How did Malcolm X's views on civil rights differ from those of Martin Luther King Jr.?

Malcolm X's views on civil rights were characterized by his strong advocacy for Black nationalism, which sought to empower African Americans to establish their identity and achieve autonomy outside the framework often associated with integrationist approaches. This perspective contrasted sharply with Martin Luther King Jr.'s emphasis on nonviolence and integration, where King promoted the idea of African Americans fighting for their rights within the United States' broader societal structure.

King believed that through peaceful protests and civil disobedience, racial harmony and equality could be achieved, and he aimed to forge alliances with individuals of all races to work toward these goals. In contrast, Malcolm X, particularly in his earlier years, was often critical of integration and saw it as inadequate for addressing the systemic injustices facing Black people. He advocated for self-determination, self-defense, and the creation of an independent Black community as means of achieving true liberation and empowerment, emphasizing a more militant approach towards combating oppression.

This fundamental difference in philosophy—where one sought inclusion through nonviolent means and multiracial cooperation while the other promoted a more separatist and nationalist agenda—highlights the distinct paths both leaders took in the fight for civil rights, making it evident why Black nationalism is identified as a defining feature of Malcolm X’s ideology