Malcolm X, A Civil Right Activist And Powerful Black Leader

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley is the story about a man who greatly impacted American history. Malcolm Little, or Malcolm X as he is more widely known, taught what he believed in regards to segregation, racism, and discrimination. Growing up in a large family with a father Earl Little, a Baptist minister, and his mother Louis Little who was a homemaker, Malcolm’s life at the time seemed very promising. His father’s involvement in support of the Black National gained him many death threats at the hands of white supremacists. In 1929, they lost their house to a fire, and two years later the body of Malcolm’s father was found mutilated. This lead to the emotional breakdown of Malcolm’s mother and in turn she was institutionalized. Malcolm and his siblings were separated and placed in foster homes, and from then, his life began a path of drugs, sex, and crime. It was not until he was imprisoned in 1946, that he decided to make some changes for the better. This essay will assess and discuss those changes whether negative or positive, on a micro, mezzo, and macro level. It will also cover some of the effects of racial prejudice on human behavior, and how society today keeps the ideology of Malcolm X alive.

America stands for equality, freedom, and choice, but upon looking into the history behind America the everlasting struggle of racism, bigotry, and inequality are revealed. Through the 1950s to the 1970s, the fight for civil rights by African Americans was prominent throughout America. Schools, restaurants, and all public facilities were segregated, African Americans were blocked from voting through literacy tests and poll taxes, and The KKK, a white supremacist group, would lynch African American men. The need for the immediate cease of these practices and the desire for equality gave way to the Civil Rights Movement. Leaders and groups arose from this movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and the Black Panther Party. The overall goal was to achieve rights but there were two significantly different methods of achieving this goal, non-violent civil disobedience and “black power”. The shift from non-violent civil disobedience to “black power” was caused by the emotional toll of being complacent during personal attack and the truth that immediate change calls upon the use of force, and the result of the shift was the further spread of violence.

Reading stimulates your mind, reduces stress, expands your vocabulary, and also gives you knowledge. Books are literary works that can inspire change, not only personally but also socially and politically. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is an example of one of those books which sparked a movement. The Black Arts Movement empowered black people to create their own literature and art and was triggered by the assassination of Malcolm X. His book, written by him and Alex Haley, was widely read and influenced the movement and views on racial issues at that time. Part of the reason why this book is so influential is the literary devices it uses. The Autobiography of Malcolm X utilizes tone, symbolism, and metaphors to connect with the audience and

People often become angry at themselves when they are unable to do something; this leads to frustration and then a choice they have to make: giving up or stubbornly continuing it. Malcolm X was also in a situation like that during his time in prison. He never finished his education in reading or writing and tried to learn how to read and write which it was hard for him, but he still continue to learn to those skills. In Malcolm X’s “Learning to Read”, despite being a prisoner, he decides to learn how to read and write making use of his time in prison in order to learn more about the world than continuing to be ignorant.

believe the original intent of the book was to analysis the pressures faced by Negro communities to integrate in a white society. In order to achieve this goal, Alex Haley tells the story of Malcolm’s metamorphosis from a broken black man to an enlighten minster of Islam. As I read, I felt the intent was changing at pivotal moments of Malcolm’s life because his experience indirectly teaches other lessons about social injustices.

Malcolm X tells his readers how he became important person, with the power of knowledge. Malcolm was living on the streets he was a “hustler” a person who robbed others to survive. The people, who see him on TV or have read any of his books, think the he went to school beyond the eighth grade. The truth is that he never went to school. Besides, he educated himself by reading books in jail. Malcolm discovers a new world, after he learns how to read and write he became a new person.

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the son of Louise Norton and Earl Little. He lived with 7 brothers and sisters. Malcolm’s father was an outspoken Baptist minister and on various occasions received death threats forcing his family to relocate twice before Malcolm’s fourth birthday.

Although Malcolm X’s repetition does a splendid job of conveying his message, the strongest tools in his arsenal are his anecdotes, or short stories. Because the text is a narrative, it tells mostly of real events in his life. He tells this narrative through anecdotes about his time in prison reading countless books and texts. For example, he recounts the time that he read the dictionary, reciting countless volumes of words just to learn new things (162). This demonstrates that all of these event that he mentions happen to him and were true. When Malcolm X uses this anecdote he is saying that a simple dictionary furthered a man that would become one of the most prominent civil rights activists. This further proves his point that learning to read is the most important and influential ability

"Martin Luther King Jr." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 05 Jan. 2017. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

Malcolm X once said, “We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” In other words, all Malcolm X wanted was the inalienable rights that every single human being should be granted. This is what all the Civil Rights Leaders wanted during the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X, however, was very “Machiavellian” about his approach as he thought that the ends did, in fact, justify the means. He was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goal. Contrary to another well known Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King Jr., who had a more passive approach

In the story, “A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X, focuses on the times that he was incarcerated in prison. During his times of incarceration, he met a man named Bimbi that made him feel as if he did not know anything. In this essay, Malcolm X, surprised me the most when he was upset and frustrated, because he couldn’t express himself in speaking or writing. It all started at the Charlestown Prison, where Malcolm X decided to pick up a book to increase his vocabulary.

There were many characteristics that defined Malcolm X as and leader which is the kind of person he became. He inspired, he had a lack of flexibility and a lack of open-mindedness. these three traits shaped Malcolm into one of the most well known leaders of the late 20th century. Malcolm X inspired people through great speeches action and support for others. The way Malcolm talked made people want to get up and do something “ So early in life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.” Malcolm X was inspiring to all with his powerful speeches and passionate attitude. Malcolm X’s flexibility was apparent even though it seemed limited at times he still tried to keep himself open to others ideas. Malcolm felt that

The fight against racism and the oppression of people of color is about equality. However, Malcom X suggests something much sinister in 'Learning to read. ' Composed from interviews taken shortly before X 's death, The Autobiography of Malcom X was ghost-written by Alex Hayley in 1965. In the excerpt Learning to Read, X recalls the moment that his eyes were opened to slavery, oppression, and racism through literary works. The rhetoric X uses to convey his point, while passionate and progressive towards people of color, is decidedly racist and supremacist. Malcom X uses rhetoric, particularly historical and scholarly references, to convey a message of people of color 's racial supremacy over the oppressive white man.

Both of us were looking to better ourselves, although truthfully and with all sincerity Malcolm’s was a much greater reason than mine. I was looking to improve my lacking abilities, while he was searching for a way to educate himself to help his important cause. We both took approaches that took both time, and determination. I applied myself in every way that I could to do better in my class and on my own, while Malcolm X copied by hand the entire dictionary. We both discovered book for the first time, and as I understand were shocked by the impacted they could have on a person’s life. After our experiences, we both began reading more and more books to widen our range of interest and understanding. We gained an appreciation for books and were exposed to a totally new world through them. We were both looking for something that could be found in books and in turn discovered both knowledge and a greater education. Through our experiences both of us were able to conquer a part of our own ignorance to better ourselves for future

Books are the most easily driven routes toward education. They present themselves differently to different readers. We learn by what the dark words say on the bright pages. Authors that write traditional textbooks are not really singled out in terms of recognition among individuals. However, authors that talk to their readers but teach them simultaneously in books are the ones we tend to think about and respect more. Malcolm Gladwell is a stellar example of the latter. This essay will contain my findings on Malcolm Gladwell and his literature.