Dr. King and Malcolm X Met Only Once; Dallas Play Imagines What the Civil Rights Icons May Have Discussed

Historians have examined the polar opposite approaches of two of the nation's most recognized leaders in civil rights and black nationalism since their heyday in the epic 1960s.The African American Repertory Theater and the Dallas Historical Society have been co-presenting an exploration of the subject this month, and Friday and Saturday are your last opportunities to see it.The Meeting is a theatrical depiction of an imagined conversation between civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and black nationalist and former Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X. The conversation is imagined because the two icons only met once briefly in 1964, for about one minute and just long enough for a photographer to snap a now-historic photograph.The exploration is timely during this 50th year since King's 1968 assassination and this weekend's observance of the birthday of Malcolm X, who would have turned 93 on Saturday. Both leaders were assassinated at age 39.In the play, the two martyrs exchange diametrically opposed views about how to improve the lives of black people in America. King, of course, urged nonviolent civil disobedience. Malcolm argued that when attacked, black people should return violence with violence.  Continue reading...