Malcolm X And The Civil Rights Era

Malcolm X’s legacy to the struggle for black equality in the USA went far beyond focusing on solely equality. Malcolm X hardly forgot the fact that he was the ‘servant’ and not the ‘master’ of the black nation’s aspirations and dreams. Malcolm X resisted the objective of integration and encouraged blacks to build their own society. ‘We can never win freedom and justice and equality until we do something for ourselves’.[i] He felt they should shield themselves against violence, ‘by any means necessary’. Malcolm X confronted the United States to protect its own hypothetical qualities. He held up a mirror for the country to scrutinize itself, now was the reflection showing too much for some white individuals in America?

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.

Malcolm X, was a civil rights activist, who convinced people that it was inalienable that they control their own destiny. In order to control my own destiny, I fight for success by any means necessary. Success will stimulate me to fight the challenges throughout life and push me to become successful. However, throughout life I often get caught trying to escape failure by avoiding it. During Malcolm’s time, many people were eager, desirous, and ambitious when it came to their rights. This describes one's longing for a goal and in order to be successful you have to achieve your goals. Therefore, I use success to help me achieve those goals by any means necessary.

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 made more of an impact on the Civil Rights Movement than Martin Luther King JR. Malcolm X lived through extreme hardship and poverty leading to a life of crime; prison eventually altered his whole perspective about his role in society. Unlike MLK JR, whose purpose was predetermined in a household with strict boundaries and Christian love. Most notably, it was his excellency as a scholar that gave MLK JR his signature; being that at only 15 years of age he enrolled into Morehouse College. However, it was Malcolm X with the intelligence of peace through the Nation of Islam and spirituality of Black Nationalism, these components made him the one who is best to philosophize accurately about removing blacks from oppression in the USA.

Malcolm X is considered one of the most influential African American in history. He was a minister of the Nation of Islam and the voice of Black Muslim Faith.

There are more people enslaved today than at any other time in human history (Slavery Facts). Slavery is a horrible form of oppression that people usually associate with racism, but in reality, slavery begins with treating people as less than human. In The Autobiography of Malcolm X As Told to Alex Haley, the author explores racism and subhuman treatment of American blacks in the mid-twentieth century. He uses personal and historical anecdotes to appeal to the strong emotions surrounding issues of racism. Because of his experiences as a black child in America, Malcolm X is able to illustrate many hardships the reader can only imagine. Using an appeal to pathos to evoke sympathy and indignation, Malcolm X argues that a person’s humanity should trump all other traits because viewing people as less than human leads to racism and oppression.

During the African- American civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were two well-known activists. Both men fought for civil rights, but both had two opposing opinions on how it should be achieved. Malcolm X took the more forceful, violent route while King thought civil rights should be attained in a peaceful way. Even though King is more widely remembered, both Malcolm X and King’s impact during their time has shown up in today’s world. Born on May 19th, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm X had been subjected to racism early on in his life.

Malcolm X was a determined activist, a man who fought for what he believed in. He left a strong impression on the hearts of millions. His actions not only motivated others but also urged them to believe in the same ideologies as his. Despite of his struggle with poverty, personal conflicts and his beliefs he followed his dreams of aiding the society and raising their self-esteem.

Malcolm X was an important black leader and activist to the African American community and Nation of Islam in the 50’s and 60’s. He had a troubled childhood growing up in a time of awful racism. His childhood experiences affected him and his decisions for many years in positive and negative ways. Malcolm X was a strong willed man with huge ideas for the civil rights of African Americans that created a huge following of people for him. He did not feel that nonviolent approaches towards civil rights would result in change and had a different and more radical way of achieving it. Towards the end of his life he made a surprising change in his life and had completely different ideas for the struggle for civil rights.

Malcolm X, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965, who was born Malcolm Little, was orphaned as a child. At the age of 6 his father was killed, and when he was 13 his mother was placed in a mental hospital, after which he went in and out of various foster homes. At the age of 20 Malcolm went to prison for larceny and Breaking and entering. As a result of going to prison, he ended up becoming a member of the group known as, the nation of Islam, and after leaving prison on parole in 1952, rapidly climbed the ranks and became leader of the group.

The history of the world has had its encounters with separation and segregation when it comes to race. For a long time the world has seen racism as a large problem and this has caused ethnic groups to be looked down upon or forced into a lifestyle of difficulties and suppression. Due to this situation, races, in particularly African Americans, have been forced to deal with unequal opportunity and poverty, leading to less honorable ways of getting by and also organizations and support change. Malcolm X is an example of an African American man who fell into this type of hate and acted against it. Malcolm X united people to promote the advancement of African Americans and change when it comes to his own race.

There have been many people throughout United States History who have greatly influenced the nation, including Malcolm X. Malcolm X both positively and negatively affected American society. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history, while being a tremendous public speaker and human rights activist, specifically advocating for the rights of African Americans. However, numerous individuals view him as controversial figure due to the widespread portrayal of Malcolm X as a violent and racist character often considered to be the opposite of Martin Luther King, Jr. Overall, it is clear that Malcolm X is one of the most significant people in United States history because of his various positive

What is a society? A society is an arrogate of lots of people living within an ordered community. That is until one individual decides to start chaos. If he is stronger then the rest of the community, he will begin benefitting off the weak regardless of fairness. The result is an ongoing conflict between both parties. The strong and the weak. Could one individual change their society? Although we all live according to society, people need to realize the bad in society. Therefore, someone needs to stand up.

This is the guy who played one of if not the biggest role in the civil rights movement. Malcolm X was an African American activist and spokesman for not only for the African culture and way of life but for all races that were being treated without equality. He singled handedly changed the viewpoint of an entire race. I am arguing why Malcolm X in my eyes is the greatest revolutionary because he, changed the face of history by creating a voice for the people in the NOI – Nation of Islam newspaper, led one of the largest civil rights unity rallies in Harlem, New York and finally became one of the most sought after speakers in the United States.