The Autobiography Of Malcolm X Summary

1140 Words3 Pages

During the 1960s, racial tensions grew between the African Americans and the white individuals. Renowned as the Civil Rights Movement, famous leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X (Malcolm Little) began to address the ignored racial issues in the United States. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X was more radical and took an alternative method into relieving the nation of its racial matter. Upon Malcolm X’s death in 1965, his ideas were popularized and strengthened the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s. 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. As Malcolm grew up, he seemed oblivious to the ideal of a racial division between whites and African Americans. Compared to the other children in Mason Junior High, Malcolm wanted achieve a field that required dedication and time consumption. Rather …show more content…

Malcolm’s situation is expressed by speaking in first person: “There I was, wearing my gun, and the detective talking to that Negro with his back to me. Today I believe that Allah was with me even then. I didn’t try to shoot him. And that saved my life.” and “The detectives grilled me. They didn’t beat me. They didn’t even put a finger on me. And I knew it was because I hadn’t tried to kill the detective.” (pg. 152). The excessive usage of short sentences used by the author suggests or symbolizes Malcolm’s current emotions at that

Show More
Related

  • Malcolm X Book Analysis

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    As soon as Malcolm called Omar, everything about his visit drastically transformed: Malcolm was put up in the author Abd-Al-Rahman Azzam's suite at the Jedda Palace Hotel. Malcolm was overwhelmed by the Azzams' generosity. At the hotel, later that day there was a surprise for Malcolm. The Deputy Chief of Protocol for Prince Faisal was there to tell him a special car will drive him to Mecca after dinner. When the car arrived, it contained two Arab men who were also going with Malcolm to Mecca. He remarks to readers that white people had never done anything for him without a purpose of their own. In the morning Malcolm thinks about what a white man is. He decides "white man" describes a set of "actions and attitudes" in the United States as much as color. The Azzams and the other white-complexioned Muslims Malcolm has seen on his pilgrimage lack those attitudes; they have been "brotherly." Malcolm says this morning was "the start of a radical alteration" in his "whole outlook about 'white' men". Malcolm thinks of his new saviors as white men, and that forces him to reevaluate his idea that all white people are evil. Finally, after the court approved, Malcolm X was allowed into

    Read More

  • The Enduring Legacy of Malcolm X

    1969 Words  | 4 Pages

    If there was any one man who demonstrated the anger, the struggle, and the beliefs of African Americans in the 1960s, that man was Malcolm X. The African American cultural movement of the 1920s lost momentum in the 1930s because of worldwide economic depression. The Great Depression helped to divert attention from cultural to economic matters. Even before the stock market crash of 1929, unemployment and poverty among blacks was exceptionally high. It was under these difficult conditions that Malcolm X experienced his youth in the South. Malcolm X was a very controversial character in his time. He grew up in a very large family. His father hunted rabbits to sell to the white people for money, and his mother stayed home to take care of all the children. Several times when he was young, his family was forced to relocate due to the racist groups that would burn or run them out of their home like the Ku Klux Klan. One of these groups called the Black Legion killed his father by tying him to the railroad tracks. Malcolm’s father had life insurance but was not given to his family because they said that Earl Little had committed suicide. This was quite impossible because his head was bashed in and he tied himself to the railroad. Without his father’s income, Malcolm's family was forced to get government help and food. Applying for this type of assistance brought many white Social Workers into their home. They asked questions and interrogated the entire family. Malcolm’s mother always refused to talk or let them in.

    Read More

  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time of his birth, Malcolm's father was a Baptist Minister. His mom was a writer of Marcus Garvey. Before he was born, his father had 3 children with his previous marriage and 3 before him with his mom.

    Read More

  • Reflection On The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    This paper is written to give my personal reflection on a book entitled The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It is one of the assignments for EDC3360 Course, Social Work for Community Service. We were asked to read this book because the content of this book has relation with the course we are taken for the current semester.

    Read More

  • The Autobiography Of Malcom X's Autobiography Of Malcolm X

    1112 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unlike Dr. Martin King who made few white friends while attending Atlanta’s Black grade schools and Morehouse College . Malcolm X faced his early situation of racial segregation during his education at school. In his autobiography, Malcolm X narrates his experience with his teachers and how he felt towards the history class where he was told of how uncivilized his race was. These scenes of racial discrimination deeply affected his childhood during his early years of education. In the following example, Malcolm X explains the acts of segregation of blacks in schools and how it affected young African American

    Read More

  • The Life and Legacy of Malcolm X

    522 Words  | 2 Pages

    Malcolm X should be everyone’s hero, someone people like myself should look up to as a human being. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either a racist or is extremely ignorant. Malcolm X wore his heart on his sleeve and whether right or wrong he was never afraid to say what was on his mind to anyone who cared to listen. I personally believe Malcolm X’s beliefs give me strength to do what's right and carry myself with dignity. I remember, as a kid, my parents had tons of books about Black History books. The first book I read was a Malcolm X biography. I realized Malcolm X was truly a powerful, significant, and essential work for all time.

