In what ways did Malcolm X's approach differ from MLK's?

• A. He advocated nonviolent integration and collaboration, while MLK supported Black nationalism.
• B. He supported gradual reforms through political lobbying over direct action.
• C. He advocated Black nationalism, self-determination, and self-defense, whereas MLK promoted nonviolent integration and collaboration.
• D. He rejected any form of civil rights activism.

Answer: (C)

The difference in strategies for achieving racial equality is the focal point here. Malcolm X emphasized Black nationalism, self-determination, and self-defense as means to empower Black communities and protect themselves against racial violence. He often framed liberation in terms of control over one’s own institutions and, at times, separation from a white-dominated society he viewed as fundamentally oppressive. Martin Luther King Jr., by contrast, championed nonviolent civil disobedience, integration, and building cross-racial coalitions to win reforms within American society through moral authority, legal change, and mass peaceful action.

That contrast makes this option the best choice because it accurately captures the core difference in their approaches: Malcolm X’s focus on self-downing power and defense rooted in Black empowerment, versus MLK’s emphasis on nonviolent tactics, integration, and collaboration. The other descriptions misstate Malcolm X’s stance—for instance, portraying him as advocating nonviolent integration or gradual lobbying—and overlook his commitment to activism and self-determination.