|
| |
ANALYSIS OF 3 SPEECHES.
Term Paper ID:28813
|
|
|
Essay Subject:
Examines differences between 2 speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr. & 1 speech by Malcolm X in terms of themes, methods & goals.... More...
|
6 Pages / 1350 Words
3 sources, 9 Citations,
MLA Format
$24.00
Return to List of Papers
|
Paper Abstract:
Examines differences between 2 speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr. & 1 speech by Malcolm X in terms of themes, methods & goals.
Paper Introduction:
Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, in the three selected speeches (two by King and one by Malcolm X), sought to advance the civil and legal rights and the socioeconomic status of blacks in the United States. However, aside from that general similarity, there are far more differences between the two in terms of themes, methods and specific goals.
The greatest difference is King's basic assumption that integration is desirable and Malcolm X's refusal to accept that assumption. King seeks a way to fit blacks into a political, cultural and socioeconomic system which he wants reformed so that blacks will receive fair and just treatment. Malcolm X, on the other hand, begins his argument from the standpoint that it is not up to blacks to figure out a way to fit into an oppressive system, but is rather up to the white-run system to
Text of the Paper:
The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper.
"I've Been to the Mountaintop." Speech delivered in Memphis, TN,April 3, 1968. Both King and Malcolm X are men of God,though from different religions, but King seems to include in the speechthe consideration of an afterlife which will bring peace where this lifemay not. Hismention of danger seems regretfully included. . WhereasKing offers an ecumenical message, he is clearly rooted in Christian loveand forgiveness, which fuels the means he advocates--nonaggressiveresistance. To Malcolm X, the promises of whites are nothing but deliberatedeceptions: It's the year when all of the white politicians will be back in the so-called Negro community jiving you and me for some votes. King's message is one of hope far more than warning or anger. and Malcolm X, in the three selectedspeeches (two by King and one by Malcolm X), sought to advance the civiland legal rights and the socioeconomic status of blacks in the UnitedStates. He definitelyrefuses to have any part of it himself. Malcolm X's speech is much more confrontational, more heated withdivisive rhetoric, more willing to aggravate race-based conflict in orderto achieve a more radical goal than King's. "The Ballot or the Bullet." Speech. I may not get there with you. Malcolm X presents truth in its harshest, most confrontational terms.He does so not in the hope that blacks might overthrow the white powerstructure with superior force, for that would never happen. His own life was ended by assassination. Ironically, both King, the man of peace, and Malcolm X, the manthreatening or warning about violence, despite the differences in theirapproaches to racial injustice and inequality, were assassinated. From that fundamental difference, further contrasts ofthemes, methods and goals flow. Malcolm X, on the other hand, begins his argument from thestandpoint that it is not up to blacks to figure out a way to fit into anoppressive system, but is rather up to the white-run system to stopoppressing blacks. . Whereas King shows no sign of personal anger at whites, perhapshoping to shift the energy of race-based rage to the energy of hope andcreative activism, Malcolm X fills his speech with expressions of bold andblatant anger and contempt for whites. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. . King, however, seems to believe that theprocess toward rights and equality has begun and will continue, although heis not certain about its results. free at last! The heart of King's message isclearly a plea to whites to live up to the promises that they have made toblacks for over a century since the Emancipation Proclamation. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self- evident: that all men are created equal' (King "Dream"). Malcolm X is quite willing toinclude the threat of violence in his address as a legitimate response toracial injustice and oppression. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges (King "Dream"). As they nourish these dissatisfactions, it can only lead to one thing, an explosion (Malcolm X). King speaks as a man of God; Malcolm X speaks as a revolutionary,or at least as a man who will not shrink from violence as a means ofchanging an unjust system which would otherwise never change. His harshrhetoric is designed to show both blacks and whites that the old ways ofgradual reform are not adequate, that unless radical change is immediatelyforthcoming, violence will take place whether he or moderate blackreformers want it or not. Both Martin Luther King, Jr. And he's allowed me to go up on the mountain. with their false promises, building up our hopes for a letdown, with their trickery and their treachery. King's second speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," was deliveredthe night before his assassination, and the authority and power with whichhe gave it seemed to include some sense of foreknowledge about his death.Even if that is true, King maintained to the end (five years after the"Dream" speech) a nonaggressive policy toward change, even if he did knowthat he would die a violent death as a result of his leadership of thecivil rights movement, and because of his growing opposition to the VietnamWar: "It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in thisworld; it's nonviolence or nonexistence" (King "Mountaintop"). thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"(King "Dream"). To the end, King emphasized nonviolent resistance to racistpractices, hope that such a policy would prove successful, Christian loveand forgiveness, and a refusal to aggravate racial differences with harshrhetoric. King begins his "I Have a Dream" address by setting out the failuresof the American system to live up to its promises of equality with respectto blacks. Malcolm X throws down the gauntlet with athreat that if change does not come by the 1964 election, then thealternative--violence--will prevail: "In 1964, it's the ballot or thebullet" (Malcolm X). The "Mountaintop" speech is so full of import and mystery that itis difficult to say precisely what it means, but it is clear that thatafterlife puts the struggle for earthly justice in perspective: I just want to do God's will. However, aside from that general similarity, there are far moredifferences between the two in terms of themes, methods and specific goals. King seeks to ease racial tension,despite his intention of gaining racial justice through nonaggressiveresistance. He delivers "I Have a Dream" as the preacher he is, appealingto Americans to behave and treat one another as "God's children" who "willbe able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual,'Free at last! He continuesto believe that such a promise will be fulfilled. Malcolm X, however, offersnone of the inspirational hope which marks King's "Dream" speech. His words proved prophetic when riots broke outin Watts in 1965 and throughout the nation in 1968 after the assassinationof King. Works CitedKing, Martin Luther, Jr. King makes a plea to whites to live up to the foundations of fairnessin that American dream, and calls on both whites and blacks to expresstheir lives according to the highest spiritual, religious, and moralprinciples. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land (King "Mountaintop"). The year when all of the white political crooks will be right back . Malcolm X seeks to shine a bright and harsh light directly onracial tension in order to intensify the awareness of the need for radicalchange. King and Malcolm X seem to agree that "if something isn't done, andin a hurry, to bring the colored peoples of the world out of their longyears of poverty, their long years of hurt and neglect, the whole world isdoomed" (King "Mountaintop"). And I've seen the promised land. "I Have A Dream." Speech delivered inWashington, D.C., August 28, 1963. Malcolm X boldly declares the fact that he is a Muslim, andthough he does seek common ground with his listeners (apparently allblack), of whatever religious belief, he differs strongly with King when hejust as boldly declares that blacks in America should be willing to usewhatever means are necessary to secure their rights and to cast off theoppression of a society which refuses to treat them as equals: If we don't do something real soon, I think you'll have to agree that we're going to be forced either to use the ballot or the bullet (Malcolm X). http://www.afscme.org/about/kingspch.htmMalcolm X. However, such an apparent warning is not the heart of King's message.In fact, even as he is delivering such a dark caution, there is a sensethat he loathes having to bring it up. He sought to appeal to the highest spiritual and moral force ineach of his listeners. King seeksa way to fit blacks into a political, cultural and socioeconomic systemwhich he wants reformed so that blacks will receive fair and justtreatment. King seeks to inspire and deliver hope for reform, and his tone andstyle are those of a preacher seeking to fire up the moral and religiousimpulses of his audience. Malcolm X seeks tooffer the starkest reality possible, to frighten whites into seeing thatthe choice is either swift and radical change or violence and destruction.King discusses the danger of violence as if it were a real but distantpossibility, and he disdains using it as a direct threat. The greatest difference is King's basic assumption that integrationis desirable and Malcolm X's refusal to accept that assumption. http://web66.coled.umn.edu./new/MLK/MLK.html---. http://hamp.hampshire.edu/~cmnF93/malcolm.txt----------------------- 8 There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. . It is the very basis ofthe speech and of his entire life's work: I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. King mentions the possibilityof violence briefly, but he focuses on working together, black and white,to build a more just society, appealing to the moral and spiritualaspirations of his audience. It would be a mistake to ignore the fact that King recognizesfully the forces at work under the surface of society, forces which couldexplode if justice is not granted to blacks: Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. . And I've looked over.
If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again:
or
Click here to request an essay written just for you.
|
|
|
