MLK and Malcolm X: Divergent Paths, Shared Pursuit of Justice
The disagreement between the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X within the Civil Rights movement over what justice actually looks like and how equality manifests in democracy remains to be dueling forces in current day politics. King’s vision of a nonviolent, inclusive path toward integration contrasts with Malcolm X’s more extreme stance, advocating for any means to achieve equality. These opposing views, while rooted in the same goal for justice, illustrate the complexities of how people perceive and pursue freedom within an unequal society.
In Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. argues that justice is a collective responsibility, suggesting that democracy’s core principle is the well-being and equality of all citizens. When he writes, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” King underscores the moral imperative for individuals to actively engage in the fight for justice, even if the injustices in question do not directly affect them. Reflecting on this today, we can see these dynamics at play in elections, where many people vote based on how policies will impact them personally, often overlooking the broader social consequences. This approach makes sense from a rational perspective, as people are inherently inclined toward self-interest and are conditioned to consider how political decisions might affect their immediate needs or values. However, King’s perspective challenges us to expand our moral horizon. The collective nature of democracy, then, means that we consider not only personal interests but also the impact our choices have on marginalized and vulnerable communities.
In contrast, Malcolm X’s The Ballot or the Bullet advocates for Black nationalism emphasizing the importance of self-reliance and disruption to dismantle unjust structures. For Malcolm X, integration within a fundamentally unjust system was inadequate; only by establishing their own power structures could Black Americans hope to attain genuine equality. During the height of the BLM protests, advocates called for reform such as changes to policing policies, criminal justice reform, and greater accountability. While these demands led to some progress, they largely took place within the established “white framework” of American society. While some changes resulted, it was not transformative and we still see the same issues persist. This makes me question whether today’s movements will eventually reach a tipping point where a critical mass of people, frustrated by incremental reforms and limited concessions, will abandon efforts to achieve justice through the existing structures and instead push for a more radical reimagining of those structures. While complete overhaul is quixotic, Malcolm X believed it to be the only path forward.
