How Did Malcolm X Contribute To The Civil Right Path

Malcolm X’s ideological progression throughout his life consisted of many ups and downs, from his time as an adolescent to when he was incarcerated to when he was free, leading through the civil rights movement. Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam in the 1950s under the teachings of Elijah Muhammed. Elijah Muhammed believed in and promoted black power and pride. Along with this, Elijah Muhammed promoted black self-sufficiency and self-reliance instead of integration. Malcolm as a young boy watched his father preach sermons in Baptist churches. Malcolm’s father also made time to spread the doctrine of Marcus Garvey, which Malcolm eventually interpreted as being independent of the white man. Garvey’s message influenced Malcolm positively, as Malcolm
The absence of both his mother and father left him vulnerable to the lure of the streets and criminal behavior. As a result of the loss of both parents, Malcomn spent time in a foster home and a reform school later on. Malcolm’s desire to learn was shot down by his teachers and his environment of white classmates. Malcolm began questioning whether learning was a priority for him and began to become disappointed with those around him. The incident of his teacher telling him his dream of being a lawyer wasn’t his kind was one of the events that caused Malcolm to become even more disillusioned with the church and God. I believe that Malcolm going through this experience made him more attracted to the teachings of the streets of Harlem and all they came with. In the streets, Malcolm learned that far too many people lived fraudulent lives, and everything in the world was a hustle. Malcolm was robbing homes, engaging in prostitution, and serving narcotics. Malcolm recalled this time in his life as a very empty existence, feeling as if he was dead, mentally
The most difficult part of submitting to Allah for Malcolm was learning to pray. Learning to pray means being completely vulnerable and admitting the need for help from a higher power. As Malcolm continued to grow in his faith and understanding of the Nation Of Islam, the more he wanted to apply the doctrine to his life. The Elijah Muhammed brand of Islam was based on an individual by the name of Wallace Fard who was important to the movement back in the nineteen-thirties. Wallace Fard went door to door telling African American families that their true religious identity was Islam before disappearing. Elijah Muhammed then took on a separatist message which began spreading throughout the USA. African Americans were drawn to this message as it represented and affirmed their identity in times of oppression and social injustice. This message began spreading not only through urban America but more specifically the prisons as a form of liberation for the African American male.The Nation Of Islam reached many males in prison due to the addressing of issues such as poverty and racism in Black communities.This new belief system set Malcolm out on a path towards self-actualization with the message representing a heavy emphasis on Black identity and manhood.According to Malcolm Islam meant freedom, justice, and