Malcolm X, Detroit Red, Satan, and El Hajji Malik El-Shabazz. Although, Malcolm was the main character throughout the autobiography. These were the various names used by the prominent African-American civil rights activist, Malcolm X, during the various stages throughout his life. Malcolm Little, officially known as Malcolm X, was the son Louise Helen Little and Earl Little and was born on May 19, 1925. He was the fourth out of seven children and also had the brightest skin complexion out of all the children so as a child that led him to believe that he was treated better by his father, and evaded many of the beatings suffered by his siblings daily. Despite his bright skin complexion, Malcolm still encountered…
Malcolm X spent time in the Charlestown prison during the Civil Rights movement. While confined, a fellow prison mate named Bimbi displayed a certain presence that Malcolm tried to imitate. Bimbi showed dominance when talking to others that Malcolm often grudged. As a result, Malcolm obtained a dictionary so that he can learn a few words.…
Malcom little, known as Malcom X was human rights activist and Muslim minister, Malcom x, autobiography tittle “Learning to Read,” recounts his self-education and his endeavors to learn how to read and write while he was prison in Charlestown prison for a robbery he committed in 1946. Malcolm X’s purpose was to illustrate the struggle to educate his mind and his people from the pervasive racist ideology of the 1960’s. He experience and emotions of African Americans engaged in struggle of the civil rights. Malcom X begins his excerpt by acknowledging the frustration he felt trying to convey his own thoughts and feelings in letters to friends while in prison. He was not only physically imprisoned but a prisoner of his own mind as well. Malcom…
Serving his ten year sentence in a state prison Malcolm X encounters a religious teacher named Baines (Albert Hall) who provided knowledge on Islamic beliefs. He too was a manipulator. He taught Malcolm X not to have self-hatred in exchange for hate people of Caucasian descent. For instance, in one scene Baines interrupts Malcolm X in the shower as he is using his lye straightening products. Baines offers Malcolm X a drink, which is similar to a drug to get him high. Baines does this because he known this is the only way Malcolm will speak with him. He actually even states it to Malcolm in the scene. This was a manipulation tactic similar to the one used by Archie in the bar scene. Baines becomes the connection between Malcolm X and Elijah…
Unfortunately, I am finding it surprisingly difficult to respond to Malcolm X’s “Learning to Read” excerpt. This, however, is not because I am an inarticulate writer, nor is it due to a lack of provocation from the piece. In truth, I believe that I am experiencing complications with my response because I find myself torn between two separate topics brought up by Malcolm X. On one hand, he discusses the massive importance of literacy and his own journey to self-obtain said literacy; however, on the other hand, it is mentioned that he advocated for implementation of black separation, and his harsh criticism of the white race is rather prominent. Malcolm X’s dedication to becoming an educated man despite enduring a multitude of oppressing struggles…
Celeste Michelle Condit & John Louis Lucaites argues that, Malcolm X the most thorough and relentless revolutionary dissident of the 1960s, who loudly implored his Black brothers and sisters to use “all means necessary” to bring about social and political justice and equality for Black America. It was impossible to know whether or not Malcolm X’s evolutionary vision would ever have produced a positive and peaceful program of political action capable of effectively organizing, motivating, and directing Black America against the system that oppressed it, for he was robbed of the opportunity to try at the age of 39.…
over time Malcolm X's views on how to handle conflict changed; his violent retaliation eased up after converting to Islam. Yet, Dr. King's views never faltered: never resorting to violence. In comparison, the characters of this film made similar changes as well. Although Mookie parallels tactics of Dr. King, towards the end of the film his action of throwing a garbage can into Sal's storefront resembles tactics of Malcolm X. This fluctuation in Mookie's tactics further strengthens the concept that racial and social conflict can be complex and fluctuate at…
The Assassination of Malcolm X was unjust because he was a civil rights activist. As an American Muslim minister himself, he helped change society and its wrongs. However some may argue that he preached racism and violence to his followers.…
In Learning to Read, Malcolm X, one of the most articulate and powerful leaders of black America during the 1960s, describes his struggle of self-education while being incarcerated. Malcolm X composed his journey of self-in order to convey the message that the reader should strive to look for more than what is taught to them by the public school system, to, in a way, look outside the box.…
The life of Malcolm Little, and the hardships he was born into and had to deal with is the purpose of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”. The text is very beautiful and powerful due to the way the author structures each scenario to the point where the reader becomes greatly involved. Throughout the story, the author allows the reader to understand everything by describing every event and confrontation vividly. (Alex Haley, Page. 1) “When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night”, this statement he recalls from what happened before he was even born shows how Malcolm’s intention in this story is to not leave any detail out.…
What motivated Malcolm X to educate himself was his inability to express himself in an appropriated way. In the streets, Malcolm X was someone important, someone who could express himself without problem “In the streets, I had been the most articulate hustler out there- I had commanded attention when I said something” (X 189). Nevertheless, during his time in Charlestown Prison, trying to write a letter for Mr. Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X comprehended that he was not able to explain his thoughts or feelings clearly in words without using the language of the streets. Malcolm X realized that his language skills as writing, reading and speaking were unskilled “But now, trying to write simple English, I not only wasn’t articulate, I wasn’t even…
In today’s society, what can we do about the beliefs Malcolm X had towards knowledge in reading. One of the main questions will be the way this knowledge in books will change our attitudes in the culture will live on. At the end of the day do books change the overall spectrum of knowledge for anyone trying to become educated by themselves with no source of education background. The main point we have to make in the lives of any individual with a sense of trying to become educated they must have read a book of some source, in which has helped them realize changing their way of thinking into making important decisions. The main function we can do as an individual to prevent ignorance and spread vital information to those who are less educated a group which can help themselves grow intellectually in a…
In his article "Coming to an Awareness of Language" Malcolm X tells during his imprisonment in Norfolk Prison, he was unable to articulate his thoughts to others. "I became increasingly frustrated at not being able to express what I wanted to convey in letters that I wrote". Malcolm X felt "inferior" when he would write his letter, because he was unable to convey his thoughts and write down a simple letter. It was a daunting task for Malcolm. Even though he stated "The average hustler and criminal was too uneducated to write a letter". Malcolm was smarter than a average hustler, but he wasn't satisfied with being average than a regular hustler, he wanted more. "Bimbi first made me feel envy of his stock of knowledge. Bimbi had always taken…
After reading Malcolm x’s “Learning to Read” essay, I remember when I overcame my challenge through hard work and sticking to my Goal. It was when I first came to America I was in 6th grade. I didn’t really know English very well at that time, so it was hard for me to read and comprehend certain things taught…
An essay on Malcolm X’s famous speech given in Cleveland, Ohio on April 3, 1964.…