    Read More

  • Development Of Malcolm X Essay

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    This paper will discuss the different stages of thought processes the former Nation of Islam minister, Malcolm X went through during his lifetime in terms of how he viewed white people, but more specifically “the white man” in America. The reason the focus is on White Americans is because these were the people outside of the Nation of Islam that shaped his life good or bad and put him on the path where he eventually transformed from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X who was one of the most polarizing and controversial figures during his lifetime and even nearly 50 years after his death the name Malcolm X causes certain people to shudder. Malcolm X became a well-known figure during the 50’s and 60’s during the civil rights movement which involved figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. This was a pivotal era in American history because for the first time that there was major push towards full rights for African Americans. When Malcolm X came on the scene he put fear into White people because they weren’t used to hearing the truth about race relations in America and many of them felt that things were just fine because they themselves were living life high on the hog while at the same time exploiting Blacks. Because this type of talk from a black person was new to them they misinterpreted his views as “hate speech” and accused him of trying to incite violence when he was simply trying wake his people up to properly deal with what was happening to them.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X's Life and Accomplishments

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    Malcolm was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska to Louise and Earl Little. His Father, Earl, was a Baptist minister and an active member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (founded by Marcus Garvey). Due to his involvement in civil rights, Malcolm and his family were harassed and experienced racism from an early age, and Malcolm’s encounter before he was even born. In his own words, Malcolm said: “ When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, ‘ a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped to our home, brandishing their guns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out’.”

    Read More

  • Ethos, Pathos, And Logos In Alex Haley's The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    The autobiography of Malcolm X written by Alex Haley tells a wonderful story of a boy who grew up to be a legendary hero. Malcolm Xs character continuously develops throughout the entire novel, allowing the reader to be engaged in his story. The beginning of the text begins with the story of the past, when his mother was pregnant, and instantly the author brings in violence that include the Ku Klux Klan and the description of fear is already being portrayed. Chapter one is titled "nightmare "in this chapter not only does the reader already acknowledge struggle but there is also a background of his father. Over the course of chapter you see Malcolm Xs character develop mostly because his entire perspective constantly changes due to being around

    Read More

  • Three Key Events In The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before, Malcolm believed that all white people were the devil, even the ones who did not have issues with the blacks. He believed that racism was so deeply rooted in them, that even if they claimed to not be a racist, if put in the position where his status was threatened by the black man, he would find away to make himself better. However, this perception of white people changed—“I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept in the same bed, while praying to the same God, with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, and whose hair was the blondest of blonde, and whose skin was the whitest of white.” (p.347). Malcolm realized that in Mecca, people did not pay attention to someone’s race because they were all there to worship the same God. This event shows systemic oppression in the text contrasting the different societies in America and Mecca. In America, if one were black, they would have a certain standard to which they had to live by. In Mecca, race did not matter and it was over looked—people were not expected to fit into a certain class and act particular way based on the color of their

    Read More

  • Origins of Funk Music

    2188 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the 1960s it was a hard time for black Americans. There was a revolution being driven by two well know black civil rights leaders. The first phase of the revolution was driven by a young Islamic black man, Malcolm X, who was a spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was adamant that blacks needed to take care of their own business. In the issue of black integration in American culture.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    African Americans are fortunate to have leaders who fought for a difference in Black America. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are two powerful men in particular who brought hope to blacks in the United States. Both preached the same message about Blacks having power and strength in the midst of all the hatred that surrounded them. Even though they shared the same dream of equality for their people, the tactics they implied to make these dreams a reality were very different. The background, environment and philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were largely responsible for the distinctly varying responses to American racism.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Autobiography of Malcolm X

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X Thesis Paper

    1375 Words  | 3 Pages

    At a young age, Malcolm saw the ways in which blacks were seen as inferior, when his father supported an organization that promoted the return of blacks to Africa. Malcolm watched at a young...

    Read More

  • Essay On Malcolm X

    2154 Words  | 5 Pages

    Malcolm X or Malcolm Little and also known as “El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz”, was an African-American Muslim minister and a human rights activist. He had a hard child, a young adult. His admirers he was a courageous speaker for the rights of blacks, a man who accuses white America in the meanest terms for their crimes against black Americans. Critics accused him of preaching racism and violence. “He has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history along with Martin Luther King Jr.”

    Read More

More about The Autobiography Of Malcolm X Summary

Open Document