Malcolm X
Citation: https://www.biography.com/people/malcolm-x-9396195
Malcolm X, biography.com
Malcolm X born on May 19th
125 and was assassinated on February 21st, 1965. He was a minister,
human rights activist and a black nationalist leader during 1950’s and 60’s.
Malcom was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, he was a powerful
orator. His speeches influenced many blacks, because he told black people in
order to break the shackles of racism by using “any means necessary.” He
encouraged his followers that sometimes you cannot turn the other cheek and you
have to defend yourself against racist people. Malcom X was subjected to racism
before he was born and during his childhood. His family home was burned down
from the KKK and his father was murdered by them as well. Sadly, his mother grew
mentally ill from the traumatic experiences and she was placed in a mental institution.
Malcolm was forced to go inside foster homes.
Citation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbySV-t9N5E
Malcolm X “The Greatest Truth
Teller” (2015) Documentary Featuring Dr. Cornel West, Published on Oct 4th,
2017
Malcolm X was an amazing
historical figure for the black community, but the media made him look angry,
because he was brilliant. Malcolm knew that he was going to get killed, because
he had issues within the Muslim community and he had issues with Elijah Muhammad.
His life was under great danger after his house was bombed on February 13th.
Malcom, his wife and four children were living in Queens, NY and someone threw
a fire bomb into his house. Then Malcolm was assassinated on February 21st,
1965 at the Audubon ballroom. Malcom X was an eloquent speaker and he read a
lot. Malcom Little was born into a family of activists his parents Earl and
Louise were active followers of Marcus Garvey’s movement. Garvey’s movement the
Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) exemplified Pan-Africanism,
black nationalism, and black pride.
Citation: http://www.dictionary.com
These definitions came from
dictionary.com
Pan-Africanism: the idea or
advocacy of a political alliance or union of all the African nations.
Black Nationalism: a social and
political movement advocating the separation of blacks and whites and
self-government for black people.
Marcus Garvey said that black
people were taught to not feel good about themselves and that black freedom is
not achievable. Garvey repelled against that way of thinking and instilled
pride and confidence into the black communities. Earl Little was a follower of Garvey;
he was a minister during the Jim Crow era, and he was encouraging
African-American communities to be self-reliant and independent. Little wanted
the blacks to stand up against the injustices and lynching that were prevalent
in the major cities. Ilyasah Shabazz is one of the daughters of Malcolm X and
she stated that her grandfather was assassinated. After her grandfather was assassinated
Malcolm’s mother Louise was unable to keep the family together and she had a
mental breakdown. Therefore, social services came and split the family up, and
they sent Malcolm and his siblings to various foster homes. Malcolm went to an
all-white foster home and he attended an all-white primary and secondary
school. Ilyasah Shabazz stated that Malcolm told his favorite teacher Mr.
Ostrowsky at 12-years-old that he wanted to be a lawyer. Mr. Ostrowsky said “Negroes
can’t aspire to be no lawyers that he should be a carpenter and use his hands.”
Therefore, Malcolm lost interest in school, his half-sister Ella tried to get
him back on track, but she failed. Malcolm got himself involved in petty crime.
He was a gangster, hustler and eventually he got arrested. While, Malcolm was in
prison his brother sent him the Quran and Malcolm learned about the teachings
of Islam. He also learned that black people need to be self-determined and that
they must support their own institutions. Elijah Muhammad was Malcolm’s second
father he converted Malcolm from a gangster to one of the greatest
African-American men in history. When Malcolm came out of prison in 1952 he met
Elijah Muhammad. Him and Malcolm developed a close relationship, while America was
in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. White terrorists were murdering and
lynching blacks. Malcolm had separate views as opposed to Martin Luther King.
He believed in separation rather than integration, and he stated that white men
place insecurities on black men to make themselves feel superior. Malcolm truly
believed that blacks could not get along with whites, however, the Muslims
disagreed with Malcolm. The Muslims stated that Islam is a religion that
preaches about brotherhood. After Malcom was condemned by other Muslims he went
into an emotional shock when he found out that Elijah had children out of
wedlock. On November 22nd,
1963 John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Elijah cancelled all of the meetings and
he asked the ministers to not comment on the tragedy, but Malcolm did
otherwise. Malcolm still gave his speech and was asked about Kennedy’s assassination.
He stated “When you have a climate of hate you’re going to get back hate. The
chickens coming home to roost.” Malcolm simply meant that white people have a violent
history and one of their own got killed, because they have a violent past.
People resented him after that statement and he was banned to speak after that
notorious statement he made. However, people still believed in him like Cassius
Clay also known as Muhammad Ali who converted to Islam. Malcolm was Muhammad
Ali’s mentor, but Malcom was not invited to Saviors day so he decided to leave
the Nation of Islam. Until he embarked on a journey to Mecca and he found out
that he was misled about the Islam religion, because Elijah Muhammed was
teaching him the wrong stuff. Elijah been teaching him that the white race is
devilish and that is not true. Sadly, Malcom X was shot but his legacy lives
on.