History is the process of understanding texts and their contexts. We learn about history through the documents and artifacts left by those who came before us. The historical essays in this course provide the opportunity to analyze a variety of primary source documents in order to engage with the context of key historical figures. This third essay takes us into the debate about the Civil Rights Movement through the lens of a sermon by Martin Luther King, Jr. and an interview with Malcolm X.
Assignment Instructions
- Review the following,
- Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X presentation (opens in a new window)
- Loving Your Enemies (opens in a new window) by Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Pierre Berton Interview (opens in a new window) with Malcolm X and Pierre Berton
- Respond to the following questions in a cohesive essay, with an introduction, a series of body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Be sure to use short, direct quotes from the documents to back up your ideas; avoid over-quoting.
- Summarize Malcolm X’s ideas on how the black community should and should not respond to white oppression. Analyze how he makes his arguments. What would you critique and what would you support in what he is saying?
- Summarize Dr. King’s applications of Jesus’ command to ‘love your enemies’ to his audience’s present circumstances. Analyze how he makes his arguments. What would you critique and what would you support in what he is saying?
- Consider how Malcolm X would critique King’s sermon and how King would critique X’s interview. Which critique would you side with, and why?
Assignment Requirements
- 900-1,200 word paper
- Times New Roman, 12-point font and double spaced
- Cite course resources in proper APA formatting
- Communicate with clarity and coherence
- Minimal spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors
