Malcolm X Research Paper

Malcolm X, a 1992 movie inspired by the autobiography of the same name, follows the life of polarizing, yet nonetheless revolutionary historical figure, Malcolm X. Director of the film, Spike Lee, follows Malcolm’s tragic childhood, more than mischievous teenage years, and the transformation that occurs in his adulthood. The film displays multiple sociological concepts, all of which contribute to the manifestation of Malcolm’s ideology. Throughout the movie, Spike Lee delves into the concepts of race, gender, ethnocentrism, and religion, all of which are seen through the eyes of the film’s main character.

(In 1959, the NY Times had inscrutably perpetrated an all-out attack, constantly printing editorials accusing the Nation of Islam of preaching hate the need for race war and violence)

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

Unlike most people Malcolm’s life started off extremely rough and ended with bang. Growing up life was hard for him with his family not being for him. Which later became ok since he was then later visited by his siblings which lead to his great spiritual change. Ultimately he then had another change of heart as far his spiritual side which then abruptly ended his life.

Media and NY Times attributed the ringleader and creation of this phantom hate group to Malcolm X. Formally Malcolm X stated, “I considered all Negroes my ‘Blood Brothers,’ and that Negroes are banning together!” He said in one of his speeches, “That Harlem is living in a police state?” and was asked, {“Mr. Malcolm you have suggested that they are all kinds of movements in Harlem growing that you and I don’t know about?”} Malcolm replied “Oh yes, frustration itself was sufficient and all that was necessary to make Negros realize the importance of banning together-and Negros are banning together.”{“Banning together in what kind of movement?”} (Malcolm continuing) “Different kinds of movements-all kinds of movements, and they remain almost invisible they remain almost unknown-but yet they are there.” “When I say invisible I mean invisible in the since that their existence are unknown.” “And no matter how much you try to track them down-you can’t find them. And never try to find them through the Negro leaders.” “The Negro leaders are famous as an apologist.” “As you recall one of the most famous Negro leaders in 1959 was asked by you about the Black Muslim movement, and he said he knew nothing about it, and the next moment you flashed a picture on the screen with him shaking hands with me (Referring to Roy Wilkins).”-“So this is their

Can you recall a memory from your early childhood? Did you think about the first time you fell off your bike, getting stung by a bee or your big brother teaching you how to get the football to spiral when you throw it? Can you imagine that your first memory that can come to mind is living every night in fear, the burning down of your home by the Ku Klux Klan and the “accidental” death of your father who’s head was detached from his own body? This is the only memory that comes to Malcolm Little from his childhood.

He was away from the harsh conditions and oppression from the whites, and away from a country full of racial segregation, and inequity.

When Malcolm X refers to freedom in the final sentence, he is referring to being at liberty. He is saying that he is no longer constrained by his lack of education and his inability to read. Malcolm X carefully studied the dictionary to solve the problem of his own illiteracy. Having risen from a world of thieving, pimping, and drug pushing to become one of the most articulate African Americans. What an enormous frustration he must have felt writing numerous letters that fell on deaf ears. Knowing that he had something to say but not being able to convey it in letters. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, thirty-two million adults in the U.S. cannot read. That is fourteen percent of the Population. These numbers are astonishing! Furthermore, nineteen percent of high school graduates cannot read. There are many benefits that come with being able to read and write. Some of these include economic security, access to health care, and the ability to actively participate in public life. Malcolm X went behind bars partially because of negative educational opportunities. He ends up finding freedom when he learns of the connections between culture and education that society has denied him. He did this by copying and studying the pages of the dictionary, page by page. He would also stay up at night reading, and was careful to make sure that the guards at the prison did

Regardless of the psychological injuries he sustained in his youth, Malcolm X was among the best understudies in his class. Unfortunately he grew to resent his white educators and companions, whom he realized did not view him as their equivalent, but rather as their "mascot." As his enthusiasm for scholarly study disappeared, he quit school in the wake of finishing eighth grade. Living in Boston, New York City, and later Detroit, he held a few low-paying jobs. To fit into his new urban environment, Malcolm changed his outward appearance. As "Detroit Red," a name derived from his light skin and red hair. He survived the following days as a pimp, drug dealer, and hustler.

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

Malcolm X, a civil rights leader in the 1960's believed that blacks and whites should be segregated. He also believed that white man was evil and were trying to brainwash all blacks and that Martin Luther King's "non-violent protests" weren't working and that violence was needed for change.

When it comes to the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. has often been portrayed prominence. Though this is true, the Civil Rights Movement involved other activists like Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Andrew Goodman, etc. Who all contributed to its success. Racism has always been a problem right from the United States’ creation. It involved discrimination and segregation of non-white races, and refusal to recognize and protect non-white citizenship rights enumerated in the constitution. Though erected by Thomas Jefferson that, “all men are created equal,” it was not always true since human relation was justified by social Darwinism. The actions taken by minor groups changed the American beliefs and encourage all races to strive

Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, is one of the greatest advocates for race in the nation. However, his opinion of the state of racial issues in our country, and what can be done to solve them. Trials throughout Malcolm’s life of personal opinions and events that have occurred have shaped his outlook on the issue. Alex Haley’s autobiography novel, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, reveals Malcolm’s changing views on the solution of race in this country through the shaping stages of experiences in his life.

Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Andrew Goodman. These people are well known for their positive role in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, but what about the familiar name Malcolm X? He is sometimes shamed for the ways he went about trying to fix the way African Americans were being treated because he did so in a violent fashion instead of peacefully, but many people do not know the full story of Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a very important civil rights leader.

Lansing did not hold many opportunities of any kind for a young black man then, so without a particular plan, Malcolm X went to live with his half-sister, Ella, in Boston. Malcolm X looked, and almost immediately found trouble. He fell in with a group of gamblers and thieves, and began shining shoes at the Roseland State Ballroom. There he learned the trades that would eventually take him to jail dealing in bootleg liquor and illegal drugs. Malcolm X characterized his life then as one completely lacking in self-respect. Many journalists would emphasize Malcolm X’s “shady” past when describing the older man, his clean-cut lifestyle, and the aims of the Nation of Islam. In some cases, these references were an attempt to damage Malcolm X’s credibility, but economically disadvantaged people have found his early years to be a point of commonality, and Malcolm X himself was proud of how far he had come. He spared no detail of his youth in his autobiography, and used his Nation of Islam ideas to interpret them. Dancing, drinking, and even his hair style were represented by Malcolm X to be marks of shame and self-hatred. Relaxed hair in particular was an anathema to Malcolm X for the rest of his life; he described his first “conk” in the autobiography this way: “This was my first really big step toward self-degradation: when I endured all of that pain of the hair-straightening chemicals, literally burning my flesh to have it