[librasoul22]

I know this doesn't necessarily have to be an either/or question, but very few of Martin and Malcolm's ideologies were similar, so that's how I will phrase it. I was wondering who you guys felt carried the most gravity throughout the Civil Rights movement and why?

I will say that I think it is Malcolm X. First of all, he was far before his time. Second of all, I think that he realized that integration was a very short-sighted solution to racism in America. Think about it... really the only difference to me is that racism and oppression are just more covert now than they were in the '60's. Still just as prevalent, only now not as accepted. And when people talk about "gain's," especially when the oppressors speak of it, they phrase it as "African-Americans are now allowed to (fill in the blank)," or, "African Americans now have the right to (fill in the blank)." Why should anyone who is oppressed, has been for hundreds of years, want to live by the rights "given" to them by those who have been tyrannical and oppressive?

Martin was a revolutionary simply because he was able to get his voice heard. Why was he able to get his voice heard? Because the oppressors didn't mind hearing about this "peaceful, non-violent" integration. That was a threat, but not as threatening as in his later years when he began to move in a more radical direction. We see what happened then...

Malcolm on the other hand was in favor of seperation and self-defense by any means necessary. Sometimes that is taken out of context to mean a violent revolution, but Malcom was simply advocating self-defense if it was necessary. This was VERY threatening to anyone in power. They took his ideologies as ominous threats against their power. And while Martin was more focused on equality in political context (still waiting to see that one!), Malcolm was more focused on gaining freedom in a societal context.

Okay, lol, I am done with my diatribe. What do y'all think?