Biography of Malcolm X
On May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm Little was born to Reverend Earl and Louise Little. Rev. Little, who believed in self-determination and worked for the unity of black people. Malcolm was raised in a background of ethnic awareness and dignity, but violence was sparked by white racists trying to stop black people such as Rev. Little from preaching the black cause.
The history of Malcolm's dedication to black people, like that of his father, may have been motivated by a long history of oppression of his family. As a young child, Malcolm, his parents, brothers, and sisters were shot at, burned out of their home, harassed, and threatened. This culminated in the
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When a white person referred to the fact that some Southern university had enrolled black freshmen without bayonets, Malcolm reacted with scorn:
When I "slipped," the program host would leap on the bait: "Ahhh! Indeed, Mr. Malcolm X -- you can't deny that's an advance for your race!"
I'd jerk the pole then. "I can't turn around without hearing about some 'civil rights advance'! White people seem to think the black man ought to be shouting 'hallelujah'! Four hundred years the white man has had his foot-long knife in the black man's back -- and now the whit man starts to wiggle the knife out, maybe six inches! The black man's supposed to be grateful? Why, if the white man jerked the knife out, it's still going to leave a scar!
Although Malcolm words often stung with the injustices against blacks in America, the equally racist views of the Nation of Islam kept him from accepting any whites as sincere or capable of helping the situation. For twelve years he preached that the white man was the devil and the "Honourable Elijah Muhammad" was God's messenger. Unfortunately, most images of Malcolm today focus on this period of his life, although the transformation he was about to undergo would give him a completely different, and more important, message for the American people.
The Change to True Islam
On March 12, 1964, impelled by internal
He developed a hate that tore him apart due to the racism and prejudice him and his family suffered at the hands of white Americans. After all the mess he got himself into, he hit a low point and ended up in jail. That is when he discovered the Nation of Islam. This religion made him pick up all the pieces and start a new life. However, over the years, Muslims began to get a bad name. Just as Islam’s image is misconstrued by the media as well as ignorance in the present time, for Malcolm X and the Muslims in his time, it was no different. In today’s media, Islam is always being accused of being a violent religion and for encouraging hate. Anything and everything related to terrorism is automatically linked to Islam. Many Americans, who do not have knowledge about Islam, see Muslims as violent, unpatriotic, and terrorists. Little do people realize that history is repeating itself. The media exploited Muslims intentions back then as well by calling them “hate-messengers” and “violent-seekers” (Malcolm X, 152). They also painted the same picture of Muslims being “fascist” and “anti-Christ” (Malcolm X, 152). They would display “Mr. Muhammad, me, and others speaking . . . strong-looking, set-faced black men, our Fruit of Islam ... white-scarved, white-gowned Muslim sisters of all ages... Muslims in our restaurants, and other businesses... Muslims and other black people entering and leaving our mosques...” in a television show titled
Throughout history there are many great people who dedicated their life to the advancement of the African American race. Few of these people created as much controversy during the 1960’s then the man who would be known as Malcolm X. Unlike many of the civil rights leaders of the time who promoted non violence, Malcolm X believed in the use of aggressive tactics in his battle for equality.
Malcolm X, an African American leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, was a significant individual in the African American fight for justice and equality. In contrast to the mainstream Civil Rights Movement with its nonviolent pursuit of integration, Malcolm X voiced concepts of race pride and Black Nationalism during the 1950s and '60s. Although many argue that Malcolm X did not actually “do” anything for the black community, his nontraditional programs brought a new perspective to the Civil Rights Movement, and this perspective is of relevance today in the black community.
Malcolm X, Malcolm Little or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, are all different names to one heroic figure. No two people can differ on the impact that Malcolm X has left, not only on the African-American society, but also on the world as a whole. Born in Omaha, Nebraska USA in May 19, 1925 Malcolm X ideologies in life and philosophy were really a result of several life events that he struggled with and experienced while growing up. Between loosing his parents, being bullied in school and finally having Prison sentence, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz decided that some changes should be arranged in the society’s function. Starting from there, he became a man with a message and a mission. Malcolm X was seeking a change, a step forward and a ray of light. After going through a lot in his life, Malcolm X was detriment to be the burning candle that illuminates the roads for others. Almost 50 years later since his death, a lot of people still look up to him as a spiritual leader and still consider him an icon when it comes to civil and human rights movements. Today, in a world that is moving in the path of equality and unity, we can only think of those who built the early stages of this ground we all stand equally tall above. Thanks to influential people like Malcolm X, we can today see the impotency and the growth of the seeds he grew back in his days. In spite of the fact that he is a well-respected and loved man, there is still a group of people (23%) who thinks Malcolm X should not be
Malcolm X was one of the primary religious leaders and reformers of the 1960, where he fought for and ultimately gave his life for racial equality in the United States. His father was a reverend who believed in self-determination and worked for the unity of black people. Throughout Malcolm’s life he was treated horribly by white people, hence shaping his misconceptions of all white people and developing his strong belief in black separatism. It wasn’t until years later where he embraced his black identity and discovered all races could live and work together for a common goal, brotherhood.
