Assess the Impact Malcolm X Had on the Civil Rights Movement free essay sample

Malcolm X, a civil rights activist, had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Malcolm X challenged conservative Americans by the Civil Rights Movement exposing discriminatory practices which led to significant changes in what the legal system declared unlawful. Although Malcolm X had a different approach to Martin Luther and produced different results, their end aim was the same. His impact socially, politically and legally is still recognized today and he is commemorated for his constant fight for equality for African Americans. Malcolm X’s tragic childhood events, certainty influenced his motives for social change. Socially, Malcolm X’s views and approaches were different to the other civil rights activists of that time. Before Malcolm X, most blacks wanted nothing to do with Africa. But he taught them that â€Å"You cant hate your origin and not end up hating yourself; you cant hate Africa and not hate yourself. We will write a custom essay sample on Assess the Impact Malcolm X Had on the Civil Rights Movement or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † The response from this was positive and it raised African American cultural consciousness. Despite this, he was cast in the negative light and was seen as an opposer of Martin Luther King Jr. King and other activists refused to appear on the same platform as him. The Nation of Islam only had violent views, and as a result of this, Malcolm X rejected the non violent views of King and advocated for a violent approach. â€Å"I don’t even call it violence when it’s self defense; I call it intelligence. † says Malcolm X. The impact of this developed two approaches to Civil Rights. One group following Kings views and the other, a minority following Malcolm X’s views. It was this group which agitated for change through violent means. The white community saw all blacks as violent which negatively impacted on Kings cause. This also divided the black community, at a time were unity was needed. Further to this, Malcolm X advocated for both the establishment of a separate black community, rather than integration, and the use of violence for self defense. An added impact to this was that it heightened the controversy of Malcolm X and his approach, but also hampered any attempt of assimilation. White society retaliated, both on the streets and the media, impacting on societies views on Malcolm X. Ultimately, Malcolm X was pushing for a positive change, but it was perceived by the whites, and some blacks, as negative. Malcolm X’s social views had a significant impact politically and legally. Malcolm X and other activists all wanted the same end result, but the way they advocated for change, was different. Malcolm X ridiculed Kings â€Å"I have a dream† speech saying, â€Å"While King was having a dream, the rest of us Negroes are having a nightmare†. There was nothing subtle about Malcolm X’s message and he was not afraid of sharing his views and opinions to all. This approach pushed all sectors of society to question him and themselves. Legally, Malcolm X challenged the civil rights movement and exposed discriminatory practices. Not only did Malcolm X impact the Civil Rights Movement by helping to implement laws, he also made America look at how existing laws were routinely ignored. Malcolm X’s political push to ensure the education of black Americans clearly impacted on both blacks and whites, inspiring them to get an education. Malcolm X advocated both politically and legally for schools to be desegregated, as he states â€Å"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today†. As a result of his impacts on the legal system, the US Supreme Court in 1954, declared desegregation in public schools unconstitutional. The desegregation of public schools had a large impact on the African American society and through this, the contributions of Malcolm X were seen and he gained credibility. After his separation from the Nation of Islam in 1964, he declared his independence and developed his cultural and political black nationalist philosophy in a speech titled, â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet. † His break from the NOI was an important turning point as he was free to speak independently and he encouraged blacks to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Further to this, Malcolm X formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity. The purpose of the OAAU was to reconnect Africans Americans with their African heritage, establish economic independence, and promote African American self-determination. It impacted on the members of the OAAU as it gave them a place to speak for themselves and to fight for equality. Although the OAAU fell apart, it became the inspiration for hundreds of black power groups that emerged during the next decade. Even though Malcolm X did not directly initiate any fundamental changes, he questioned the law, created public debate and discussion amongst the black community and politicians, exposed discriminatory acts and pushed for change. He inspired not only American black youth, but also other disadvantaged groups around the world such as the 1965 Freedom Rides in Australia. However, as a consequence of his impact on the Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X was threatened due to his radical ideas and on February 21st, 1965, he was assassinated. His assassination spawned the Black Panther Party, who took Malcolm X’s message of self defense for blacks and translated it into action. They inspired youth and blacks internationally to fight racism and police brutality. Malcolm X has been dead for 48 years, yet his influence in the African American community is much greater today than during his lifetime. He was an internationalist and revolutionary, who took a courageous stand for all African Americans for gaining equality. He agitated for change and made a significant impact in America socially, politically and pushed for changes in the law. Malcolm X’s impact on the civil rights movement can not be denied and his speeches and his message have stood the test of time. ?

Has Nationalism been a unifying or divisive force during the 19th and 20th centuries

Has Nationalism been a unifying or divisive force during the 19th and 20th centuries The concept of nationalism was first associated with the French Revolution and Napoleon, who contributed a lot to its spread all over Europe. During the late 19th century, nationalism became very popular with urban societies and as its popularity increased, people began to shift their allegiance from monarchy to a country.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Has Nationalism been a unifying or divisive force during the 19th and 20th centuries? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People began putting national interests above all other considerations driven by the perception that nationalism gave them the sense of power and belonging, and also provided them with a connection to the state, which had been disrupted during the industrial revolution. However, as the concept of nationalism emerged, it emerged that there were two forms of nationalism, one form aimed at extending the scale of human social, political and cultural unit s and unify individuals while the other form was exclusionary and divisive. This essay shall examine the concept of nationalism as applied in the 18th and 19th century with the hope of the hope of establishing whether it helped cause divisiveness or unity among people. European colonialism generated two opposing sociopolitical movements. On one hand, the colonial rulers encouraged the existing tribal-ethnic and religious divisions in the society through a policy of devide et impera while on the other hand, their colonial methods unwittingly gave rise to anti-colonial nationalism movements. It can therefore be said that colonial rule gave rise to the two forces of unifying nationalism and divisive tribalism and that the appropriate and legitimate framework for decolonization was nationalism, which emanated from the foreign idea of the nation-state. Among the numerous factors responsible for sparking of the First and the Second World Wars was nationalism. During the period before and during the two wars, nationalism became a dangerous tool as it was exploited to trigger wars and conflicts between states and nations. Nationalists, in many instances, used the nationalism belief of putting country before anything else to encourage citizens to get involved in wars that placed individuals of different nationalities against each other. The divisive force of nationalism was also observed during the Cold War when the USSR and the US indirectly engaged each other in contests. The Cold War was triggered by the existence of forces which were responsible for sparking off the two world wars. These tensions, in addition to the Russian and American nationalism forces made it possible for leaders of both nations to win public support for their foreign policies that fuelled the Cold War.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During the Cold War, the Truman administration used Am erican nationalism as a major tool to convince an overwhelming majority of US citizens that the Soviet Union was no more than an expansionist force bent on world contest, much as Nazi Germany had been. With this in mind, man Americans supported any efforts by their government that supported the US’ agenda for the Cold War. Nationalism also paid an important role during the Revolutionary Europe period. During this period, nationalism was inherently divisive in its political ramifications. Most European countries consisted of a patchwork of different ethnic, linguistic and religious communities, a product of centuries of migration, war and dynastic alliances. Nationalism was responsible for stabilizing each of the European states based on a single national community. This in turn triggered competition for resources and living space between the different nationalities leading to the emergence of several wars. In conclusion, nationalism has been applied in different contexts to a chieve different results. This essay has shown how nationalists used nationalism to both unify and divide their citizens. It can therefore be said that nationalism resulted in both unity and divisiveness during the 18th and 19th centuries.