In these two quotes, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X put forward two different philosophies for responding to racial oppression. What are your thoughts on these two viewpoints? Which quote do you agree with more? Support your answer.
Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys a community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I think there are plenty of good people in America, but there are also plenty of bad people in America and the bad ones are the ones who seem to have all the power and be in these positions to block things that you and I need. Because this is the situation, you and I have to preserve the right to do what is necessary to bring an end to that situation, and it doesn't mean that I advocate violence, but at the same time I am not against using violence in self-defense. I don't even call it violence when it's self-defense, I call it intelligence.
- Malcolm X
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4 comments:
i believe that both of these men were very intelligent people and that they both ahd strong points. Martin Luther King Jr. believed in non violence where are Malcolm didn't believe in it as well but wasn't ashamed in using it for self-defense. In my opinion I prefer Malcolm's views because using violence all the time is wrong but there are times where violence is necessary and that's when i think it's ok to stand up for oneself and refer to violence, in self-defense only.
I recognize both of these quotes from the end of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing". The great movie that it was, these quotes are both very meaningful to it in relation to the riot that takes place in the end and the general racial attitudes throughout the whole movie. I think I lean more towards MLK's philosophy, though I'm not complete against that of Malcolm X. I do believe that violence destroys brotherhood, and works toward no positive solution. At the end of an act of violence, at least one side is left with bitter and hateful feelings. No side ever realized their wrongdoings and came to a mutual understanding at the end of a race riot. However, I believe that Malcolm's view is slightly more human, while MLK's is practically saintly. A person can only take so much oppression, and speak one's mind peacefully so many times before emotions get out of control. It's perfectly human and perfectly understandable. Also, in a case of self defense, violence is perfectly acceptable. Though MLK's belief in nonviolence is noble and admirable, it does not work when one side of a conflict is already uncompromising, unreasonable, and violent.
I think MLK is somewhat right when it comes to the idea of violence; without violence this world would most def. be a more safe and loving place. He fails to recognize, however, that its human nature to strike revenge thus resulting in violence. I approve of MLK's ideas but my support leans toward Malcolm X. His thoughts on violence seem to be more realistic of what people would do nowadays. From what i've seen, people are selfish in thier own ways and will do anything to to get there even if it means provoking hatred. Though i do disagree with Malcolm when he calls violence "intelligence". this is where my support for MLK comes in; violence is not a state of intelligence at all rather a state of stupidity that you're using because you have no way out. All in all, the existence of violence will forever be present, once started it can never be stopped. Maybe that's why Malcolm X wants to incorporate violence as intelligence, to have some form of worth in violence?
I think I'd agree with Malcolm X. I don't advocate violence, but Malcolm X is not saying to use violence as a first choice and just because you're upset about a situation. He's saying that if you're seriously being oppressed and it's a matter of self defense, that would call for the use of violence. I think that's a very fair argument, because if someone is being violent against you, just standing there and taking it because violence is a bad thing and you don't want to do something immoral, is not going to do you any good. Sometimes, if someone is being oppressed, they have to rise up, and show the oppressor that they can be strong and powerful too and that they'll resort to violence if they need to, in order to put an end to their oppression. Sometimes, violence is the only way to protect yourself from the evils in this world. It may not be pleasant, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
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