Development Of Malcolm X Essay

1128 Words3 Pages

Development of Malcolm X 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 …show more content…

As Rufus Burrow Jr. states “By the time Malcolm was 13 years old he experienced enough in his life to make him hate white people for the rest of his life” (Burrow Jr.) The then Malcolm Little just like other blacks and whites had learned what his race’s place was in society was. Black people in America during that time of Malcolm X’s youth had to learn at a very early age that they weren’t full citizens in the very country that they were born in. For blacks learning such a harsh and unfair lesson would cause them to either accept their lot in life and allow themselves to develop an inferiority complex and kowtowing to whites. This type of thought process that was forced into the psyche of black people in America gave justification to whites that blacks were indeed inferior to white people and deserved to be treated as less than human. As a result, many blacks accepted being second class citizens and as a result they too passed down the concept as Malcolm X states “the white man being superior and black people being inferior” (Malcolm X 56-57) generation after generation. However, on the other side of the coin there were blacks who rebelled against the status quo and wanted make better lives for themselves and their people. Malcolm X’s parents Earl and Louisa Little were part of the latter. As the Malcolm X autobiography states on page 1, “Earl Little was a Baptist minister and a dedicated organizer for the Marcus Garvey movement” ( Malcolm X 1). During that time and even in today’s world to a lesser extent black people who stood up for their rights and spoke the truth about the race situation in America were seen people who were causing trouble because the dominant society which

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between Richard Wright And Malcolm X

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, it was what happened in his life that made Malcolm X the man who people remember today. From a very early age, Little lived in fear of racism and hate groups, much of it rooting from his father’s murder by white supremacists. He was effectively orphaned by 13, as his mother was placed in a mental institution, and lived until he was 20 in several different foster homes. He was arrested for a crime and once released, went on to commit several crimes, including using and distributing drugs, etc. It was when he was imprisoned that he found the Nation of Islam, who helped him when he was released from prison to find a new life. From them, he was able to attain great oratory skills and create an environment when he spoke in which the people around him, white and black alike, felt empowered and equal. Once he discovered corruption and began to disdain the Nation of Islam, he became independent and was later assassinated. However, he along with MLK, were empowered by their stories, Malcolm’s being one of hatred, poverty, hope, and truth, that changed him to become a stimulus for African American equality in

    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

  • Reflection On The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, I would like to say that this book is worthwhile reading although it is a quite thick and might take longer time to finish reading it. I might not good in reviewing a book or giving criticism for something. Reading this autobiography can benefit people in many fields. Different people will see things differently. So does when reading this book, certain people might take the lessons differently and it might benefit differently. For example, as a sociological study, it could provide fascinating insights into ghetto life and the ways which an individual learned to survive in the ghetto. Meanwhile as a religious work, it does tell about how an individual is struggling in order to find his God. And it cannot be denied as it is clear that in political work is the book has had its strongest impact.

    Read More

  • John F. Kennedy and the Civil Rights Movement

    2936 Words  | 6 Pages

    In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. During his campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this election was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he had his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening at the speed Kennedy had pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his dislike of John F. Kennedy and his brothers, especially Robert. The Kennedy government stood for racial liberalism and Malcolm X argued their true intentions for the civil rights movement weren’t in the best interest of the black population. This tension streamed both ways. John Kennedy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation felt that Malcolm X had become a threat to national security. James Baldwin has written essays that have included the repeated attacks on the white liberal and supports Malcolm in many of his theories and actions.

    Read More

  • Influence On Malcolm X

    1794 Words  | 4 Pages

    “I’m for the truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole” (X). This quote by Malcolm X represented his attitude towards equality and self-empowerment. The true Malcolm X was a passionate human rights activist as well as an extremely outspoken man during the fifties and sixties. X encouraged millions of African Americans to fight for what they believed in and to take pride in their ethnicity. X persuaded a multitude of African Americans that they are supreme and should not be degraded for their skin color. He learned at a very early age if he wanted something in life, he had to make some noise

    Read More

  • Malcolm X: From Illiterate to Erudite

    610 Words  | 2 Pages

    The more effort we use in studying the better results we will get. Certain people have a hard time comprehending school work from the first grade to throughout high school. For example, in the article “Saved,” the life of Malcolm X, the reader is told about Malcolm’s struggle with learning .One problem he had was he couldn’t write or read his own hand writing. The way he began to overcome his handicap was that he would copy and memorize words from the dictionary. When he entered prison he was illiterate. He could neither read nor write. Later on, to help his reading comprehension, he would spend time in the prison library. Spending an hour every day in the library helped to increase his comprehension.

    Read More

  • Essay On Malcolm X Education

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite that they all had the same experiences with education and the struggle of being different in their youth, Mark Mathabane, Richard Rodriguez, and Malcolm X all learned as adults that education isn't a chore but it's a doorway to success. Education can change people and the way they look at the world. Not only that but i can give you many opportunities.

