Malcolm X’s philosophy of the Civil Rights Movement was very different than what one might think when thinking about the civil rights movement. Malcolm did not agree with Martin Luther King Jr. on how African-Americans were to obtain civil rights nor on how they should react to violence by the whites, more specifically the non-violent reaction. Malcolm X believed that blacks should defend themselves against whites and that through Islam African-Americans would find the answers they were looking for and that they would get civil rights if they joined the nation of Islam. Malcolm X was a very prominent minister of Islam and followed the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. He preached to many African-Americans about Islam and convinced many to …show more content…
Until it was towards the end of his life, after his trip to Mecca, he was very close minded about any other view of blacks, civil rights, and any other religion, that it put distance between him and the common black man that wanted civil rights. Before his trip to Mecca, he believed that all whites were the devil and that even the ones who were trying to help the blacks were frauds and just doing it for themselves (Malcolm X383). However, after he had his trip to Mecca, he realized that there were sincere whites who actually wanted to help (Malcolm X 383). He also believed that whites should not be allowed to join black organizations (Malcolm X 384). The reason for was because he thought that whites being in a black organization would slow down the blacks’ progress and purposes (Malcolm X 384). He thought that whites should have their own group or organization that supported black but that they should stay out of black organizations (Malcolm X 384). Malcolm X was more of a challenge to civil rights movements than any help. He was against Martin Luther King Jr. who was the leader of the civil rights movement, he was against non-violence, he was against integration, and all he ever really cared about was that blacks convert to Islam. He divided blacks against themselves in the sense that there were two different ideas of what to do when all blacks
Malcolm X was also a very great leader during the Civil Rights era. His Islamic religion helped influence how he led those who followed his teachings. He was motivated by anger that was created from white men in the past. When he was younger, his mother was threatened to move out of town because his father’s sermons were starting to cause an up roar in the community between blacks and whites. The leadership Malcolm X brought to the community was rejuvenated energy that gave young black men and women the hope to rise above the
Malcolm X was a strong advocate for the right of African Americans and can be considered one of Americas most influential people of the 1960’s followed be Dr. Martin Luther King. Malcolm X was born in a large family and has to move to place to place because of the “back to Africa” movement. This event will leads his father to be murdered and was thrown on the train track to make it look like an accident caused him to have a hate rid toward white people. Even though Malcolm X was an excellent student in schools, but because of the racial tension between him in the white teacher often showed Malcolm X with discouragement. Because for the discouragement that he would receive during school Malcolm X would drop out of school and seek out crime gaining respect on the streets. Malcolm X wanted to join the military, but was turned down because his he believed. After being turned down form school and the military Malcolm would commit grand larceny and will be sentenced to prison. In prison is where he would meet an intellectual by the name of Bembry who would inspire him to educate himself and become notorious “Malcolm X”. Upon meeting Bembry and developing has mind, he would also developed his spirtualality by devoting his life to the Nation of Islam (NOI). After he left the prison, he would create his legacy by preaching about the Nation of Islam and influencing huge crowd of people to fight for the rights of the African American people. A sided by side comparison between Dr Martin
Now a free man, Malcolm X traveled to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, to expand the movement's following among black Americans nationwide. “Malcolm X became the minister of Temple No. 7 in Harlem and
Malcolm X challenged the mainstream Civil Rights Movement in his efforts to defend and separate the African race. Activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr.
Unlike King, Malcolm X encouraged his followers to rebel against whites. Malcolm X, for the most part, believed that non-violence and integration was a trick by the whites to keep African Americans oppressed. “Don’t you run around here trying to make friends with somebody who’s depriving you of your rights” (X 1964). He was furious at white racism and encouraged his followers through his speeches to rise up and protest against their white enemies. “They’re not your friends, no, they are your enemy. Treat them like that and fight them”(X 1964). He encouraged African Americans to stand up against the white America that oppressed them.
Malcolm X was one of the primary religious leaders and reformers of the 1960, where he fought for and ultimately gave his life for racial equality in the United States. His father was a reverend who believed in self-determination and worked for the unity of black people. Throughout Malcolm’s life he was treated horribly by white people, hence shaping his misconceptions of all white people and developing his strong belief in black separatism. It wasn’t until years later where he embraced his black identity and discovered all races could live and work together for a common goal, brotherhood.
