Final answer:
The essay should compare Nkrumah's emphasis on African unity and autonomy with Gandhi's focus on non-violence and civil disobedience, assessing how their historical contexts influenced their approaches to freedom and equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
An argumentative essay comparing Kwame Nkrumah's Unity Speech (1963) and Mahatma Gandhi's Non-violent Resistance Speech could begin by outlining their historical context and philosophical foundations. Nkrumah's speech was about the unity and liberation of Africa during a time of significant decolonization. Gandhi's call for non-violent resistance was a transformative movement against British colonial rule in India, and became a global beacon for peaceful protests.
Gandhi's concept of ahimsa, or non-violence, does not contradict his methods of resistance. Instead, Gandhi's duty to his people was to provide an alternative to violent uprising, which he did by emphasizing the moral power of peace and civil disobedience. Gandhi's peaceful approach to resistance fundamentally influenced other leaders and movements, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement in the United States.
In contrast, Nkrumah's vision for Africa's future also embraced peaceful unity but was more focused on the collective political autonomy and economic freedom across the continent. His approach was not only about resisting colonial powers but also about building a synergistic African identity. Comparing both leaders' speeches, one can evaluate how their different contexts shaped their strategies for achieving their goals of freedom and equality.