Martin Luther King and Malcolm X

Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.) was born January 15th, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia to Baptist minister Martin Luther King (born Michael King) and his wife, Alberta. He was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968, preaching Christian values and social equality for all races. King advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through nonviolence and civil disobedience. With inspiration from both his own Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Gandhi, he was able to lead targeted, and most importantly nonviolent, resistance against Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination in the United States. He is most famously known for being one of the leaders of the The March on Washington in 1963, where he delivered his famous Martin Luther King Jr. Last Speech "I Have a Dream" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. See Passage from the "I Have a Dream Speech" for part of the speech.

Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an influential civil rights activist and Muslim minister who rose to prominence in the United States during the mid-20th century. Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, he experienced firsthand the harsh realities of racism and discrimination as a Black man in America. After his father's murder and his mother's institutionalization, he turned to a life of crime, leading to his arrest and imprisonment at the age of 20. During his time in prison, Malcolm X underwent a transformation, converting to the Nation of Islam and embracing the teachings of its leader, Elijah Muhammad. Upon his release, he became a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, preaching Black separatism, self-defense, and Black pride. However, after a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964, Malcolm X underwent a spiritual awakening, renounced his previous separatist beliefs, and began advocating for racial integration and unity. His message of Black self-determination and empowerment, coupled with his uncompromising stance against racism and oppression, made him a powerful and controversial figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X's legacy as a courageous and passionate advocate for Black rights continues to inspire and influence people around the world.