston to live with his half-sister, which resulted in him getting involved in crime and urban nightlife. He eventually moved to New York, where he worked as a hustler, selling drugs, but after it became dangerous, he moved back to Boston where he was a house burglar. This led to Malcolm X being in prison. While he was in prison, he converted to the Nation of Islam. He cleaned himself up and then quickly rose through the Nation of Islam’s ranks to become their first national minister (1).

       

      Malcolm X became known throughout the country for his work in the Islamic ministry, and also for his civil rights activism. His philosophies and ideas centered around black pride, nationalism, and militancy. He adopted the name Malcolm X, both to remove the surname given to his family by a white slave owner, and also to give honor to the African name he would never know (2).

       

      Malcolm X’s philosophies are what he is most notoriously known for. He promoted the Nation of Islam’s teachings, which included ideas such as black people are superior to whites, black people are the origin people of the world, etc. This resulted in media headlines such as “Black Muslim ‘Malcolm X’ Brings Harsh Message Here”, and “Man Who Hates Whites”. Malcolm X had lots of issues in his personal life, which led to being exiled from the Nation of Islam. However, he always tried to keep a strong public image, which resulted in headlines such as those above. Malcolm X had many troubled views, and was one of countless scorned African-Americans (1).

       

      On the other side of the media’s spectrum is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His advocacy during the Civil Rights Movement has transcended decades, and he is widely recognized as the most prominent figure of the Civil Rights Movement. He was born in Atlanta in 1929. While he had a much more stable childhood than Malcolm X, he was no stranger to racism. His father was a minister, and MLK grew up in a devout Baptist Christian home. MLK Senior led protests and grew his church into thousands of people in Atlanta during the 30s. Seeing his father’s example, MLK Jr. followed in his footsteps. He dedicated himself to his education, using his power with words from a young age.

       

      Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights legacy is one of inspiration and respect. He was first recognized for his work in the planning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. From there he went on to help/lead many segments of the movement. He created organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was known for his nonviolent philosophy and methodologies, and he advocated for American’s legal right to protest. He protested and led marches, which led to his arrest 29 times. Now, he is known as one of the most eloquent speakers of all time. His speeches and writings such as “I Have a Dream”, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, etc. are still revered as some of the best orations of all time (3).

       

      As mentioned above, Dr. King was a passionate advocate for nonviolence; a philosophy that was promoted by both he and his family after his assassination. However, after his assassination, there was fear that nonviolent protests would suffer a setback. A 1969 survey showed that the rate of militant protests was successfully decreased in Miami, FL. This decrease was successful due to outreach programs which helped people stay informed to the opportunities that were available. Another factor was that 55% of black citizens read the Miami Herald newspaper “regularly,” which was 17% higher than other newspapers. Through survey questions in the paper, people realized that they weren’t so different after all, whether or not they supported militant protests. This topic is still an ongoing debate regarding the most effective ways to protest, even in 2020 (4).

       

      Newspapers such as the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post often pitted Dr. King and Malcolm X against each other. The news media coverage was very strategic with their words and headlines, which greatly contributed to the growing divide between the two men. It is interesting that Dr. King and Malcolm X only met once briefly in Washington DC in 1964. While they seem to be labeled as enemies and divided by the media, there seems to be less factual evidence of animosity between the two.

       

      These newspapers and others around the country created the narrative that Dr. King was a respectable leader, while Malcolm X was potentially dangerous and should be treated with caution. While Malcolm X was more radical than Dr. King, he never commended violence and stirred up blacks in the way the media portrayed. He is quoted saying “it takes no one to stir up the sociological dynamite that stems from the unemployment, bad housing, and inferior education already in the ghettoes”. Malcolm X’s greatest threat to society was the immediate change to the power structure, whereas Dr. King’s proposed change was more gradual. This threat to the hegemonic power structure posed issues for those in power, which caused those in power to retaliate in the framing of Malcolm X (5).

       

      Ultimately, Dr. King’s legacy has far surpassed Malcolm X’s. Dr. King is regularly quoted and referenced in current American culture, whereas Malcolm X is less known. These two men were simply fighting the same battle in different ways. They were both a product of their environment, which transcended into their philosophies. Overall, they both were huge contributors to the Civil Rights Movement. They each dedicated their lives to the same cause, and they both ultimately were martyrs for what they believed in. Their work is not done, and we owe it to them to keep pursing justice.

       

      Notes:

       

      1. X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Grove Press. (1965).

       

      2. Tuck, Stephen. “Powerless at Home, Dangerous Abroad: The Civil Rights Act According to Malcolm X.” New Labor Forum (Sage Publications Inc.), vol. 24, Issue 1 (2015). 69–74. 

       

      3. Knight, Timothy A., and Burrow, Rufus Jr. “Martin Luther King Jr.’s Doctrine of Nonviolence and South Africa.” Western Journal of Black Studies43 (1/2): (2019). 22–35. 

       

      4. Meyer, Philip. “Aftermath of Martyrdom: Negro Militancy and Martin Luther King.” Public Opinion Quarterly vol. 33, issue 2 (1969). 160-173.

       

      5. Grimm, Josh. “Hegemonic Framing of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., in Northeastern Newspapers.” Howard Journal of Communications, vol. 26, issue 3 (2015). 313-332.

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