Malcom X Vs. Martin Luther King

            
             The 1960's represent a turbulent time in American history. After nearly two centuries of discrimination, African Americans took their first steps in achieving racial equality through the Civil Rights movement of the mid 50's and early 60's. Revolutionary incidents like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the march on Washington were just a few of the major catalysts in what is known today as the greatest civil rights movement of all time. The leaders of this movement included the likes of prominent religious leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both leaders shared the same desires for their people but they approached situations in different ways. Martin Luther King is known for his belief in peaceful protest, while the militant Malcolm X is known for seeing violence as the only alternative. In an effort to convey their message clearly, King submitted a manifesto to eight clergymen in Alabama concerning race relations in the deep south while Malcolm X decided on giving a speech regarding the plight of the African American to a group of white liberals. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X fight for freedom, but they use completely different styles of language to persuade their audience. Malcolm X uses repetition, logical fallacies, and appeals to emotion to get his point across that violence the path for freedom. On the other hand, Martin Luther King Jr. remains calm in his argument to the eight clergymen, he uses a great deal of logical evidence such as appeals to authority, biblical quotes and also uses an appeal to emotion.
             In Malcolm X's speech "The Black Revolution," he is addressing to a group of white liberals about the oppression blacks have gone through and what it will take to provide racial equality. To make his speech memorable and to get his point across, Malcolm X constantly speaks of a "Revolution"(Malcolm 235) that is to take place. He uses the word "revolution" to instill fear in the crowd.