Two race men both working for the dream of equality for their people. main goal was for non-violence, and an end to all racial segregation, Malcolm believed in by whatever means necessary to accomplish a separate nation. The different tactics that they implied to make these dreams a reality come from the upbringings that they had as children.

             Malcolm was originally born in Omaha. His family picked up and moved later to Lansing, Michigan were Malcolm"s father was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan after number of death threats were made to the family. From his father"s death and the poverty that the family was facing g the mother of eight suffered a nervous breakdown, and the welfare department took her eight children away from her. After the separation Malcolm was sent first to a foster home and later to a reform school. Malcolm moved to Boston after his eighth grade year in school. In Boston he became involved with criminal activity while working various jobs for cash. In the mid 1940"s Malcolm was sentenced to jail for theft. During his stay as a prisoner, Malcolm became infatuated with the believes and teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm spent most of his time while in jail learning about Black Muslims who advocated racial separation. Malcolm was released from incarceration in 1952. He became involved with a Black Muslim temple in Detroit, where in a few years he was recognized as their most prominent spokesperson for the nation of Islam. During the time that he spent working in Detroit is when Malcolm took up the name, Malcolm X.

             On the other side of the spectrum, there was a sheltered kid by the name Martin Luther King Jr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the oldest son of Martin Luther King Sr., a Baptist preacher, and Alberta Williams King. As a child King attended segregated schools where he quickly himself as being intellectually elite from the rest of his peers.