James Baldwin versus Malcolm X Essay -- Race African American

Gentle Yet Strong: Leading the Oppressed Malcolm X and James Baldwin were two men that played a large role in defining a people and a cause during the 1950s and 1960s. Both of these men were dynamic African-Americans who lived primarily to help their people, who were terribly persecuted in the United States for many years. The interesting thing about these two men is that they strove towards the same goal—to unify African-Americans and give them strength and confidence—but they accomplished this goal in very different ways. Malcolm X, a leader in the Nation of Islam movement, believed that African-Americans needed to acquire strength and confidence so that they could separate from the White man and live together in peace, harmony, and production. On the other hand, James Baldwin, renowned writer, believed it necessary for African-Americans to have strength and confidence so that they might coexist on the same level as whites and accomplish what whites were accomplishing. The methodology and teachings of J ames Baldwin and Malcolm X differed greatly, but their general belief, that African-Americans were just as good as everybody else prevailed over all else, and made these men two of the very important faces of a generation. More often than not, the quality of leadership lies deep within certain people. It is not a quality that people build or develop easily. The basis of good leadership is personality. Those who have dynamic and charismatic personalities can lead, if they choose to do so. Malcolm X possessed these types of qualities. Throughout his life, Malcolm—born Malcolm Little—always showed a proficiency for leadership, as evidenced by his roles as seventh-grade class president, as leading hustler ... ...li, Noaman. Malcolm-X.org. 2000. 28 Apr. 2004. . Baldwin, James. â€Å"Down at the Cross.† 1963. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998: 296-347. ---. â€Å"Take Me to the Water.† 1972. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998: 353-403. ---. â€Å"To Be Baptized.† 1972. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998: 404-474. Harper, Frederick D. â€Å"The Influence of Malcolm X on Black Militancy.† Journal of Black Studies 1 (June 1971): 387-402. Hoyt, Charles Alva. â€Å"The Five Faces of Malcolm X.† Negro American Literature Forum 4 (1970): 107-112. Shabazz, Ilyasah. â€Å"Malcolm X.† Ebony July 2002: 122-124. X, Malcolm. â€Å"God’s Judgement of White America.† 4 Dec. 1963. Ali. 28 Apr. 2004.