To what extent should our authors be understood as opposed, and to what extent should they be understood as similar?

Essay One on Malcolm Xs Black Revolution, Stokely Carmichael’s 1966 Black Power, and Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail

This essay will require you to do a comparative analysis of Malcolm Xs 1964 Black Revolution, Stokely Carmichael’s 1966 Black Power Speech, and Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Although a superficial reading of these texts would suggest that our writers are sometimes opposed in their assumptions, positions, and solutions, it is important to recognize that each shares important similarities in their perception of the racial tension that dominates American life and their criticisms of the white moderate, and that eachs position evolved over time, taking on characteristics of the others.

To what extent should our authors be understood as opposed, and to what extent should they be understood as similar? Your essay should explore one or more common themes in each text and develop an argument based on your analysis. In most cases, it is better to focus on only one common theme rather than cover several things superficially. Our class discussions should help you to focus on a theme that interests you. To make a strong case, you will need to carefully qualify your interpretation to be sure that it accurately reflects the complex relationship between these texts.

Close analysis of specific, related quotations should form the foundation of your argument. This should include a detailed consideration of the actual language of our texts, their assumptions, their evidence, and their rhetorical strategies.

Latest Assignment