Comparison of the Political Ideas and Rhetoric in Selected Speeches of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X

Abstract

This bachelor thesis covers the topic of comparison of two black leaders' political ideas and rhetoric, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X, based on their speeches. The first part of the paper deals with rhetoric and political speech in general. These terms are explained and examples are given. The historical background follows. Biographies of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are provided and they are followed by analyses of their famous speeches. The last part of the thesis covers the comparison of these two African-Americans. Their similarities and their different attitudes in gaining freedom for the black nation in the United States are described.