Opinion Assignment 1
In the case of comparing the approach of Martin Luther King to that of Malcolm X as it relates to the Civil Rights Movement, it seems to me that there was very little room for violent protest concerning the given cause. As for how their approaches related to those used by the other movements described in the readings for this week, violence and outright lawlessness was more of a negative than a positive.
Martin Luther King believed in the Ghandian approach, in bringing about change to unjust laws and for gaining rights guaranteed by those laws. However, Malcolm X’s approach is described as a multi-approach where one does whatever is necessary to bring about the desired change, including the use of violence. The positive outcomes of the Civil Rights movement are highly credited to the non-violence approach used by Martin Luther King. It was because of the actions of his intent that it became very difficult for the forces (local, state and national governments; police) resisting change to deal openly with the issue. Here it is, this great nation, rooted in democratic principals, in the news around the world denying certain people, based simply on race, their democratic rights. It was inevitable that logic would prevail in dealing with the most visible issues such as segregation, voting rights, and public transportation.
The Black Panther Party is a good example of how violence and lawlessness worked against that movement. As stated, those that have the power or the means are typically not willing to loose it or to give part of it away for that matter. You do not want to give those that oppose your movement a legal path to attack you. The Black Panther Party is described as having two movements, one above ground and the other underground. The above ground movement is credited for many positives that are part of our society to this day such as school lunch programs and rent assistance. However, it was their underground movement that caused their demise. The illegal activity dealing with narcotics and weapons going on with that part of their movement gave cause to the government to raid their offices and arrest their leadership.
The anti-Vietnam war protests are described as the most successful war protests ever. Unlike the successes of the civil rights movement being associated with Dr. King, the Vietnam War protests were a combination of numerous independent movements and tactics pointed at one common target. Such precise movements included draft resistance, civil disobedience and legal demonstrations. It was said that it got extremely difficult for President Johnson and his staff to travel because they were met with protests wherever they went. The wide arrays of approaches put into play were credited with quickly changing the course of the war and eventually bringing it to an end.
The gay rights movement is interesting in that it brought about much of the desired change very quickly. While it starting from a relatively small incident in Greenwich Village in New York City, the movement grew and spread quickly across the county. The main point here was gay pride. It brought about a radical change in thinking that led to many homosexuals and lesbians willing to “come out of the closet”. From this situation came the force that gave power to the gay liberation movement. While confrontations with police are mentioned, the political and social change came about by peaceful means.
The strong and successful movements have common aspects. They contain the ability to communicate, to get their message out. They have strong leadership, are well organized, and are rooted in education. A contrast of a strong versus a weak movement can be noticed by comparing the women’s movement to the Chicano movement. When the women’s ‘NOW’ movement was established, they were a relatively small group. However, the members were well educated and experts in the field of communications. So for such a small group, their message was loud and clear. In contrast, the Chicano movement did not have a good basis for organization. It did not establish a decent footing until affirmative action came about and Chicanos and Chicanas began to have opportunities for attending universities. So as pointed out by the readings, it is very important for a movement to have the right ingredients for success.
In my opinion, Dr. King’s approach versus that of Malcolm X, are not reconcilable within the same movement. The leadership within a given movement should convey a simple message and approach to bringing about the change desired. Attempting to make these two extremely different approaches work together would bring about confusion and conflict within the movement. It was mentioned that Malcolm X communicated to King’s wife that the reason why he openly attacked her husband in the media was to make him stronger. That by contrasting his views to that of Dr. King’s that those opposed to the movement would have to give thought as to which approach they would prefer to deal with. The readings do not suggest that King’s effectiveness is strengthened by this argument. In conclusion, the Martin Luther King strategy, in my opinion, is more valid.
