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BY ELIJAH ESCOTO AND IAN SALMON
Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were two African American activists that fought for African American rights. Though they were both fighting for equal rights, their point of views were very different. Black people were being oppressed in the 50’s and 60’s so men and woman decided to stand up and fight for racial equality. Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were men that decided that there needed to be change in America they both took action and strived for racial equality but, they both had different views on how African Americans should take action. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a speech called: “I have a dream.” In this speech he states that all men are created equal and should be treated that way. Martin Luther’s “dream was that one day, his son and daughter would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Malcolm X addressed a speech to a meeting in New York he intended that this speech encourage African Americans to take action. Malcolm states “we feel that it is time to get together among our own kind and eliminate the evils that are destroying the moral fiber of our society”. Malcolm then goes on to state “ when he becomes the victim of brutality by those who are depriving him of his rights- to do whatever necessary to protect himself.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s point of view to get equal rights was through non-violent civil disobedience because of his Christian beliefs. He encouraged peaceful, non-violent protests. He states this a few times in his speech to make it clear they should not be violent. “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence.” Malcolm X’s point of view is in order for African Americans to gain equal rights they must be able to stand up and defend their rights. He believed that African Americans needed to do whatever was necessary to protect themselves and fight back. This is demonstrated when he states “ when he becomes the victim of brutality by those who are depriving him of his rights- to do whatever necessary to protect himself.” Malcolm X believed that they would need to use violence to gain equal rights. He wanted African Americans to rise up and be proud that they could be important or impactful. He believed that non-violent actions would lead to them losing control of their movement and their civil rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X may of had different views on the civil rights movement but they both believed that it was time for racial equality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both inspired many African Americans to rise up and take action. They both protested the deprivement that the average African American was facing everyday. Both men knew the abuse and crimes that were affecting African Americans across the country. Both men wanted to lift the African American communities and empower them to have a better life. Malcolm X stated “ we should lift the level or the standard of our own society to a higher level.” this shows how he wanted the people to have a higher standard. They may of had different views on how to gain racial equality but they both wanted to improve the lives of African Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were both great men who wanted to change their world. They were men that always tried to help others and improve the world around them. It is a shame that both men were murdered for trying to make the world a better place. They both powered the civil rights movement and help create racial equality in the United States. By Elijah Escoto
I’m sitting in the cramped plane, on my first mission. All of these people, these daring soldiers, their lives are in my hands until I drop them to go fight. It’s very frightening to think all these courageous people could lose their lives this very day. My hands are sweaty, the crowded plane is scorching, and we are about ready to release the soldiers to fight. Why am I scared? I have no idea. I don’t have to jump off of a plane, go shoot at other people, or risk dying. I just have to sit in this enormous C-130 and fly it back to base safely, after releasing these soldiers. *** Chester Seaman, a veteran of the military, was the pilot of a C-130, who worked his way up in the military. He started out as a small part of the military when he was twenty-two, and he worked his way up to a great colonel, and retired at fifty-two years old. He worked hard, and his work paid off in his late forties. He got to meet the honored, well-known George Bush. Chester got to meet the inspiring president in uniform, and unexpectedly out of uniform. One time, Chester was walking around in the base without uniform on wearing normal clothes, and the president was taking a visit. “Hey colonel,” said Bush to Chester. Chester was privileged and delighted that someone that important knew who he was. “I had to work extremely hard to be upgraded to that high of a level,” said Chester. “About thirty years!” It all paid off though, he was valued and appreciated by anyone he met, including the president. Chester was an important part of the military, and acknowledged and valued for the part he played as an excellent colonel. *** I can feel the sweat on my forehead, my thin, pale arms, and my skeletal neck, streaking down my stiff spine. “First mission,” I say inside my head. “Don’t mess up.” My copilot is looking at me and we make eye contact. “Are you ready?” he asks readily. “Yes sir,” I respond quickly. “Okay,” he says. He starts counting down. “Five!” I feel a wave of excitement and confidence snap through me. “Four!” I can do this, first mission, don’t mess this up. “Three!” Before this I was sweating because I was scared, but now it’s a feeling of motivation and thrill, rushing through my blood. “Two!” I am so excited I almost jump out of my seat. I feel the emotion flowing through my head. “One!” *** Luckily, Chester Seaman was not drafted, he wanted to be in the military. He enjoyed his difficult job, which is why he stayed there for thirty active years. He enjoyed being in the military, and will always remember his tough experience. “When I was not a colonel, I was flying a C-130, which is a plane that released people off of the plane as they jump off with parachutes. It also holds cars for transportation if they needed it,” Chester explained. “When I was a colonel, I got to give orders to some people, and I was respected more the higher I went.” Chester’s job in the military did not interfere with the parenting of his two kids, unless he was on a huge mission like his Saudi Arabia trip. It did not affect because he was in the Air National Guard to start, which meant that he worked only a few days every few weeks. As a colonel, it gave him more responsibility and more soldiers to take care of and give orders to. He could still take care of his family, and have another other job, all at the same time. *** I slam on the open button and yell to the soldiers. “Good luck out there, soldiers.” I sit back down in the sweat-drenched seat as my copilot gives them the go signal. I close the colossal door after they all have jumped out. I did it! My first mission! I am so excited I almost yell hallelujah. I don’t though; I don’t want to ruin my first mission. “Good work,” said the copilot. “Thanks,” I say, my voice filled with excitement. It felt great to know that I did my job right, and that I will do this right now because I have actually done it. It feels incredible to know that you are serving your country, and enjoying it all at the same time. *** Now, Chester is sixty-six years old, working at a water treatment plant, and planning to retire in less than a year. He lives happily in South Carolina, and loves to talk about how he served and all of his fascinating experiences. The military changed Chester Seaman into a braver, stronger, and an even more captivating person than he already was. It is important to realize that sometimes people around you have served or are serving in a way that you won’t even realize. It is important to respect people who have served or are serving by just saying thank you. They sacrifice their own lives for ours, and we should be very thankful. “Heroes will sacrifice themselves to save others, but cowards will sacrifice others to save themselves.”~Unknown |