Introduction

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were known to be great leaders. Though both of these great men wanted to lead the black race to freedom and out of the hands of injustice, they each had different views of how to go about it.

Dr. King took the softer approach. He studied another great male leader by the name of Gandhi. Gandhi did not believe in violence but in peaceful and calm ways of one making his/her point. This would explain why Dr. King stressed the importance of non-violent demonstrations.

On the other hand, Malcolm X believed that if a person strikes another person, it is the right of that person to strike back in whatever way he or she has to. Malcolm X is famously quoted as saying “...by any means necessary!” However, towards the end of his life, Malcolm X began to see things differently.

Ironically, each man died at a very young age from violence. Some believe that had they lived longer, they may have made a wonderful team. Do you agree with this statement?