A Study Of The Life Of Malcolm X

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Introduction

Questions and curiosity propelled me to undertake a study on the autobiography of one of the most controversial figures in American history. It�s safe to say that many people, including myself, misunderstood Malcolm X due to his close association with violence and extreme racism. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written with the assistance of Alex Haley, offers the opportunity for us to understand Malcolm X and his background, his beliefs, the Blacks ghettos, and the fragile, much divided American society then. In this research, I provided an insight into the background of the name �X� and Malcolm X�s fallout with the Nation of Islam based on historical accuracy and a perspective on the civil rights factions based on historical relevance. I also included an observation on a social control measure.

Synopsis

Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little, on 19th May 1925, the seventh child of his father.[1] At young age, he witnessed or was told of the implications of vicious racism against the Blacks such as the murders of his father and uncles, rape of his grandmother, extreme poverty and the separation of his family by social agency.[2] Throughout his stay at detention home and schools, he felt he wasn�t treated with the same sensitivity as the white boys.[3] He requested to live with his half sister in Boston where he felt a sense of belonging in the black ghettos. [4]

Soon enough he was involved in the underworld; smoked marijuana, peddled reefer, hustles and robberies.[5] He was caught for burglaries and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.[6] While in prison, his family converted to Islam and they continuously preached about the Nation of Islam (NOI) to Malcolm X.[7] He read extensively and wrote frequently to the supreme leader of NOI, Elijah Muhammad.[8] Once out of prison, he was actively involved in the temples (mosques) and tried to recruit the blacks with his fiery lectures.[9].[10]

He was made Minister Malcolm X and he managed to arouse blacks� sentiment with his firebrand oratory.[11] Throughout his days in NOI, he constantly attacked the idea of integration and the black leaders who supported it.[12] Instead, he advocated complete separation from the white men.[13]

Since 1961, he heard rumors depicting him as trying to take over NOI and make a lot of money.[14] Things exacerbated when he suspected Elijah Muhammad of adultery and envious Muslim officials took advantage to discredit him, which lead to his suspension.[15] He left NOI and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he experienced sincere brotherhood.[16] He tried to convey his new insights into the black man�s struggle and toned down his racist perspective.[17] He promoted race based cooperation and appealed for Black Nationalism.[18] He was aware that he was living with borrowed time since he left NOI, and on 21st February 1965, he was assassinated. [19]

Historical Accuracy

An autobiography naturally falls under non-fiction but the author could very well be biased. Thus, in order to verify the historical accuracy of the events depicted in the book, I will further analyze or substantial some of the claims by the author.

First, I will further verify the truth behind the name �X�. Malcolm X stated that the Muslims� X symbolized the true African family name which they never knew and that they should replace the �sign� that slave masters imposed on them.[20] In his interview on a television show City Desk, I found further elaboration that the real names of the Negroes were destroyed during slavery, and then the names of the slave masters were given to their forefathers.[21]

This claim is boosted by the custom of members of NOI, which still exists today. They considered their European names slave names assigned by slave masters to mark their ownership and hence, they replaced the names with �X� while waiting for their Islamic names.[22]

Next, I would like to highlight the fallout between Malcolm X and NOI. Malcolm X cited envy, immoral behavior of Elijah Muhammad who fathered several illegitimate child and attempted assassination as the main causes for him to leave NOI.[23] However, I read that various sources have different interpretations. Some reasoned that it was Malcolm X�s dissatisfaction with Elijah Muhammad�s apolitical stance and his refusal to obey his suspension following his �chickens come home to roost� remark (meaning that President Kennedy was a victim of the hatred that was inflicted upon the blacks) on Kennedy�s assassination that lead to their fallout.[24]

Their fallout was complete when Malcolm X left NOI and formed his own Organization of Afro-American Unity.[25] We could only be sure of what had happened (their fallout) but we couldn�t point out precisely which were the true reasons; it�s a subjective interpretation that only the men involved knew. But I�m pretty convinced that all those reasons were important factors leading to their fallout.

Historical Relevance

The book raised many thought provoking situations and questions that raised my doubts and ultimately comprehension on the history of the United States, especially in the 1960s. I believe that the understanding of the two factions in the civil rights movement is arguably the most enlightening insight into the blacks� history in the 1960s.

We have the civil rights movement led by black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. who campaigned for integration and this faction includes Congress for Racial Equality (CORE), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This movement was widely popular in the early 1960s but I discovered that since 1966, blacks were becoming disillusioned with their deemed lack of progress.[26]

Many were beginning to share Malcolm X�s sentiment that these educated blacks leaders have been echoing the white man�s thinking which led to exploitation.[27]The integrationist, non violence movement was also severely challenged by a rising tide of political conservatism, economic woes, Vietnam War and growing sentiments of racial separatism among blacks.[28]

It is not surprising that given the slow pace of change, many people were losing faith in the establishment, democratic process and nonviolence and they were beginning to seek control the political and cultural life of their own black�s communities.[29] Hence, we start to see the shift to militancy as blacks resorted to the separatist groups; those including Malcolm X and NOI campaigned for separation from the white men.[30] They claimed that the white men never sincerely wanted integration.[31] Dismayed by great political and economic disparities between themselves and white Americans, young blacks became catalyst for an increasingly radical turn in the civil rights movement.[32].

Undoubtedly, Malcolm�s militant advocacy of self-defense helped radicalize other black leaders of the movement, which is perhaps why Malcolm has always been associated with radicals and violence.[33] However, my readings and understanding have shown that Malcolm X never resort to actual physical violence. In the end, both forces of the movement are necessary to champion the black ghettoes� plights, though blacks then were more pre-occupied fighting for Black Power than to sing the civil rights movement�s slogan �We Shall Overcome.�[34]

Other Observation

I would like to discuss the use of religion as a means to social control. Karl Marx has controversially, and perhaps precisely, pointed out that religion is the opiate of the masses used to moderate or oppress conflicts in society.[35]

Malcolm X argued that Christianity, �the white men�s religion�, suppressed the blacks� discontentment and that it taught them to hate everything that is black. [36] Christianity was used to justify their oppression, that the slaves should obey their masters and that they will be rewarded in heavens hereafter.[37] Christian churches� failure to combat racism, many even encouraged it by barring blacks from the House of God, further illustrated a social control method (segregation) among Christianity�s white preachers.[38]

Of course we can reason that Christianization of the slaves and blacks has nobler causes. But we cannot deny that Christianity has been the single greatest ideological weapon of enslaving millions of non-whites.[39] It could even be said that instilling such an ideology of salvation in exchange for an unbridled obedience is a conspiracy attempt to control the thinking of the people.[40]

Conclusion

I have previously held Malcolm X as a peculiar character who has been constantly labeled as extremist, radical and aggressive. I find that he is who he is because he was a victim of racism, discrimination and injustice in America. He and a majority of the blacks cannot be blamed for their animosity because they are reacting to the system in America during that period; a climate of hate. I now held Malcolm X as a symbol of resistance. He gave voice to his people, he spoke from their sentiment, he fought for them wholeheartedly, he refused to compromise his beliefs and died a martyrs. Americans are still pretty much divided about Malcolm X. Perhaps people should read his book, listen to his audios or videos and understand where he came from before they say something about him. Do they even know who Malcolm X is?