I want to thank you for this interesting and properly built discussion about how justice and the law are combined in the speeches by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Although these two activists used different methods of impact and developed various attitudes toward violence and human rights, their contributions are of the same importance. I think you are correct in choosing the quote about the threat of injustice and justice in American society. This argument is one of the strongest ideas in his speech because it proves how urgent, unfair, and permanent the problem of racial discrimination is in the United States. King underlined the presence of “an inescapable network of mutuality” in American society, which explained the impossibility of getting rid of injustice and violence (1). However, compared to Malcolm X, who was ready to be violent and harsh, King continued promoting his nonviolent intentions.
Today, people try to find similarities between Kind and Malcolm X, but I believe that their differences matter. The indefatigable aggressiveness of the latter and the peaceful determination of the former are the qualities that fascinate and inspire. Understanding these characteristics allows me to recognize the remedies prescribed to encourage social changes. Malcolm X saw the necessity not to wait until the white man did what he wanted but integrate black nationalism at all levels and take a moral stand as soon as possible. King was also against waiting and showed how full the cup of endurance could be. Still, his metaphors and courtesy provoked ambiguous emotions, while Malcolm X was straight in his intention to choose between the ballot or the bullet. Thus, my main suggestion for your discussion is to focus on the differences between the men to learn their speeches’ worth and true intentions.
I like reading your post and understanding your vision of the relationship between the law and social justice in American society. The speeches by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King contain many interesting details and recommendations of how people could or should change to achieve their purposes and create an equal and fair community. You properly identify that King saw the law as a significant element in keeping order. I also noticed that King was confused about the dilemma between breaking some laws and obeying others. This position helps comprehend many aspects of King’s plan to change white-black relationships. King tries to identify what determines just and unjust laws, using the concepts of morality, harmony, and other natural characteristics. Anyway, one should remember that the law is a code, and its recognition by all community members is integral.
In addition to King, Malcolm X remains one of the brightest social aggressors not satisfied with the conditions under which all African Americans had to live in the middle of the 1900s. Your choice of statistics is a good way to demonstrate the background that challenged Malcolm X in his speech and made him conclude that it was high time for Americans to wake up and see the truth about inequality and injustice. Malcolm X was angry that many Negroes could not have good jobs and use their opportunities similar to the options available to the white people. His past and childhood left many unforgivable wounds and traumas that made him definite in most intentions and actions. Malcolm X was not afraid to use clear statements and strict orders to motivate the community and explain to the government that black society did not want to keep silent and do nothing. His speech is solid evidence of how just and discriminatory the law could be at the same time.
Works Cited
King, Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham Jail. California State University Chico, 1963, Web.
Malcolm X. The Ballot or the Bullet. Social Justice Speeches, 1964, Web.