
Malcolm X was an African-American human rights activist and a political figure between the 1950's and 1960's. He was a prominent black leader who also acted as a spokesman of the Nation of Islam. He propagated the principles of race pride and Black Nationalism. He urged the African Americans to fight racism by all means possible. He was later assassinated in the year 1965. On the other hand, Cornel West is a democratic intellectual and a professor of philosophy. He is passionate about issues to do with democracy and race. This essay will seek to analyze the comparison between the "Message to the Grassroots" By Malcolm X and "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society" By Cornel West. 

The "Message to the Grassroots" was a speech that was given by Malcolm X, a few days after the March on Washington in 1963 (Malcolm X 1). The speech was aimed at criticizing Martin Luther King Jr who Malcolm thought was a White sympathizer. While King advocated for peaceful revolution, Malcolm urged the Blacks to fight racism by all means, including the use of violence. He also urged African Americans to ignore their differences and come together for the purpose of defending themselves against racism. He urged the Blacks to embrace a black nation independent from the Whites (Malcolm 1). While King advocated for integration, Malcolm's speech reflected a separatist ideology. 

The message in the speech is conveyed by the use of various literary devices. For instance, Malcolm says that there are two types of Negros; the house Negro and the field Negro. He says that there is a difference between a black revolution and the Negro revolution. Ultimately, he said that there was no peaceful revolution as all of them involved bloodshed. That is why he said that the only revolution that was peaceful was of the Negro, otherwise the black revolution was bloody, and it was sweeping across nations (Malcolm 1). 

Additionally, he said that the house Negro lived in the house, and ate with the master, and in return they ended up cherishing the master more than the master himself. The house Negro was loyal to the master and could never escape. He says the same is replicated in his time when some civil rights activists acted as house Negro. On the other hand, the field Negro composed the masses that were beaten by the master and ate leftovers. He compared himself to the field Negro together with the other black masses. He says the white men used the house Negro to keep the field Negro in check (Malcolm 1). 

Metaphorically, he refers to the actions of the blacks who are loyal to the whites, and advocate for peaceful revolution with a coffee analogy. He says that if a person likes drinking coffee and the coffee is black, it means that it is strong. The person would add cream to make it a bit weak. However, when the same coffee is added excess cream, it stops being strong and a person can barely realize that they are drinking coffee. He emphasized that such coffee had now stopped being strong, and has became weak. If that happens, instead of the coffee leading one to be awake, it brings sleep. He said this analogy applied to the March on Washington. Once the blacks allowed the whites to support their cause, they ended up infiltrating it, and it lost its cause and fierce nature (Malcolm 1). This speech reveals his passion towards the fight against racism, and his desire for an independent black nation. 

On the other hand, "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society" By Cornel West talks about the moral decay of the traditions that underlie democracy (Ana 1). He argues that the society is decaying in various forms, including the struggles of the working class who have to put up with wage stagnation and political indolence. The working class is seen as speaking in a singular voice, as they are faced with non-representation, they are not heard and they are also voiceless. He argues that the state assumes that the working class is "less complex and one-dimensional"; hence, they do not deserve much consideration (Batstone and Mendieta 9).

West observes that the middle class is slowly dwindling and the world is experiencing an economic decline. The traditional value of democracy have been eradicated; therefore, the equilibrium of a democratic state is under threat. He argues that history is most of the times based on "elites, kings, queens, princes and prelates ... " that use the other disadvantaged people to their benefit (Batstone and Mendieta 8).  Society has forgotten about the middle class that plays an important role in the development of a nation. Currently, the world is marked by sheer praise and conformity to capitalism. It is this capitalistic mind set and greed that has greatly contributed to the decline of the democratic values. This decline has led the middle class to be vulnerable and consequently inclined to accept any offer from the authority, as long as it is bound to provide some security to their lives.

Additionally, West sees a society that is only concerned with quick satisfaction and compensation. Many companies now wield the power, as they control the wealth and dispense with their social responsibility. He calls upon the people to remember their common history that was marked with non-market values such as fairness and sympathy. In fact, he urges people to embrace empathy. Not just to see how other people feel, but learn to experience the reality of other people. 

These two texts by Malcolm X and West address pertinent issues in the society. At the time of Malcolm X, the actual problem was racism and Malcolm never minced his words when it came to the fight against racism. During that time, there were two facets, one was the Whites who were dominant and mistreated the African Americans since the time of slavery. The Blacks were minorities and had no position in the society. The speech of Malcolm was a call to action that was aimed at provoking the thoughts of the Blacks who had suffered in the hands of the Whites. Similarly, West also addresses a pertinent issue in the current world of declining democracy. In his description, he showcases two sides of the capitalist who use their power and wealth to suppress the middle class who have no voice. These two essays both reveal the rot that the marginalized people have to endure in society. They also provoke the people to take action to rectify the injustices that exist in society.

Despite the similarities in the two essays, there is a difference in the mode of delivery. Malcolm X was a radical person, and this is reflected in the message of his speech. The speech is almost an action in itself, as it reveals the truth in a crude manner, and he was not afraid to call out the names of the people with which he thought were contributing to racism. West's message, on the other hand, is mild and peaceful. It suggests the solutions, but not in a radical manner. 

In conclusion, therefore, the messages that are portrayed in the two essays are meant to bring sanity to society. Both reveal the problem that arises when people hold on to the status quo for very long. The essays reveal the suffering of the less advantaged members of society when civil rights are ignored. Lastly, the form of language that is used aims to evoke action and change. 

