"We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary." These words were spoken by Malcolm X, a civil rights leader and political activist. He is also the main character, narrator, and author of the Autobiography of Malcolm X. The autobiography takes place in various cities in the United States, such as Omaha, New York, and Detroit, as well as the Middle East, and Africa.
Considering the type of literature this is, it is obvious to state that Malcolm X is the main character. Malcolm X, as a child, was intelligent and popular amongst his friends. He had graduated middle school as the top of his class. His interest and devotion to school was crushed when he told a favorite teacher of his dreams of becoming a lawyer, in which the teacher responded that being a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a nigger." After dropping out of school, he became a street hustler, and was soon arrested and convicted. While in prison, he educated himself, and learned of the Nation of Islam, the religion to which he soon converted. The next character, Elijah Muhammad was the spiritual "leader" of the NOI, and was greatly respected by Malcolm, even before they had met. Malcolm had married Betty Shabazz, and had five children.
The major conflict in the Autobiography of Malcolm X would be the racism of America at the time, as well as the allegations against his leader and mentor, Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm became a minister in the Nation of Islam, and preached against the white man, thus, in some critic's opinions, inciting the conflict by increasing tension between blacks a...
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...in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm was to give a speech. However, was shot 15 times Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson. Malcolm was rushed to the hospital, and announced dead on arrival.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X had Malcolm X documenting every point in his life, up until his death, which is when Alex Haley took over to write the epilogue. Simply stated: it is one of the most amazing works I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I can imagine how Spike Lee felt after reading the book and saying "The most important book I'll ever read. It changed the way I felt, it changed the way I acted. It has given me courage that I didn't know I had inside me. I'm one of hundreds of thousands whose life has changed for the better." It truly has given me a new outlook on life, and on the struggle for civil rights for people of all race, and color.
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.
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
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.
Of the people whose names are mentioned in history, some men like Thomas Edison are praised for their genius minds, while others such as Adolf Hitler are criticized for leaving a depressing legacy behind. While it is relative easy to notice the type of legacies these two men left, legacies of other men are often vague and they seem to be imbedded in gray shadows. This is how many people view the life of Malcolm X. Malcolm X during his lifetime had influenced many African Americans to step up for their rights against the injustices by the American government. One on hand, he has been criticized for his hard stances that resemble extremism, while on the other hand he has been praised him for his effort in raising the status for African Americans. The extremes in viewing his life from the modern day perspective have often come from reading his climatic speech The Ballot or the Bullet that he gave in many cities across America in 1964. When he was with the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X favored Blacks to be separated from the Whites, and during this time he strongly opposed White Supremacy. This also seems quite prevalent in his speech The Ballot or the Bullet. However, one events during the last year of his life reveal that he wanted the Blacks and the Whites to coexist as peaceful Americans.
Malcolm's mom felt very strange and uncomfortable about it. So before he had gone to far, she tried to catch up with him and tell him that she had a bad feeling and for him to come home. So later on that night two policemen came to their house to inform the family that Malcolm's father had been killed by an train cart. The accident was speculated because it was said that he was forced under the cart for it to hit him by the Klan. This whole ordeal had an very negative impact upon Malcolm's life growing up.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X follows the life of an international figure, Malcolm X. During Malcolm’s life he faces the hard facts that no matter how smart and intelligent he is, he will never be held above even the least intelligent white. Blacks are allowed success but only to a certain point. That point declares that Blacks can never infringe on the success of Whites, and when they do so, their ideas, aspirations, and intelligence will be shot down into the racial stereotypes this society has be known to understand.
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.
The book is written with both Autobiographical characteristics as well as parts that are narrated by Malcolm Himself. The sections are important to the book because it adds integral parts to the book. These sections add a sense of connection to what Malcolm experienced. It paints a picture from his own views as well as people around him. The biggest contribution the Epilogue brought was the story and in depth view to his assassination and the effects it had after his health.
The book offers a view from the Afro-American life that I never would have seen otherwise. Before reading the book, I had the image of Malcolm X being a radical leader, encouraging violence and supporting Pan-Africanism. What I now understand is that Malcolm, along with every other single Afro-American, have been undergoing some of the worst discrimination in history. Malcolm gave support to the Afro-American in the fact that he preached the white man was to be the devil while under Black Muslimism, I cannot blame him for doing so as I would have as well if placed in his shoes. Not only that but in Malcolm’s last years he converted to Islam, where he was introduced to a world of peace where races could co-exist with no problems, only after being outlawed from Black Muslims where Malcolm gave many years of devotion to promote the religion, also another example of the hardship Malcolm was faced
Malcolm X is born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. His life is full of discrimination and racial violence. When Malcolm as a child he moved to Michigan with his family where they continue to experience persecution and violence. White people murder Malcolm’s father and forced his mother into a mental hospital. Malcolm moves to Boston, to live with his half-sister, Ella. In Boston Malcolm quickly becomes involved in urban nightlife. Malcolm was into gambling, drinking, doing drugs, and dating an older white woman, Sophia. He then moves to New York, where he begins working as a hustler in Harlem. Malcolm’s various jobs there include running numbers, selling drugs, and steering white people to black brothels. When life becomes too dangerous is Harlem, he returns to Boston, where he becomes a house burglar and is eventually arrested. In prison, Malcolm transforms himself, converting to the branch of Islam promoted by the Nation of Islam. Inspired by faith, Malcolm stops using drugs, he reads voraciously, prays, and studies English and Latin. The prison releases Malcolm on parole. Malcolm rises quickly from the rank of temple assistant in Detroit to the Nation’s first national minister. Malcolm X becomes known throughout the United States, even outside of Muslim circles, as a fiery advocate for black unity and militancy. The Nation of Islam’s leaders resent and fear Malcolm despite his allegiance to their cause, and they suspend him from the organization. The Nation of Islam’s frustration with Malcolm intensifies, and Malcolm begins receiving death threats. After a divisive argument with Elijah Muhammad the leader of Nation of Islam, Malcolm leaves organisation.
Malcolm X's multiple points of view, organization, and diction in his powerful and passionate overview of his life give the reader a more diverse reading and learning experience that they can easily understand.
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.
The central theme of the report is to reflect the perspective of a black man in an era that called for equality struggles between races in the United States while battling views on racism and his rise and fall within the Nation of Islam religion. The research paper was constructed so that the reader would gain knowledge of Malcolm X as an individual and not as a phenomenon. A reflection regarding amiable truths that spanned his brief lifetime and the apparent transformations the man and his psyche underwent from childhood to his untimely death.
... the firebombing, Malcolm was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York at a meeting of the O.A.A.U. at the age of 39. Rumors have it that the Nation of Islam was involved and there are also rumors that the F.B.I. was involved.
Malcolm X was pronounced dead on arrival at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital shortly thereafter. The three men convicted of the assassination of Malcolm X were all members of the Nation of Islam. In the immediate aftermath of Malcolm X 's death, authorities ignored his recent spiritual and political transformation and criticized him as a violent rabble-rouser. However, Malcolm X 's legacy as a civil rights hero was set in stone by the publication in 1965 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley. The book instantly labeled Malcolm X as “one of the great political and spiritual leaders of modern times.”