Malcom X, "By Any Means Necessary"
Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter From Birmingham Jail"
Examining Primary Sources from the Civil rights Movement
Overview
The Civil Rights Movement in America featured many different leaders, some with very different approaches they thought would help African Americans achieve equality. Of these figures Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X are two of the most influential. Students will analyze one writing from each of these leaders to determine what their beliefs were and how they were different from one another, before discussing these beliefs and differences with a partner.
Image: Warren K. Leffler (photographer), Library of Congress (source). Public Domain.
Lesson Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze writings from Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Describe the beliefs these Civil Rights based upon their public speeches.
- Compare and contrast the beliefs of these figures.
- Discuss and reflect on these writings with a partner
Introduction
What does Civil Rights mean to you in today’s world? Take a minute to discuss this as a class.
After we ponder this question, we can look back at the Civil Rights Era in the United States.
Today we will be reading two important writings from seminal Civil Rights figures Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. Be sure to read them thoroughly and keep in mind these analysis questions for each writing:
- How would you describe their beliefs?
- How do they believe equality can be achieved?
- How would one leader criticize the other?
- Which leader do you think was more impactful in the Civil Rights movement?
Think these questions through and prepare to discuss with a partner.
Activity
This activity can be modified for more of a group discussion by having one group read the Malcom X writing and the other read the MLK, while still answering the analysis questions, and then discussing the differences as a whole class.
Read Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter From Birmingham Jail" and Malcom X's "By Any Means Necessary" speech in whatever order you so choose.
While reading remember to keep in mind the questions:
- How would you describe their beliefs?
- How do they believe equality can be achieved?
- How would one leader criticize the other?
- Which leader do you think was more impactful in the Civil Rights movement?
After reading and answering these questions for each writing, find a partner and discuss your analysis with a partner.
Exit Ticket
This could simply be turned into a discussion topic for the class if you so choose.
What is something you would want to know more about with regard to each of these Civil Rights leader? As an Exit Ticket, write your thoughts down and turn them in to the teacher.