The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a personal account of one man’s search for truth in a racially charged world. Born Malcolm Little, in Omaha, Nebraska, his life is marred by injustice and violence at a very young age. His father, a tall and extremely black man, with little education, is mysteriously murdered, forcing his mother into a mental hospital. Malcolm, along with his siblings, were placed in foster homes. His beginnings had always included racism; the family firmly believed, though never proven, his father was murdered by a KKK splinter group, after years of harassment. A turning point came when a teacher asked him what he would like to be when he grew up. As he answered he wanted to become a lawyer, his teacher told him, “you’ve got …show more content…
Most people have some form of life struggles, and though sad, it is not unusual to hear of poverty, addiction, or criminal activity regardless of race, but when the betrayal of a mentor occurs there is the quick reaction of empathy. Betrayal can elicit an emotion is almost everyone. I am female, from a relatively low-income family, in the southern part of the United States. I grew up in a racist environment with a family who was not even aware they were racists. Sadly, my family thought being kind meant you weren’t racists. I have experienced sexism in the workplace, inequality, and poverty, at one time, was a way of life. I tell you this so you can understand why the story of Malcolm X resonates with me. You don’t have to be Afro-American to understand the concept of nurture over nature. I am neither, black nor male, but it is easy to comprehend the desire for a just …show more content…
Malcolm’s life may have ended more than 50 years ago, but his struggle lives today. Regardless of his imperfections, his example of courage and desire for truth should be an example for all. Trying to live a life true to your beliefs of right and wrong can be the most intimidating task a human ever faces. Malcolm X took on that challenge with courage and did the best he could, with the means provided to him. As with Malcolm’s example, keep an open mind, be willing to change your beliefs and misconceptions, and this book can provide insight into his life and possibly your
In “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” the author skillfully structures each chapter to correspond with Malcolm’s development and implants a sense of purpose throughout each event.
In the autobiography of Malcolm X, the life of one of this nation's most notorious activists is explained in a depth that very few people have had the privilege of experiencing before. The author shows all the factors went into play to make Malcolm X the man he was. When reading the text, the reader begins to feel the passion and fire that X had inside himself. The general idea and direction of the story is made clear on the first page of the book.
Malcolm X had many difficult times throughout his life, but he never let that stop him from becoming a human rights activist. Although many didn’t agree with his methods, he still found a way to make people hear about what he believed was true. In Malcolm X’s life change was one of the only things he could rely on because it was always happening. Malcolm X wanted peace among all, and he also just wanted to be free from all the hate that was going on in the world.
In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Muslim leader and black rights activist, Malcolm X, changes through a few significant events in his life. He went from an optimistic young boy, to a mischievous, law-breaking hustler, to a reformed man who sought to improve the way America viewed race. From the start of junior high, to his pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, Malcolm X experiences three key events that change his life and develop the central idea of systemic oppression in the text.
All four names throughout the The Autobiography of Malcolm X came with a obstacle and a life lesson that Malcolm had to face. I feel like his childhood played a big part on his upbrings into his adult stage. My reason as to why I say this is because no one was there to guide him on how to become a man so he had to learn on his own. So he went to the street to learn how to be wise and street smart if his dad was alive things would not have been so difficult because he would of teached Malcolm how to become a man and also he wouldn't be in some much trouble with the. In the the Autobiography it seems as if prison was life lesson because that's when he started reevaluating his life and thinking more deeper about more his choices and also
In the autobiography of Malcolm X, Haley’s use of Malcolm’s two personalities, as well as Malcolm’s reflection of this past, helps make clear what changes and events transformed Malcolm Little into the Malcolm X most of us have come to know. Haley’s telling of Malcolm’s life story also clearly walks the reader through key events and circumstances that accelerated his changes in views. The combination of these two elements helps Alex Haley create a powerful text that gets the Malcolm’s points across clearly and effectively.
Malcolm’s early life was described as melancholic and vivid, given from the persuasiveness and content of the text the author uses in the first few pages in The Autobiography of Malcolm X. An example of this would be: “When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night.” (pg. 1) The author also expresses what the general African American community had either witnessed or fell victim towards the uncouth actions of the Ku Klux Klan members.
Who do you think of when you hear the term, “civil rights leader?” Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln may come to mind, but one person that we often forget is Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a civil rights activist who played an important role in gaining African-American equality and restoring African-American pride. Malcolm had an interesting perspective about equality that helped convince people that blacks should have equal rights and privileges. He also had an intriguing life! Malcolm X even spent seven years behind bars! However, he restored his image in the public’s eyes. During his lifetime, Malcolm X changed from being a criminal to being a hero by changing his mind set about life.
