Vision of Racism in America of King & Malcolm X

Integrationists and nationalists complemented each other. Both philosophies were needed if America was going to come to terms with the truth of the black experience. Either philosophy alone was a half-truth and thus a distortion of the black reality in America. Integrationists were practical. . . . Nationalists were desperate (16).

Cone also argues that Martin and Malcolm did not originate these two positions, but instead were parts of a long historical process which included both philosophies and approaches: "To understand Martin King's and Malcolm X's perspectives on America and their relation to each other, it is important to see them in the light of these two different but interdependent streams of black thought" (4).

In exploring these arguments, Cone delineates the major ideas and influences shaping the race relations views of both men, as well as their successes and limitations as leaders. This study will examine those ideas, influences, succe

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left him without a father (who was murdered) or mother (who was committed to a mental institution) by the time he was twelve. Unlike King, Malcolm did not have a supportive community and family to protect him from being defined negatively by a white racist society, and, accordingly, the basic ideas leading to his views of race relations were pessimistic rather than optimistic. Whereas King believed in protest, accommodation and self-help, Malcolm believed in separation of the races, black self-identity, distrust or hatred of the white race as a mortal enemy, and violent self-defense when called for. Again, although he would drastically modify these views later in life, which brought him into a closer relationship with that of King, he nevertheless advocated such ideas through most of his career. Whereas King was influenced by the values of Christianity (justice, love and obedience) of his family and community, Malcolm came to be shaped primarily by the values of the Black Muslims and their leader Elijah Muhammad. Much has been made of the differences between King and Malcolm in the earlier stages of their careers, and of the fact that they came more closely together philosophically in their later years. However, the fact is tha
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Approximate Word count = 2300
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)