The killing of his father by the Black Legion stood in Malcolm's head as he gets older and affects the way he thinks of white people. The fact that the insurance company would not give his mother the money that she deserved because they found his father on the streetcar tracks. So he obviously bashed himself in the head and stumbled over to the tracks to commit suicide. This was just another reason in Malcolm's head why the white people are the devil. The way that his father was laid half dead on the streetcar tracks by white people who just let him suffer half dead. The event of his father's death just put more and more aggression towards white people in Malcolm's life.
Malcolm X's life was a life with a lot of conflict and violence in it. Malcolm X was born under the name of Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father was a baptist minister and an outspoken follower of Marcus Garvey, the black nationalist leader of the 1920s who preached that all blacks should leave the US and go back to Africa.
Malcolm X, one of the most influential leaders in the Black community, transformed American values with his unfiltered statements and his determination for Black liberty and power. However, his controversial solutions concerned many, as he expressed comments that seemed intimidating, twisted, and somewhat vengeful, even though he contained honest intentions within his heart. He held many violent undertones in which made the white-folk very uncomfortable. In addition, his words caused the violent rebellions and delegitimized Martin Luther King’s non-violent resistance as a philosophy for the fool. People had claimed he was a racial segregationist, as he believed in all whites to be “devils.” He was asked questions like did he advocate violent methods to obtain liberty for blacks, as he supported Africans Rifle Clubs, and he inspired many clubs for creating violent Clubs. As Malcolm once said, “There is no such thing as a non-violent revolution.” In contrast, Malcolm denied these allegations of promoting violence, and his point of view shows the reason how and why the blacks had reacted in that manner. Later, however, Malcolm X did follow the “Honorable Elijah Mohammed,” and had always followed and believed in him. He followed the doctrines of how whites was “inherently” evil,” and could not enter Mecca, due to their skin color. Not only had that he criticized all whites for the problem of the blacks. He also called the whites on their guilty nature, so justifying the
Malcolm felt that the “March” they had at the white house was a joke even though he was there to support them. Malcolm also spoke about the way “Black Leaders” talked down on the Black Muslims, but he still supported them because they were his own kind. Also, Malcolm spoke about “integrating” and how he believed it would never work. Another point Malcolm spoke about was how sick Mr. Muhammad was getting. His condition began to get worst and Malcolm knew that the “Black Muslims” needed him.
Malcolm X’s mother never recovered from the shock and grief of her husband’s death and in 1937 she was committed to a mental institution. Malcolm X eventually left home to live with family and friends and had to continue to fight racism. This shows how much Malcolm X had gone through while growing up which drove him to fight for
Malcolm Little aka Malcolm X was born May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska in the United States of America. Malcolm was the son of Reverend Earl Little and Louise Little. Malcolm’s father, Reverend Earl was a Baptist minister who was a supporter of Marcus Garvey, who was a Black Nationalist leader.
Recently my class was given a group project of reading a book, analyzing its content and eventually giving an in depth presentation on what it was about and what the book taught us. The book that my group and I chose was, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The book details Malcolm X's transitions throughout his life, honing in on his struggles as a youth, a teen and as a man followed by his resolutions and triumphs through it all. My group consisted of myself, Andrew, Carl and Langstan and was quite an adventure. As we set out to accomplish this task we knew it would be a challenge, it being the largest book on the project list and not being used to having a reading project like this. During the time we experienced good times, bad
Religion as the mother, Malcolm as the child, and a world that needs and needed a change. This is what I began to see in my head. The quote explicitly states that “The mother is the first teacher of the child.” This is important as to me, Malcolm was a “child” three times in his life. I say this in the sense of him opening up and becoming a sponge again. Taking in what he is taught and allowing it to mold him into a new being. First, when he was young, secondly, when he became a con-artist, lastly, when he turned his life around and began the road to becoming a Muslim. His prison mate that started him on his journey and enlightened him on the power of the religion saw something in him. Subsequently, Elijah Muhammad struck an interest in Malcolm, and this is all that was needed to spark the fire within. He became obsessed with reading and learning as much as he could, he cast away his former sins of deceit, consuming alcohol, cursing, smoking cigarettes and so forth. He dedicated his life to religion after he was known as Satan due to his denouncement of Christ and his read hair. This man who was referred to as the ultimate evil became a devout Muslim; a true follower of Allah. An aggressive, cheating, lying, thieving man who was wronged by society turned into a peaceful, strong, and intelligent legend. All due to the introduction of the Nation of Islam and his becoming a Muslim.
Malcolm X was a muslim, black man who cared very much about gaining equal rights. He was, in a way, an extremist. Though only taking action when he felt necessary, when he did take action, it often had drastic effects on the people and events occurring around him. Unlike Martin Luther King or other leading civil rights activists, he did not believe in peaceful protest. He believed in “whatever means necessary” to accomplish his goals. Because of his strong efforts and his unmatched determination, Malcolm X, formally known as Malcolm Little, changed the course of the civil rights movement. If not for him, the events that played out to cause the eventual conclusion of the struggle would have been forever altered.
Malcolm X?s autobiography written in collaboration with Alex Haley is an exciting story of personality transformation. During several years, Malcolm X told Haley his biography in several extensive interviews. Haley described and orchestrated the stories and Malcolm X edited and endorsed every part of the book. The story is narrated in the first person and it seems like Malcolm was writing this of his own. But it is important to understand that the autobiography is not written by Malcolm. Alex Haley recorded his words. The readers only have the visibility that this is a whole consistent narrative.