With a much more troubled youth than King, Malcolm’s father was killed when he six, and his mother was placed into a mental institution when he was thirteen, after which he lived in an array of foster homes. I argue that because Malcolm X had a more troubled youth, this shaped his views on how to deal with oppression. Malcolm X seemed to have this resentful tone when asked about a nonviolent movement and deemed his method it, “Psychology unrealistic.” Although it seemed like both had respect for each other, after all, they were after the same goal they also did not agree with each other’s
Malcolm X was known to be one of the most influential Muslim Activist throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. Much Like MArtin Luther King Jr. He championed the civil rights for all African Americans across the world, specifically those of muslim faith. However unlike MArtin Luther King Jr.s NOn Violent movement, Malcolm X told his supporters to defend themselves, “By any means necessary”. BOrn in the early 1920’s Malcolm was introduced into the life of discrimination from a young age. At age Six his father was killed by a KLU KLUX KLAN like group, and was eventually put in foster care. Before starting high school, he Left to begin a life of crime. Being in his early 20’s Malcolm was sentenced to 6 years in prison for burglary, and there he met Elijah Muhammad, Leader of an All
Malcolm X is portrayed as a victim of racism, a victim of society, and though it all Malcolm is depicted as a reformed man who is dedicated and educated. “ My Father’s skull, on one side, was crushed in” this demonstrates the harsh and brutal racist acts Malcolm experiences during his childhood. This portrayal of a boy with a murdered father and a future victim of racism gains sympathy from the reader which starts the relationship between the Reader and Malcolm. The raw content also allows Malcolm to explain what he went through that led him to his later actions in life. Along with the blatant racism Malcolm was also a victim of systemic oppression. “After a while my brother Reginald had to have a hustle” (115), this quote depicts the systemic oppression during this period. Malcolm and his family, and Blacks in general, could not acquire jobs and therefore had to acquire jobs through illegal means. Malcolm was oppressed by society as a whole, including the government, that he, and other Blacks, were forced to commit illegal actions which led to their incarceration. The racist acts toward Malcolm along with the systemic oppression led to the imprisonment of Malcolm, and finally his reformation. Malcolm becomes a changed man through prison. Malcolm begins to read and educate himself in order to learn about Islam and debate with Elijah Muhammad. “For evil to bend its knees, admitting its guilt, to implore the forgiveness of god, is the hardest thing in the world”, Malcolm shows his reformation from, “Satan” (157), to a Muslim. This quote perfectly demonstrates Malcolm's transformation into religion and being an educated adult. Malcolm’s transformation allows the reader to side with him and favor Malcolm again because he is no longer an “evil” person. Malcolm’s use of his development regardless of the obstacles establishes the story as an
Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and a human rights activist. To his admirers, he was courageous for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted White America in the harshest terms for its crimes against African Americans. Many accused Malcolm of preaching racism and violence; he has been recognized as one of the greatest and most inspiring African American Civil right leaders in American history. Malcolm had a rough life growing up as a kid, his father died when he was at the age of six and his mother was placed in a mental hospital. This wasn’t a great childhood for Malcolm and he went on the wrong path at the age of twenty. Malcolm was accused of breaking and entering and was sentenced to prison. While in prison he was a member of a group called the “Nation of Islam”. After being released from prison, Malcolm became a co-leader of this group and becoming the face of this controversial group teaching black supremacy, advocated the separation of black and white Americans and rejected the civil
Malcolm X was born May 19, 1925 and died February 21; Malcolm X was a minister and a human rights activist and is considered one of the greatest African Americans. The black panthers were a small group of people and formed in California and believed violence would help the civil rights movement. Malcolm X and the black panthers played a very important part in the civil war movement. Malcolm X and the black panthers affected the civil rights movement by equality, black power, and provided organizations to fight racial discrimination
The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley is about a man who changed the history of America. Malcolm (Little) X preached what he believed about racism, discrimination, and segregation. He went through many changes in his fight for equality. The three transformations that really changed the way Malcolm thought and preached where his transformation in prison, his transformation into the Islamic religion (following Elijah Muhammad), and the biggest transformation of all, his pilgrimage to Mecca. In all of Malcolm actions, teachings and transformations we learn different points of view and we get a good look at different aspects of events. The life of Malcolm (Little) X as told in his autobiography should be read by all.
Throughout the The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley, the author, makes his main determination to analyze how the structure style, and content contribute to the power and beauty of the text. His purpose to engage the reader by allowing details and imagery to communicate Malcolm X’s Development. The author sets a strong emphasis on the details of Malcolm X’s life throughout this book, so that readers understand how Malcolm X becomes the person he is. Other factors that are an incredible impact on the text in this book are central ideas such as separation vs. integration, systemic oppression and racial identity. They provide the author's purpose to rely on a stronger platform of detailed ideas. These Central ideas help the reader get a closer look on Malcolm’s Development and set compressions of the past versus today in the mindset of those central ideas. Most importantly,