    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

  • Malcolm X: Paving the Way for the Rights of African Americans

    983 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Nation of Islam, which Malcolm X was an important member of, is not a religious organization as the name suggests but rather an organization whose goal was to make the lives of African Americans better instead of actually teaching the proper ethics of Islam. One of the main objectives of this organization was Black Nationalism, through which Black leaders can control the areas where there is a majority of African Americans. This cause was greatl...

    Read More

  • Three Events In Malcolm X

    1010 Words  | 3 Pages

    Three events in Malcolm X’s life were very significant in Malcolm’s development and influenced his ideas. His interaction with Mr. Ostrowski opened his eyes to a new, more aware, point of view that marked his transition from childhood. His time in prison turned him against white people and led him to completely accept the ideas of Elijah Muhammad and transition away from hustling and crime. Malcolm’s pilgrimage to Mecca transitioned him from the hate-driven society of the Nation of Islam and towards a more accepting society of traditional Islam. All these events progress or completely change Malcolm’s ideas about systemic oppression, racial identity, and separation verses integration and push him to a new period of life and the next event.

    Read More

  • Difference Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the 1950s and 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most influential leaders of the movement. Both men were African Americans and both fought for equal rights for African Americans. The difference between the two, however, is found in their ideologies on how to best help and serve the black community. By looking at both men’s best-known speeches, one can better understand these men’s different ideologies and why Americans tend to gravitate more towards Martin Luther King, Jr. than towards Malcolm X.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Autobiography of Malcolm X

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Malcolm X while in prison completed his first transformation.  Like many great figures and history makers had a low point in is life.  At this time Malcolm was into drugs, hustling, women and money.  He became so dependant on making a lot of money he and some of his friends decided to rob the house of an old white man.  They were caught for this crime and were not only charged with this crime but were also charged with having sex with white women.  Malcolm and his friend "Shorty" were sentenced to six years in prison.  The two white women that were Malcolm and Shorty’s accomplices were sentenced to a year in jail.  During the first couple days of prison Malcolm was coming off a drug high and was having withdrawals.  These withdrawals led Malcolm into solitary confinement for two months.  When he was let out of his chamber he met the man that would later be responsible for Malcolm’s transformation.  This man was a follower of the nation of Islam and the great Alijah Muhammad.  Malcolm learned a great deal form him.  This shows us that even in the worst of circumstances we can learn and become better.  This transformation was a great test for Malcolm and starts to let us see what a great influence he would end up being in the lives of many Americans.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Tale Of Malcolm X And James Baldwin

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his tale Malcolm X states, “I saw how the white man never has one among the non-white peoples bearing the cross in the true manner and spirit of Christ’s teachings.” He began to realize that as he read more and learned more about the world that he began to see that although europeans bore the cross of Christ that they were ever really and truly christians they just developed this image of christians in order to have the ‘pagans’ convert to christianity. He also stated in his coming of age tale, “...with every additional book that I read, a little bit more sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness and blindness that is afflicting the black race in America.” He’d finally began to realize what the white community was doing to the people in the black communities whether they’re hispanic or african-american and his intention was to change what was

    Read More

  • Malcolm X Thesis Paper

    1375 Words  | 3 Pages

    The history of the United States has in it much separation or segregation due to race. For a long time our country has seen racism as a large problem and this has caused ethnic groups to be looked down upon and forced into a lifestyle of difficulties and suppression. Due to this, races, particularly African-Americans, have been forced to deal with unequal opportunity and poverty, leading to less honorable ways of getting by and also organizations that support change. Malcolm X is one strong example of an African American man who became apart of a group acted against it, uniting people to promote the advancement of colored people and change. Malcolm's thoughts towards race and civil right in the previous years were displayed in a less way to the people and "by any means necessary" perspective. After his pilgrimage in 1964 his view of civil rights had quickly changed into a more complete view of civil rights, and the peoples views towards him. No one really knows what kind of impact Malcolm X would have had on history if he had not been assassinated. His beliefs and philosophy did gain him a place in history as one of the best-known Black Nationalist Leaders. Everyone seems to have known who Malcolm X was, and he ranks high with all other Black leaders. His ideas were radical and he was very out spoken. He was a major force in the development of black history. He fought not only for his people but also for all oppressed people everywhere. He was well spoken and he laid the groundwork for the black power movement of the late l960's.

    Read More

  • Racism In Malcolm X

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book malcolm X, malcolm who grows up surrounded by racism and discrimination rises above all the stereotypes and preached a message of peace and how we can all get along if we follow one god, he also says how “ we are all victims of the american social order” when he says this he is referring to how even if you are not inherently racist you being who you are in the society you live in dictates how your life will be. But he wants to spread the message of change to the world saying how even though violence may not be the first option that it's not the last and to get people to take you seriously that you need to do whatever it takes to get things done. Sadly malcolm dies by the people who was preaching for, in their eyes his message was too violent and to silence him they had him killed it's extremely sad because the people he was trying to help has some of the greatest resenters of his words.

    Read More

More about Development Of Malcolm X Essay

Open Document