Malcolm X As A Social Activist

‘X’ is what was stolen and what was replaced. Abandoned was his last name, for he believed it was not truly his, but rather just a brand placed on the oppressed by the oppressor. Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little, an African-American with a bothersome childhood ruefully garnished with an allegedly murdered father and a mentally unstable mother. Due to the insecurity of the state at home, he and his siblings were all split up and dealt among various orphanages. Despite his illicit past as a troubled young adult, Malcolm X eventually improved his character into what can be now considered brimming with natural leadership skills, improved morale, and positive social activist behavior. Malcolm’s leadership attributes were present and crucial in the events that unfolded in his life. It was because of those skills that he was given various opportunities and titles, “Intelligent and articulate, Malcolm was appointed as minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam” (Unknown 163). This excerpt provides evidence that Malcolm was acknowledged for his skills, allowing for his climb up the occupational ladder. Without having the necessary qualifications, a person wouldn’t be able to obtain a particular job. Knowing the
fact that Malcolm had managed to become the minister and the national spokesman for the Nation of Islam, you can see that his leadership skills are in fact abundant. You need to be able to properly advise a group of people to become a minister, and you need to be able to correctly organize and manage others in order to become a suitable spokesman. Malcolm X managed to do both. Now, despite what questionable crimes and offenses that may have occurred in the past, it is without a doubt that Malcolm had a natural-borne sense of leadership imbedded within him, although it was previously used for ill-means. It is commonly said that one’s past does not thoroughly define oneself, and that saying may be applicable to Malcolm as well. In spite of his troubled former-self, Malcolm had accrued a distinguished and evident morale. In this quote the result of a scandalous event is uncovered, “Malcolm neglected Muhammad’s request to help cover up the affairs and subsequent children” (Unknown 164). This extract refers to Malcolm’s improved moral in a way that illuminates the shift between acceptance of prostitution and disloyalty to noticeable abhorrence of the subjects. Elijah Muhammad, the man mentioned in the quote, was one of the most influential and spiritually significant people in Malcolm’s life. The fact that Malcolm acknowledged the deep corruption having taken place and refused to help aid in it’s continuance, even though it was towards the gain of a man whom Malcolm himself held sentimental opinions, shows where his moral compass lies. Concerning Malcolm’s activist behaviours, one cannot deny they are a reality.
In fact, Malcolm X is most commonly known as a civil rights leader, aiming for human rights in powerful ways. His beliefs, although considered radical by few, were directed towards everyone, “...He had a message for all races” (Unknown 164). Because of said ‘message for all races’ Malcolm had the motive behind fueling the fire of the civil rights movement. His means of perpetuating his beliefs and ideals were unequal to that of Martin Luther King Jr. in terms of approach, but he still made an impact on society. His influence is remembered even to this day. All in all, Malcolm X contains all the available attributes that would commonly belong to activists’ and their
habits. To conclude, in contrast to his past fraudulent behaviour as a young man, Malcolm X has improved over the course of his lifetime, as is displayed by his born leadership skills, enhanced morale, and activist behaviour. Should his life be put under consideration and scrutinized Malcolm and any other before him could comfort themselves best by the fact that the jury in question would not completely allow the judge to rule him unlawful and guilty. Instead, let it be known that Malcolm X has an overall positive disposition and that it cannot be denied.