Each person is unique and has a distinct perspective, yet many people seem to share matching ideas on certain aspects of life. For instance, Martin Luther King, Jr., a devoted Christian, and Malcolm X, a representative of Islam, appear quite different but offer many comparable thoughts. Malcolm X and King have similar socio-religious philosophies in terms of viewing the role of religion in freeing Black people from oppression.
While having distinct religious beliefs, King and Malcolm X strived for African American individuals to have better lives. First, the two persons sought freedom for the Black population, as King viewed liberty as America’s goal, and Malcolm X perceived freedom as essential to life (Karenga, 2010; King, n.d.). Second, both Malcolm X and King condemned the White church, as the former perceived it as morally bankrupt, and the latter proposed its weakness (Karenga, 2010; King, n.d.). Third, despite being disappointed with the church, King felt it could play a significant role in confronting racial segregation (King, n.d.).
Similarly, Malcolm X believed Islam was crucial in the liberation struggle (Karenga, 2010). Nonetheless, the philosophies of these men brought them into conflict with others who shared their respective religions. King criticized Christians for not supporting Black people, and before turning to Islam, Malcolm X denounced several religions that opposed his position about freedom (Karenga, 2010; King, n.d.). Accordingly, King and Malcolm X followed different faiths but had comparable purposes.
Furthermore, Malcolm X and King’s ideologies can be better understood through the ideas of John Mbiti. In particular, Mbiti’s announcement of “I am because we are; and since we are, therefore I am” signifies the interconnectedness between the individual and the whole society (Reviglio & Alunge, 2020). Accordingly, the statement can apply to King and Malcolm X’s views by suggesting that the liberty of Black people is closely linked to both Christianity and Islam.
To conclude, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X’s socio-religious philosophies correspond to each other in perceiving that religion is important in freeing the African American population from racial inequalities. The ideologies of these men made them confront their peers in belief, as King expressed his disappointment with Christianity, and Malcolm X accepted and rejected several religions that did not share his view on liberty. Both Malcolm X and King considered that the White church had substantial deficiencies but claimed that religion could assist Black people in overcoming discrimination.
References
Karenga, M. (2010). Introduction to black studies (4th ed.). University of Sankore Press.
King, Jr. M. L. (n.d.). On the American Christendom (Excerpt from “A letter from a Birmingham jail”).
Reviglio, U., & Alunge, R. (2020). “I am datafied because we are datafied”: An Ubuntu perspective on (relational) privacy. Philosophy & Technology, 33(4), 595-612. Web.