It's 1963, and you are in the peak of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King has given his infamous I have a dream speech, and not far behind will come Malcolm X's address to a meeting in 1964. They are both young reverends striving for the same long awaited to dream of civil rights for African-Americans. The Speech, "I Have a Dream," spoken by Martin Luther King Jr., and the speech “Address to a meeting in New York," spoken by Malcolm X, both have similar and different point of views.
Malcolm X and Martin Luther king were both huge influencers in the civil rights movement, but these two leaders had two very different approaches on how they would make their voices be heard. Malcolm X presented his speech with a powerful, forceful, and aggressive tone. Furthermore, Malcolm X believed that African Americans and white people shouldn't congregate together. This was perceived when Malcolm stated “we should gain economic control over the economy of our own community, the business and the other things which create employment so we can provide jobs for our own people instead of having to boycott and take it and beg someone else for a job.” This showed that he disagreed with Martin Luther King, who wanted a desegregated community. Instead, Malcolm X proposed the idea of two different communities for the races; that African Americans should build their own society, to provide better jobs than what would be given to them in the already existing society. Along with the following, Malcolm X also stated “When I say fight for independence right here, I don't mean any nonviolent fight, or turn the other cheek fight. Those days are gone. Those days are over”. Both statements heavily contrast on Martin Luther King’s way of protesting. This is true due to how Martin Luther King believed in peaceful protesting. However, Malcolm believed that the protests and boycotts were equivalent to begging. He also believed that if you wanted change you shouldn't take the non violent or “ turn the other cheek” approach. Instead, you should fight with whatever it takes. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke his compelling and motivational speech with a peaceful and inspirational tone. He believed in a free country for all mankind no matter one’s race, color, or origin, and was determined to gain that through peaceful speeches and protests. This was shown when he says, “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.” Furthermore, he stated, “But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” This shows how Martin Luther King Jr. felt that people should not obtain their freedom by violence. Instead, let go of the bitterness and hatred you hold fast to, and use kindness and patience to shine a new light for a better tomorrow. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X have similar views on what they want, but different approaches on how to obtain it. Yet, even though one part of their point of views are the same, they still contrast in their own ways. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to show everyone that all men were created equal through peace and kindness; while on the other hand, Malcolm X wanted to show everyone that all men were created equal--whatever it takes. These two men helped to create a bigger, brighter future for all Americans--black or white.
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By: Carmen Broadnax She stood up as if nothing happened. As she stood puzzled, everyone looked at her in shock. Following their eyes she looked down. As she gasped, she was filled with the feeling of disbelief and fright. Did she stay calm because she wanted to set a good example for the younger campers? Or did she stay calm because she didn't know what her future awaited. . . . It was July 23 and 13 year old Carmen Broadnax agreed to go to water sports with her friend Jaden. But who would've known that Carmen's last minute decision would affect her in a big way. Carmen and Jayden had just finished tubing on the lake, and we're heading back to the main boat. Upon arrival to the pontoon, Carmen got up to get on the boat. One step, and splash! In a flash Carmen was in the water between the two boats, like a sandwich with spicy mustard. “Help i’ve fallen and I can't get up”, she hollered. As people laughed she yelled “I'm not OK” to ensure them she was not OK. Stuck in the water she began to appreciate the person who created life alert. As Carmen was pulled out of the water like a Chilean Seabass, she realized there was a huge dent in her shinn. Considering you could see bone, flesh, and blood, she was surprised that it only felt like a Papercut. As she was rushed on the couch to get her leg elevated she saw the other campers move off the boat like a cat being ambushed by a cucumber. Carmen laid on the couch with the sun in her face, like she was stranded in the middle of an ocean. The counselors wrapped a pad around her leg, and then added a couple layers of duct tape to finish her first aide masterpiece. Upon shore she put on her overalls and was rushed to the hospital, faster than a Lamborghini and a car race. Unfortunately they could not contact her mother because she was on vacation in Italy. When they got a hold of her dad he said “I'm not surprised she's very clumsy”. Carmen waited in the rustic waiting room until they called her in. She waited on the hospital bed for what seemed like hours. Then finally swoosh! The curtain opened to reveal a tall man with brown hair, and a bad 5 o'clock shadow. Wow you did a lot of damage he said as he unwrapped Carmen's “first aide masterpiece”. He then proceeded to place what look like a puppy training pad under Carmen's leg. The doctor left for a hot minute and came back with a bucket and syringes. Wasting no more time he squirted the liquid into Carmen’s shinn, like the water in Niagara Falls. Next came the dreaded stitches. While the doctor left to get materials, Carmen heard something pushed thru a door. Swoosh! the curtains closed next to her room. “Her heart rates at 220”, one doctor screamed. “she's going into anaphylactic shock”, screamed another. All of a sudden, a little boy with the nose as big as Squidward’s, walked through the door. “Another camp incidented” chuckled one doctor as he walked through the door. At the same time a man walked out of the bathroom holding pee sample. With all of this going on, he waited silently in the corner in shock. Unanticipatedly, the lady was abruptly ok. A sigh of relief passed through the doctors. ” Where do I put my pee sample”, mumbled the man in the corner. The doctor came back swiftly like Batman, and started by putting shots into Carmen's shinn that would numb it. Carmen squeezed onto her counselors hand to decrease the pain, as the stitches penetrated through her skin and back around. After all five stitches were in and wrapped up with gauze she still felt a little queasy. While leaving the hospital she was surprised to see the bus was replaced with a camp van. After her long journey from the hospital to camp, Carmen was greeted by her cabin mates with a big hug. “Oh my gosh are you OK! “, said Ayla as she wrapped her arms around Carmen. “Be Careful girls”, screamed her counselor trying to be protective. . . . As the week went on Carmen crutched up and down hills with a positive attitude and purple armpits. She set a good example for the campers and never gave up. Even when her antibiotics gave her a one hundred and one degree fever. Today Carmen is doing well, and has her stitches out. She is also looking for to going back to watersports next year. All in all, treat your obstacles like stepping stones, laugh at them and let them guide you to something better. |
AuthorCarmen Broadnax B1
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