Kaykay Zhu
October 19, 2017
The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley is an account of Malcolm X’s evolving perspective on racial justice. Malcolm X was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam who advocated for black nationalism and separatism. The man who became one of America’s most powerful voices for African Americans was deeply affected by the terrors of racism, which shaped his view of social justice and the condemnation of the white man. The way Malcolm X narrates his experiences changes as his views on race change. At first, he wants readers to feel the destructiveness of racism, so he conveys his experiences through provocative language. When he aims to promote universal peace, he takes on a more optimistic tone. As a
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The woman who raised and loved him did not know him any longer. This is one of many instances that illustrates the white society’s “lack of mercy and compassion” (22). Malcolm X blames whites for robbing his mother’s dignity, for separating his siblings, and for “disintegrating” his home and unity. Therefore, Malcolm X states he has no compassion for “a white society that will crush people” (22). The word “crushed” imparts the same horror he feels on the audience to illuminate the extremity of racism so that the audience can sympathize with his reasoned anger. Being called the ‘n-word’ in his life is another factor in Malcolm X’s belief that white society is demeaning to blacks. When Malcolm X told his English teacher that he wanted to be a lawyer, she replied, “That’s no realistic goal for a n-word” (118). The teacher’s statement is a clear portrayal of the widely accepted sentiment in that time period that African Americans are too incompetent to have good jobs and have ambitions. As a result, this incident deeply affected Malcolm X and has contributed to his disapproval of blacks being servile in a white society. Malcolm X appeals to the audience 's sense of horror and hatred by sharing his experiences in order for paint a more illuminated picture of racism.
While advocating for racial justice as a minister of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X claims that blacks must separate from their corrupt society and squarely blames the white man for the plight of blacks. The
All throughout Malcolm X’s speech, powerful language can be found. Malcolm encourages all individuals of direct African descent to come together in quotes such as this one: “...all Afro-American people and organizations should henceforth unite so that the welfare and well-being of our people
This speech was given by Malcolm X in Detroit, Michigan on April 12, 1964. He spoke to a large crowd including enemies being present. His voice was very forceful and demanding throughout His speech. He begins his speech by comparing himself to Christian ministers who were going through the same struggle during that era. He distant himself from the other ministers when he referred to himself as a Muslim minister. And his belief of confrontation and whatever comes with it. However, he made it clear to the audience that he was not discussing religion because of too many differences from the start. Malcolm X goal was to identify the common problems that all blacks shared regardless to what denomination. It didn’t matter whether you were educated or illiterate, all blacks are in the same boat and receive that same treatment at the hand of the white man. He sees economic, political, oppression, degrading and hardship are also caused by the white man.
For many heroes like Martin Luther king, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas that fought against ending racism and inequality among the black community in the United States, Malcolm X, a prominent and a true Muslim minister, also during his life has influenced, urged and advocate for the black patriotism and right and freedom for the black American people. He achieved this through a message he passed at a meeting which was sponsored by the militant labor forum in New York. In his speech, he addressed several concerns and issues such as integration, black Americans reuniting to prevent white oppressors, having control over the American soil, and as well as solving economic issues. Malcolm X speech, until today, has really impacted and influenced many black communities. On the other hand, many others have heavily condemned him as a racist individual due some negative connotations he used during his speech. Throughout Malcolm x speech, he was convincing, made good use of rhetoric techniques and relied on Pathos in order to get the attention of his audience. He had the skills and the ability to arouse the emotions of his audience, therefore, in his speech, it seemed like most of his audience and supporters were enraptured by his story.
When he was a child, he saw both of his parents being attacked by white society and feels the hopelessness of black people. “The Klansmen shouted threats and warnings at her, my mother, that we had better get out of town because “the good Christian white people” were not going to stand for my father’s “spreading trouble” among the “good” Negroes of Omaha with the “back to Africa” preachings of Marcus Garvey” (Haley, 3) This line communicates the idea that at a very young age, Malcolm X have already experienced bigotry towards black people because of their beliefs. His father was a supporter of Marcus Garvey who raised awareness that black people had clean morales and encouraged the Negro group in the community to return to Africa. Due to his father’s belief, his family received threats by a white supremacist group who was looking for his father for spreading his beliefs, showing that Negroes with that belief were not invited into the Omaha community. Rather, it was being rejected by
Malcolm X by Alex Haley is about a man who spoke for racism and articulated the anger, struggle and beliefs of african american in the 1960s. His Autobiography is now an established classic of modern america and a book expresses like none other the crucial truth about our violent times. The story of Malcolm X’s life shows us how difficult it is to speak out and try to be seen as something other than a color. Attempting to find a answer of when we be equal when will we have the chance to be seen as something other than a color. Racism and label and is introduced abruptly in the text when Malcolm shows how racist his environment is when he describes the names that white people called him such as “negro, niger,darkie
At a much too early age, Malcolm understood his role as a negro living in the early eighteenth century. Malcolm was an intelligent kid who constantly focused on his education. When asked what he wanted to do in the future, he told his teacher he wanted to be a lawyer. His teacher responded with pitiful laughter, telling him that his goal was unreasonable, for black people simply weren’t good enough to be lawyers. Malcolm recalled the sheer change in heart he experienced that day. He accepts
Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, many came out of the crowd yearning for their voice to be heard. Freedom activists became well known throughout various parts of the United States, all with different ideas about how to approach such an enormous problem of injustice faced by Negros. With racial injustice at its hand, America was blessed to receive civil rights activists Malcolm X. In order to understand Malcolm X’s philosophies, one must look back and examine his past, paying attention to key events which led him to become the black nationalist he is known as today.
“Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.” That was one of Malcolm X’s quotes. It is great to be nice and fair; but don’t let others make you feel inferior to them, treat you unfairly and cruel. If someone throws a rock at you, you pick one up and throw it right back. Malcolm X was an African American who was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement and also the Islamic Nation. He was one of the ministers of Islamic churches after joining the Nation while he was incarcerated. Though he had did a lot of wrongs in his life, he also made many positive actions that would affect history forever.
Malcolm X was an African American protester. He argued that African Americans would never achieve equality in a society that was dominated by whites. Because of this belief, Malcolm encouraged blacks to “fight back”. He believed they should fight back in an armed revolution or at least to do so when being attacked. Malcolm believed that the African Americans should form a new society of ‘their own’ rather than trying to combine with the dominant white society. While he advised violence, he also spoke about pride. Because of this Malcolm was able to contribute greatly to the black power movement of the 1960s.
When most Americans think of the Civil Rights Movement, their focus automatically goes to Martin Luther King Jr. and the importance of the non-violent protest. In an effort to memorialize the best of the Movement, another voice often gets overlooked as schoolchildren celebrate events like Black History Month. This voice is the one of black anger, something that has been frowned upon by society and turned into a stereotype to marginalize very valid emotions. While the legacy of Civil Rights leaders such as King are important to remember, it does the country and the black community a disservice as a whole if the population forgets that many black citizens were also driven by an anger that was often righteous, or one that they at least had numerous reasons for possessing it. One figure that captures that frustrated spirit is Malcolm X. Because of him, Alex Haley’s The Autobiography of Malcolm X is historically significant for capturing the voice of black anger. Beyond the ability to verbalize black anger, the book is also vital because it reveals the complexity of Malcolm X’s thoughts and how he was able to accept change as an important part of helping the black community. By presenting how such an imposing political and moral leader was able to find a way for his anger to coexist with his ability to be surprisingly open-minded at times, the work becomes an important resource because it helps readers realize that they too have the right to be angry at injustice, if they also
Malcolm X relates to our class readings when we discuss the fading dream of racial integration, white backlash and Black Nationalism in chapter 22. As a growing number of young people become dissatisfied with the
Malcolm X believes that the realization that the white man is the enemy is crucial to change the social and economic status of the black man. Malcolm X urges black people to recognize that white people are the enemy, and says that once they are aware of that, white people’s evils become obvious. Otherwise, he says, ignorance allows white people to stay in the best social and economic positions while blacks are in the lowest. If black people see that the white man is their enemy, that the white man is putting them in the worst positions so that he can be in the best, then they can fight it. In Malcolm X’s autobiography, he tells stories of black people, including himself, who don’t see the white man as a threat. They don’t associate the poverty
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is the story of Malcolm X, an African American male growing up in the United States in the mid-1900's. At this time in America prejudice and segregation were widespread and much a part of everyday life. Malcolm takes the reader through his experiences with American society, which rejects him. This rejection, along with the inferiority cast upon all Black Americans, forces these males to search for acceptance. They are forced to search for purpose in causes greater than single individuals. As the book shows, this is evident in Malcolm throughout his life and in the life of other African American males. The Autobiography shows how during this time in American history
Malcolm X often referred to as “ The Prince of Islam” was as a blunt, straight forward, and a respected Civil rights activist that coin the saying “By any means necessary”. Many people wanted to get into the mind of this influential leader. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley would allow people to have a crucial perception into the mind of an important figure during a time of racism and oppression to see the lasting impact it has on oneself. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley came to be as a collaboration between Malcolm X and Alex haley to merely tell the life story of Malcolm Little, but in it really shed light on an important issue that was going on in America at the time, the problem is still going on now.
In the mid-twentieth century, the term institutionalized racism was introduced on behalf of the rising civil rights movement. First used by Kwame Ture and Charles Hamilton in the book Black Power: The Politics of Liberation, the term describes the inherent oppression of a group of people from social institutions such as schools or court-of-law. These highly regarded establishments subtly alter the public eye of a minority, allowing an entire community to become unjust [Kwame Ture]. Since institutionalized racism weaves racism into the fabric of a society, several civil rights leaders including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr, believed that this is could be the root of African American oppression in the United States. However, Malcolm X is a unique figure when discussing this topic because of his different views, which were considered to be radical by the majority of the American public. An example of this is the lack of faith he has in solving race problems using non-violence. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As told to Alex Haley recounts these beliefs, along with his lifelong story of being a civil rights leader. The book was created over a series of interviews between Malcolm X and writer, Alex Haley. Throughout the Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X’s narration deploys effective rhetoric to support his many claims surrounding the prominent fact that the African American community is systematically oppressed through institutionalized racism and that racial