Read Document Collection 2, then compose a short, one-page essay based on ONE of the following prompts. Essays should be around 300 words, double-spaced in a legible font, and accessible via Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader. Essays should demonstrate a careful understanding of the material covered in the module, including assigned source material AND the historical context presented in the overview(s). The essay is worth a total of 100 pts. Note that ALL essays will be assessed by Unicheck for plagiarism. If you are unsure about plagiarism and what it entails, please reach out to the instructor BEFORE submitting your short essay.
Choose ONE of the following prompts:
1. One of the central questions that King and X both take up in the collected documents is the necessity for immediate action. How does each man argue that patience is no longer an acceptable request for the activists of civil rights movement? How does each characterize such requests to “wait” on civil rights? Does this agreement provide any room for common ground between the two? Be sure to support your argument with specific evidence from the readings.
2. The overarching difference between King and X is their conception of how civil rights activists should respond to the violence with which some segregationists sought to stop the movement. Describe how King and X each believe activists should respond to violence. Pay particular attention to Malcolm X – is he calling for violence, or is he suggesting something more complex? Are there any areas in which King and X might agree about how to respond to violent resistance from segregationists? Be sure to support your argument with specific evidence from the readings.
