Free Essays on Malcom X

of Malcolm X shortly before he was gunned down February 21, 1965. An inspiration to millions, Malcolm X’s life provides an insight to how difficult life was in the mid-1900s for a penniless black man. His was a story of the powerful effect faith can have in transforming a once pitiful life into something meaningful. An advocate for civil rights, Malcolm X was one of the rare gems who spend their life devotedly dedicated towards a cause with no thought of personal gain, fame, wealth, or pride. He lived for his God, Allah, and until the betrayal of his lifetime, was the loyal servant of Elijah Muhammad. His was the story of the gradual evolution of a man and his struggle to make sense of those around him. Most importantly, it was his struggle to make sense of who he was and what he stood for. I believe that El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, as Malcolm X was commonly called after performing the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca, was one of history’s most greatly misunderstood men. The Autobiography of Malcolm X sent a message of hope to its audience. Here was a chronology of the life of a black man struggling to first cope and then break away from the white world. Regarded as an extremist by critics for his earlier calls for voicing his then radical thoughts, Malcolm X’s life may help to account for such an opinion. This book and its theme were about the evolution of Malcolm throughout life and his responses to his circumstances. The theme dealt with the idea that no matter how bad life may be, no matter how bad it may seem for you, only you can dictate what life will do to you. Only you can decide what your self-worth is, no one e... Free Essays on Malcom X Free Essays on Malcom X A black militant, Malcolm X championed the rights of African Americans and urged them to develop racial unity. He was known for his association first with the Nation of Islam, sometimes known as the Black Muslims, and later with the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which he founded after breaking with the Nation of Islam. Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Neb., on May 19, 1925, the seventh of eleven children. The family soon moved to Lansing, Mich. There they were harassed by whites who resented the black nationalist views of the father, Earl Little, an organizer for Marcus Garvey's "back-to-Africa" movement. When Malcolm was 6 his father was murdered. His mother later suffered a nervous breakdown, and the family was separated by welfare agencies. Later in his life Malcolm came to believe that white people had destroyed his family. Placed in a series of schools and boardinghouses, Malcolm became a fine student and dreamed of becoming a lawyer. A teacher, however, told him that b ecause he was black he should learn carpentry instead. Discouraged, he left school after the eighth grade to live with a relative in Boston, Mass.Malcolm shined shoes and worked at a soda fountain, in a restaurant, and on a railroad kitchen crew. In 1942 he moved to the black Harlem section of New York City. He lived as a hustler, cheating to make money. He was wary of the police. A pusher, he sold drugs and became an addict himself. Pursued by a rival hustler, he went back to Boston, where he organized a burglary ring. In 1946 he was sent to prison for burglary. While serving in prison Malcolm adopted the Islamic religion as practiced by a group that later became known as the Nation of Islam. They stressed ethical conduct with other African Americans but taught that white people were "devils." Released from prison in 1952, Malcolm joined his younger brother in Detroit, Mich., where, in Muslim fashion, he replaced his slave last name with an X to symbolize h... Free Essays on Malcom X Anything I do today, I regard as urgent. No man is given but so much time to accomplish whatever his life’s work†¦I am only facing the facts when I know that any moment of any day, of any night, could bring me death†¦I never have felt that I would live to become an old man.†(Page 385) These are the words of Malcolm X shortly before he was gunned down February 21, 1965. An inspiration to millions, Malcolm X’s life provides an insight to how difficult life was in the mid-1900s for a penniless black man. His was a story of the powerful effect faith can have in transforming a once pitiful life into something meaningful. An advocate for civil rights, Malcolm X was one of the rare gems who spend their life devotedly dedicated towards a cause with no thought of personal gain, fame, wealth, or pride. He lived for his God, Allah, and until the betrayal of his lifetime, was the loyal servant of Elijah Muhammad. His was the story of the gradual evolution of a man a nd his struggle to make sense of those around him. Most importantly, it was his struggle to make sense of who he was and what he stood for. I believe that El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, as Malcolm X was commonly called after performing the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca, was one of history’s most greatly misunderstood men. The Autobiography of Malcolm X sent a message of hope to its audience. Here was a chronology of the life of a black man struggling to first cope and then break away from the white world. Regarded as an extremist by critics for his earlier calls for voicing his then radical thoughts, Malcolm X’s life may help to account for such an opinion. This book and its theme were about the evolution of Malcolm throughout life and his responses to his circumstances. The theme dealt with the idea that no matter how bad life may be, no matter how bad it may seem for you, only you can dictate what life will do to you. Only you can decide what your self-worth is, no one e... Free Essays on Malcom X During the 1960's civil rights protest took place. In particular two civil rights leaders stood out the mos,. Malcome X and Martian Luther King Jr. Although both fought for black freedom, each had different theories of getting it. Malcom X was born in Omaha, Nebraska 1925. While growing up Malcome moved to many of the United States major cities, a main effect of this was turning little Malcom into a hardened criminal. At the age of 20, he was arrested for burglary and served seven years in prison. While in prison Malcom found that the white society was oppressive to the black people. From then on Malcom started to preach for black power, he spoke at â€Å"non violent movements† saying he was becoming impatient because equity wasn’t coming fast enough. Malcom disagreed with all the early race protest saying they didn’t spread the black word out fast enough. In February 1965 Malcom X was shot dead in New York City during a rally. Martian Luther King Jr as Malcom X set his sights on stopping segregation that had been around for ages. Threw Matians life he felt the full fury of racism as a result of growing up in the deep south. Martian was arrested over 20 times for participating in many civil rights movements. In 1963 Martian along with others organized a march that would end up in front of the Lincoln monument at the heart of Washington, DC. This is where Martian made his powerful â€Å"I have a dream speech† which made him a part of history forever. Martian believed in non violent movements and said violence was not needed to spread the word of black freedom. In April 1968 at the age of 39 Martian was shot down and died shortly after. A man named James Earl Ray was convicted with Martian Luther King Jr, death. Martian Luther and Malcom although led short lives they significantly influenced this great land forever. Martian along with other Baptist clergymen started an organization (The Southern Chris...