Martin Luther King and Malcom X Construing the Courageous

MLK and X: Construing the Courageous Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are equally categorized as courageous individuals; however the thoughts, actions, and beliefs as evidenced in their writings demonstrate that each chose a path opposite the other in exhibiting courageous actions. Through Martin Luther King Jr.’ speech, I’ve Been to the Mountain Top and Malcom X’s By any Means Necessary, we observe the steps that each of these Black Activist Leaders took in order to grasp the attention of African-Americans all while achieving results in moving the Black community upward toward equality. Martin Luther King Jr. showed courage when no one else showed courage – in patience. In his speech I’ve Been to the Mountaintop, he delivers his message in a preacher’s style that gives hope and promises for a new beginning for those who have been oppressed. He speaks with true courage and warns his followers that it is not the time for complacency or waiting for change to happen, it is everyone’s responsibility to act and bring about the change that is needed. â€Å"Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together.† He speaks of power in numbers and demonstrates that a large group of people who work courageously in an organized and systematic fashion with the same goals and beliefs can change the thinking and the way society functions. â€Å"That’s power right there, if we know how to pool it.† King overall was a