Chapter 11: Making Their Mark: Legacies Summary and Analysis

In 1965, Malcolm X was killed in Harlem, and three years later, Martin was killed in Memphis. Martin's legacy has been celebrated across the country, even with a national holiday, while public recognition of Malcolm has been far less significant. The admirers of Malcolm X have resented this. Cone argues that the followers of both men have spent too much time exaggerating their differences. Completing their legacies requires melding their strategies and philosophies. Their focus can be applied to black culture, where Malcolm had much more to say; blacks need a racial identity as part of their path to freedom. Black people must learn to love themselves. In politics, both had much to contribute and helped blacks to understand how political progress is contextual. Further, King had a deeper, more resonant philosophy that grounded...