Luther King spread their message through powerful speeches, but their intentions were delivered in different styles and purposes. "King was basically a peaceful leader who urged non-violence to his followers. He traveled about the country giving speeches that inspired black and white listeners to work together for racial harmony." (Archer, 139) Malcolm X, for the most part, believed that non-violence andintegration was a trick by the whites to keep blacks in their places. He was furious at white racism and encouraged his followers through his speeches to rise up and protest against their white enemies. (Haley, 43) After Malcolm X broke away from Elijah Mohammed, this change was reflected more in his speeches. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King's childhoods had powerful influences on the men and their speeches.Malcolm X was brought up in an atmosphere of violence. During his childhood, Malcolm X suffered not only from abuse by whites, but also from his family. His father beat his mother and his mother beat him. (Haley, 4) His mother was forced to raise eight children during the depression times. After his mother had a mental breakdown, the children were all placed in foster homes. Malcolm X's resentment was increased as he suffered through the cruelties of mixed races schooling. He was an intelligent student who shared the same dream of being a lawyer with Martin Luther King, but Malcolm X's anger and pain caused him to drop out of school. He started to use cocaine and set up a burglary ring to support his bad habit. Malcolm X's hostility and promotion of violence as a way of getting change was well established in his childhood.Martin Luther King grew up in a completely different situation. He was a smart student and skipped two grades before entering a classy college at the age of 15. He was the class valedictorian and had an A average. King paraded his graduation present, a new green Chevrolet in front his fellow graduate...
