Comparing and Contrasting Up from Slavery and The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery and Malcolm X’s The Autobiography of Malcolm X both provide profound glimpses into the politics and ideologies of black America during their respective times. Both Washington and Malcolm were very prominent and controversial figures and both had strong mentalities about how black america should deal with the lasting effects of slavery on black america. On the scale of forgiveness of white people, Washington and Malcolm are on opposite sides of the spectrum, which makes comparing their stories quite interesting, especially with the complexities of their views overlapping at certain points such as education. The most obvious contrast in the two autobiographies is their views on race in america. To the average 2023 reader of Up from Slavery , Washington’s views are shocking. Whether his views expressed were for pandering to white people or because he genuinely believed them, it is unclear. There are many quotes from Washington that a...