Malcolm X

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENHP89mLWOY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
History Book

 Early Years  
          Through the sources I came about, I obtained knowledge of Malcom X's background as well as other profitable infromation. Born in Nebraska 1925, in his early years and during this time of period of discrimination and acts of violence, forced his family to move to Lansing, Michigan. But Malcom's family continous to experience persecution and violence in Michigan causing the death of his father the Rev. Earl Little, a Baptist minister and former supporter of the early black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Not long, Malcom's mother was put in an insane asylum not bearing with such loss and Malcolm attended school. While in school, Malcolm was a very smart and intelligent student until he told his teacher he wanted to be a lawyer and his teacher responded that colored should not have such goals and that he should dedicate himself to being a carpenter. After living in Michigan detention home, Malcom moves to Boston, Massachussets  as a rebellious youngster to live with his sister, Ella. Eventually, Malcolm adapts to the city and commits to criminal activities such as selling drugs, doing robberies, gambling, hustling, etc.

A Criminal Life
Malcolm X is eventually arrested for robbery and while in prison from 1946 to 1952, he read anything that he could get his hand on. With reading he was enlighted by Muhammad and Islam in which he undewent a conversion. This led Malcolm into the Nation of Islam, "an African American movement that combined elements of Islam with black nationalism." His brother Reignald was also an influence to part of his joining. Malcolm converting to the branch of Islam made him a different man, a man who was inspired by such faith that in changed his outlook in a positive manner. In addition, Malcolm in order to educate himself tries to memorize the dictionary and taked debate classess. Eventually, Malcolm replaced his surname "Little" by and "X" a custom among the Nation of Islam follower representing the lost name of his African ancestors by which it was considered it had originated from a white slaveholder.
Conversion to the Nation of Islam
          After Malcolm X was released from prison in 1952, he went to the Nation of Islam headquarters in Chicago, where he met Elijah Muhammad.  Soon enough Malcolm X became the voice of the organization and the most visible national spokesman for Black Muslims. He was able to achieve such recognition by various speaking tours around the country which made him into effective speaker and organizer for the Nation of Islam. These tours were charged by Elijah Muhammad in the establishment of new mosques and temples in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Malcolm X being an intelligent and articulate minister was often quoted by the media, in which he founded Muhammad Speaks, the official publication of the movement in 1961. Malcolm X utilized the Nation's newspaper columns, as well radio and television to communicate the message across the United States. Malcolm's charisma and conviction attracted as astounding number of new members from 500 to 300,00 in 1952 to 1963. One other method used to increase the number of membership, recruitment, and fund-raising technique was the practice of requiring every male member of the Nation to sell an assigned number of newspapers on the street. 

The Message of Malcolm X 

         Malcolm lead the Nation of Islam during its period of greatest growth and influence. However, at this time in the United States, there was a major movement for racial integration, or bringing the races together in peace. Malcolm X and the Black Muslims believed in a calling for separation and rejected both integration and racial equality. Instead, he derived from the notion of  black separatism, black pride, and black self-dependence. Moreover, Malcolm X advocated the use of violence and criticized most civil-rights leaders, who emphasized nonviolent resistance to racial injustice. Malcolm X derided the civil rights movement because the gains this had in America over African Americans was nothing. Also, he articulated the Nation's racial doctrines on the inherent evil of whites and the natural superiority of blacks.   

Losing Momentum

          From 1955 to 1965, Malcolm X expressed frustration, and bitterness to African Americans during the major phase of the civil rights movement. The reason for this was because the message he put forward was seen in a subjective way by the public/others. For example, he criticized the mainstream civil rights movement and challenged Martin Luther King Jr's central notions of integration and nonviolence. Malcolm X was concerned more about black identity, integrity, and independence, rather than civil rights and/or voting. So forth, in contrast to King's strategy of nonviolence, civil disobedience, and redemptive suffering, Malcolm urged his followers to defend themselves “by any means necessary.” In the late 1960s and '70s foundations for the Black Power and black consciousness movements in the United States were provided. Soon, enough racial tensions emerged because white, Americans became fearful to Malcolm X's message of black supremacy. Black Supremacy describes an ideology based on the assertion that black people are superior to other racial groups.

Final Years/The Legacy of "X"

          In 1963 at the height of the civil rights movement, Malcolm X's faith was dealt with deep tension between him and Elijah Muhammad over the political direction of the Nation. In addition, Malcolm learned that Muhammad, his mentor and leader, had fathered children by six of his personal secretaries. Malcolm was devastated by such news and furthered worsened their relationship because Malcolm felt deceived by Muhammad, whom he had considered a living prophet.

         To make matters worse, on December 1, 1963, Malcolm X received criticism and bad publicity for a comment he made regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. "Case of chickens coming home to roost"--an instance of the kind of violence that whites had long used against blacks. On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X publicly announced that he was leaving the Nation of Islam and terminated his relationship with the NOI. Malcolm started two new organizations: The Muslim Mosque Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. 
          During his pilgrimage to Mecca that same year, he experienced a second conversion and embraced Sunni Islam, adopting the Muslim name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. Malcolm now shared his thoughts and beliefs with different cultures because he no longer perceived the perspective of all whites being evil. On the other hand, he planned to make common cause and move from civil rights to human rights. 
          However, Malcolm X's hostility grew with the Nation of Islam by death threats and open violence towards him. At a speaking engagement in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965 three gunmen rushed Malcolm on stage. Malcolm was assassinated by three members of the Nation of Islam, who shot him 15 times at close range.Since Malcolm's death, martyrdom, ideas and speeches contributed to the development and movement of independence among African Americans in the late 1960's and 70's. The legacy of Malcolm X played an essential role on politically and socially and moved forward through generations.


"Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth."


"Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression, because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action."