We need both of them and we need them together. Malcolm keeps Martin from being turned into a harmless American hero. Martin keeps Malcolm from being an ostracized black hero. Both leaders make important contributions to the identity of African-Americans and also, and just as importantly, to white America and Americans in general. Racial justice was the area in which Martin and Malcolm made their mark.
Racism is still alive and well, operating in every segment of American society.
The main difference between racism in their time and today is its refinement and more subtle manifestation. America, North and South, advocates a liberal approach to the race issue. It speaks the language of equality, justice, and integration, but the black masses remain trapped in a world of poverty and death. Only a small number of middle-class blacks are experiencing the American dream. These include some students and teachers at the nation's privileged educational institutions, mayors of several major cities, administrators for city, state, and federal agencies, and legal counselors, especially those of multinational corporations.