X were heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. However, many have also seen that King was more pessimistic, while Malcolm X was more optimistic about separatism for most of his life. It seems like later on intheir lives, they had changed and taken the opposite roles. The speeches of King and Malcolm X reflected both mens visions on improving America. Both men believed that if blacks were to attain freedom, they first needed to achieve self-respect. However, Malcolm X's speeches were delivered in a revolutionary tone which could incite his listeners to hatred of white America. Malcolm X used direct and to the point language that could be understood by all levels of society. "He had mastery in language and could project his ideas," (Rummel, 78). This creativity in language helped build the Black Muslim Movement in the United States. In his "Definition of a Revolution" speech delivered in November 1963, Malcolm X openly justifies violence as a way of gaining equality. "And if it is right for America to draft us and teach us how to be violent in defense of the country, then isn't it right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country," (Rummel, 53). He encouraged blacks to hate white America and had to revolt against them. "Revolution is bloody, revolution is hostile, revolution knows no compromise, revolution overturns and destroys everything that gets in its way, (Rummel, 53). In his speech "God's Judgment of White America", delivered on December 1, 1963, Malcolm X again promoted his separatist philosophy. (Rummel, 34) "America must set aside some separate territory here in the Western Hemisphere where the two races can live apart from each other, since we certainly don't get along peacefully while we are here together," (Rummel, 60). After Malcolm X's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964, he rethought his racist and anti-white beliefs. This change is reflected in his "Communication and...