Malcolm X was a public leader during the time of the civil rights movement. Malcolm was a public voice of the Black Muslim faith, he challenged the mainstream civil rights movement and the non-violent pursuit lead by Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm wanted followers to defend themselves against the white aggression and he said to “by any means necessary”. He was born with the name Malcolm Little, and he changed his last name to X to show his rejection of his “slave” name. Malcolm became an influential leader of the Nation of Islam, which combined Islam with black nationalism which was placed to encourage young blacks to fight for equal rights. Malcolm was a determined leader and he was willing to take any means necessary to achieve equal rights for black Americans, but unlike King’s peaceful approach Malcolm wanted to take a violent approach and without King he may have been the head of the movement causing black Americans to all take a violent approach. A violent approach may not have worked well and would
Through his journey, we can see a shift in the way blacks were able to live among whites. He encouraged blacks to think for themselves, and whites to stop controlling them. We see that he had an abundance of trials that ended in errors in his movement. First, he was heading down a bad path but was saved by the Nation of Islam. As he began speaking, he fascinated people all around the world with his intelligence and ability to speak the truth. Soon after, he found that his ideas were flawed and found another religion that was much more peaceful. In the end, it was Malcolm’s capability to seek out truth that led him to be one of the most moving civil rights activist in American
After he left jail, Malcolm X believed that the black man was superior to the white man and the white man was simply the devil. He preached this to thousands of black people and converted them to the Nation of Islam through his moving speeches that stunned and captivated them. However, all of his beliefs were totally changed after he took a trip to Mecca and went on Hajj.
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’s views about the potential for real change in America after visiting Mecca changed a lot. Initially, he was radical about black separatism but after visiting Mecca, this call was gone for good. In his journey to Mecca through Cairo, Jeddah, and Saudi city, Malcolm claims that he witnessed what he had never seen in the United States. According to him, he witnessed men of all color, nationalities were treating each other with love, and equality, in contrast to what was happening in America. The Muslims had an admirable unity that changed Malcolm’s view of the world, and what should be done to change America. He says, “Throngs of people, obviously Muslims from everywhere, bound for the pilgrimage, were hugging and embracing.” This was like dream to Malcolm because, this could have never happened in the United States whereby there was racial segregation and inequality in everything. The Muslims who had gathered for the pilgrimage were of all complexions, and there was no color problem in Islam, like it was for the people in the United States. Malcolm states that, Islam reflects the
Malcolm X was a civil rights activist. He wanted equality for all people and fought for it. Malcolm said that he “ identified whites as the enemy of blacks”( gale students resources 1).He believed this because blacks were treated harshly by whites and they were made into slaves. Malcolm felt so strong about black rights. He even changed his last name to x. He did it for the black heritage that was taken
Malcolm X was a man who supported violence in getting equal rights for black citizens. To do this, he assisted the national Muslim leader, Elijah Muhammad by sharing the Black Muslim beliefs throughout the United States. Malcolm X started many Muslim groups and worked hard to develop racial pride in his black listeners by recognizing the suffering whites caused by blacks. With the Black Muslims, Malcolm X practiced a vigorous self-defense against white violence. He also urged blacks to live separately from whites and prevented them from attaining their freedom. He affected his followers so much that when his followers would see white people they would often harass or hurt the white people. Through his travels in the Middle East and Africa, he began to realize and change his views regarding potential brotherhood between black and white Americans and rejected the view that all whites were devils. (Harris 99) He thought that one day his religion could unite people of all races. To do this he formed his own group, The Organization of Afro-American Unity. Many people, both black and whites admired his tireless efforts to build pride in blacks and whoever shared his dreams that someday everyone would be joined in brotherhood. Malcolm X was admired by many people because of his drive to unite the blacks and whites as one, but many people also condemned his as a hypocrite and traitor because of his change in views. Malcolm X
Malcolm X brought pride to being black. He did not think that blacks had to be given rights by whites, but that they were independent peoples. Although before he could accomplish his life wishes he was assassinated, his impact on the Civil Rights Movement will never be forgotten. Historians will never forget the man who
Malcolm encouraged blacks to fight back in an armed revolution when attacked, also that blacks should form a new society of their life rather than try to mix with white society. Malcolm preached violence as well as pride, and in that way contributed greatly to the black power movement of the 1960s. He also encouraged black people to help themselves through enterprise and overcoming their sins: alcohol, dope, women etc. Another Method Malcolm used to achieve his goals was his speeches, his speeches were about black rights and how white Americans can’t just expect to be able to get blacks to leave the country empty handed especially after many years of slavery and that blacks should not stand down to white people, they should