How Did Malcolm X Change

Malcolm was arrested on January 12, 1946, and convicted of burglary, carrying an illegal firearm, and larceny (Crime and Investigation 1). He was sent to Charlestown State Prison for 8-10 years. While there, he joined the Nation of Islam. He began exchanging letters frequently with Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam’s leader, and changed his name to Malcolm X. He stated the “X” symbolized his lost tribal name, and that he was destroying the surname “Little” that his ancestor’s slave-owners had imposed on his family.

He started thinking about the world and the society he lives in. He began to question the way things were, and he realized that a change in his life, and in the society was both possible and necessary. Prior to his imprisonment, Malcolm had been enclosed in the world of the hustler, the player, the pimp, the gangster, the parasite, and he couldn¹t imagine him outside of that world. “Reading exposed Malcolm to new worlds; it allowed him to see that there were alternatives to the lifestyle and values of the social parasite” (Shanna). While in prison, Malcolm began to think, and to read. but only after he had been encouraged to do so by someone that he respected and who had taken an unselfish interest in him. “Malcolm was later motivated by a new sense of self-worth and identity and purpose, as his family introduced him to the religious and political philosophy of Islam, as taught by Elijah Muhammad, and practiced by the Nation of Islam (NOI)” (Estate of Malcolm X). Malcolm X converted to the Nation of Islam while in prison, and upon his release in 1952 he abandoned his surname "Little," which he considered a relic of slavery, in favor of the surname "X" a tribute to the unknown name of his African ancestors.

After an incident where his brother was suspended from the Nation for immoral behavior Malcolm had begun to doubt the teachings of the Nation of Islam. To Malcolm they’re had to be some misunderstanding because his brother introduced the nation to him. That night Malcolm had a vision of a man and that morning he had received a letter from Mr. Muhammad telling him if he didn’t believe now he had never believed that statement alone renewed his faith in the Nation and he rejected his brother.

Malcolm Little made an influence in today's history all throughout his autobiography, In The Autobiography of Malcolm X. He explained and shared his extraordinary constructive lifestyle, which helped build him up into the man he is today, known as Malcolm X. Although he choose the wrong route experiencing sexual interactions with Caucasian men wives, stole, and hustled, etc. He then realized that everyone has to overcome a hardship to receive a change in their life. Malcolm Little develop into a greater man by believing in one Allah and casting his religion with Muslim, even though Elijah Muhammad truth ruined everything. He transformed from a gangster/hustlers to a gentlemen who took part in peace and knowledge, it helped shown a dramatic

He was sentenced to 8 years in Massachusetts State Prison. His education had come to an abrupt halt due to his life of crime. In jail, Malcolm used his sentence to gain a Master’s degree. Malcolm’s brother visited and discussed his recent conversion to the Nation of Islam, a Black nationalist organisation which used Islam to deal with the hardships of White supremacy in North America. Curious to find out more, Malcolm studied the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm underwent a transformation in prison. He learnt the value of knowledge; Malcolm famously said “education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare it for

Malcolm's early years were characterized by racial persecution, poverty, and criminal activity, which led to his imprisonment in 1946. Malcolm was imprisoned when he came into contact with Elijah Muhammad's and the Nation of Islam's doctrines. This led to his conversion to Islam and the use of the surname " X " as a sign of his lost African origin. Malcolm's dedication to Black nationalism and his support of social and political transformation within the Black community began during this

He even changed his name to Malcolm X to represent his African Heritage that had been lost. When he was with the Nation Of Islam, Malcolm was a well known speaker who gave many intense speeches

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.

The opinions that many people have about religion derive from their association with churches, mosques, and other places of worship. However, Malcolm X defied the usual curve of religious doctrine and embraced what he felt was right for him and those who shared his views. In his autobiography, Malcolm X abandoned atheism to become a follower of the Nation of Islam (NOI) and later, he ended up following Eastern Islam. In the Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm’s views and his idealism is derived from his practice of Islam and his will to fight for the rights of African Americans also come from the same base.

Six years later Malcolm was released. The Nation of Islam was founded by Wallace Fard. Once Fard disappeared Elijah Muhammad took leadership. NOI preached adherence and reliance on other African Americans.

Before Mecca when Malcolm was still a part of The Nation of Islam he was taught the principles of racial hatred and separatism. Their beliefs were based on that the race known as “white” were to be considered as “ devils”. Malcolm quickly believed in their leader Elijah Muhammad and began to rise quickly through the ranks becoming a national celebrity. But, it was soon after this that Malcolm found out the truth about his leader. He found out that

Throughout history there have been many people who have stood out and made an impact in the way we think and comprehend things. During the late 1950's and early 1960's, Malcolm X was no exception. His militant views that Western nations were inherently racist and that black people must join together to build their own society and value system had an important influence on black nationalist and black separatist movements of the 1950s and 1960s. At the beginning of the movie, Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little. He was a young child trying to adapt to society's changes. He was looking so hard that he fell into the wrong crowd.

Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925. He was not as fortunate as Martin Luther King Jr. was while growing up. Malcolm X was one of eight children with two loving parents, but later on died. He was more so a lecturer about segregation than an orator from the Islamic point of view. The humor that flowed throughout all his speeches had underline meanings that were equally as serious as Martin Luther King Jr. made his speeches seem.

It would be the time spent in prison that would transform Malcolm and change him from a career criminal to the activist he would later be known as. He visited the prison library and read books on religion, philosophy, and history. He read and copied the entire dictionary acquiring the skills that would make him a powerful public speaker. He dedicated his time in prison to his own personal development and through his brother Reginald learned of the organization known as the Nation of Islam or the Black Muslims. The Nation of Islam is an Islamic religious organization founded by its leader Elijah Muhammad which promoted Black separatism from whites culturally, physically, politically and psychologically. Malcolm began to follow the preachings of Muhammad and practiced the religion devoutly, giving up drug use, alcohol consumption, as well as eating pork.

With Malcolm's imprisonment ended the acceptance of the ghetto hustler and gangster life. In prison Malcolm had to find a new place to turn for acceptance. As his father did, Malcolm turned to religion. The religion he turned to, The Nation of Islam or more commonly known as the Black Muslims, were a group of African Americans who believed, among other things, that whites were the roots of evil. Malcolm became immersed in his religion. It seeped into every part of his life. "For the next years I was the nearest thing to a hermit in the Norfolk Prison Colony. I have never been more busy in my life" (173). Malcolm wrote many letters to family and friends about his new found faith and , most importantly, he found the acceptance he longed for with the teachings of Mr. Muhammad. This acceptance gave him purpose and after his release Malcolm became one of the foremost representatives of the Nation of Islam.