Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a man of strong words and beliefs. Some say that he was a man of hate and violence. Some also say that he was a smart man of hope and peace. Malcolm X‘s influence on people was felt more than it was alive rather than dead. Malcolm X was a major contributor to the black societies across the world. He fought for what he believed in and educated the young. Though his early life was full of up’s and downs he managed to, what some would say, “turn his life around”. In doing this he managed to gain the upper hand of the African American culture by giving them the hope that one day they would if not own be apart of, what he called, “white mans society”.

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm’s father was murdered by a white supremacists group while in Lancing, Michigan. His mother was declared legally insane and committed to the state mental hospital. Because of that Malcolm X had no parental guidance in his young adult life. Malcolm X also dropped out of school also after the murder of his father, and from then on Malcolm turned to the streets for guidance. On the street he was he known as a hustler. He earned money by stealing and selling it back to the community or by conning others in buying bad products from him. On the streets, he was also known as Detroit Red. When Malcolm was Twenty, Malcolm X was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison. He was sentenced to prison because of breaking and entering, carrying firearms, and Larceny.

In Prison he was given the nick name Satan because of his foul mouth. While in prison Malcolm taught his self to read. So while incarcerated he studied the N.O.I which stands for the nation of Islam. He first learned about the Nation of Islam from letters, from his brother Reginald, in Jail he became an ordinary reader to the other prisoners about the Nation of Islam. During his jail time he received contact with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad. As their verbal contact continued, they began to write each other daily.

Malcolm was released from jail in 1952. When he left jail he went to Chicago to meet Elijah Muhammad. There in Chicago he changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm “X”. Malcolm said that the “X” meant to tell the non-appreciation of his slave name. Also it was to symbolize the missing of an appropriate Muslim name.

Malcolm X‘s death was a big influence on the world. Forty years after his death people still celebrate the things that he did for the world. Malcolm s’ death is a silence that is a loud sound to the world. Nobody really understood what he was fighting for until he was shot down in the Audubon Ball room. People of the opposite race weren’t trying to hear what Malcolm had to say about anything.

Malcolm X had a persuasive way with words. He had a voice that influenced people to listen at what he had to say. Malcolm X‘s voice changed the Nation of Islam from Six hundred people in 1952 to about 30,000 in 1963. (Headrick) The only way he knew to get his point across to the white society was to encourage violence amongst the black community. This was the only way to make the white society see the black people as equals in their society. When Malcolm X was interviewed about the murder of John F. Kennedy, he replied that” it was a case of chickens coming home to roost”. (Malcolm X) Even Elijah Muhammad was embarrassed by his remarks so he told Malcolm to shut his mouth for a while. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

People often misunderstood what Malcolm X stood for. This was because of the racial differences that were going on at that time. Also because of the way he talked about people and the way he presented himself. It didn’t help that all this was going on in the 1960’s were racism was in his prime. After the death of Malcolm X people of all races started to see the vision that he had in mind for his people. He left an impression on this world to stick up for what you believe in, and how to think for yourself. He also preached that the black community should fight back. If someone hits you then you should hit them back. That is what Malcolm said to people. But, Dr. King was teaching people to turn the other cheek. He made the black society believe in what is right and what is wrong. He made them see what the white society was doing to the black community was wrong. He taught the black community how to think, and when he changed the minds of the black people things were bound to happen to change the world, whether it was good or bad.

Black people’s perspectives of Malcolm X before he died were positive views. The black communities saw him as a powerful great leader that stood up for what he believed in, Even though he lived in a time where. His beliefs didn’t matter because of racism. The black community thought of him as an incredible