Malcolm X
“I perceived, as I read, how the collective white man had been actually nothing but a piratical opportunist who used Faustian machinations to make his own Christianity his initial wedge in criminal conquests. First, always "religiously", he branded "heathen" and "pagan" labels upon ancient non-white cultures and civilizations. The stage thus set he then turned upon his non-white victims his weapons of war.”
Malcolm X tells us what he has perceived, based on his new educational background, using harsh and angry tone to emphasize his point by using terms like “piratical opportunist” and “criminal conquests” to convey, what he feels, has been an extremely great mistreatment of non-whites from the white man.
During the time Malcolm X was in prison he read book such as Story of Civilization amd Negro History. Based off these, Malcolm X is adopting his conclusion that the “collective white man” throughout history had been an opportunist who used his religious beliefs as an excuse to concur and use non-whites for his own benefit. When first reading the term “collective white man” its assumed that Malcolm X is generalizing all white people, but in fact he his talking about specific white racists.
He further makes a direct tie between the white man’s religion and his treatment of non-whites in the statement “…always ‘religiously,’ he branded ‘heathen’ and ‘pagan’ labels upon ancient on-white cultures….” In other words, the behavior was a result of the belief system and the belief system was used to justify the white’s treatment of non-whites.
Malcolm X felt 'the white man had been nothing but a “piratical opportunist” – one who seized the opportunity to take unfair advantage of non-whites when given the opportunity. He uses strong words such as “always” to emphasize his belief that the white man’s religion was used to justify for his behavior. He also refers to the actions of the white man as “Faustian machinations to make his own Christianity his initial wedge
Malcolm X tells us what he has perceived, based on his new educational background, using harsh and angry tone to emphasize his point by using terms like “piratical opportunist” and “criminal conquests” to convey, what he feels, has been an extremely great mistreatment of non-whites from the white man.
During the time Malcolm X was in prison he read book such as Story of Civilization amd Negro History. Based off these, Malcolm X is adopting his conclusion that the “collective white man” throughout history had been an opportunist who used his religious beliefs as an excuse to concur and use non-whites for his own benefit. When first reading the term “collective white man” its assumed that Malcolm X is generalizing all white people, but in fact he his talking about specific white racists.
He further makes a direct tie between the white man’s religion and his treatment of non-whites in the statement “…always ‘religiously,’ he branded ‘heathen’ and ‘pagan’ labels upon ancient on-white cultures….” In other words, the behavior was a result of the belief system and the belief system was used to justify the white’s treatment of non-whites.
Malcolm X felt 'the white man had been nothing but a “piratical opportunist” – one who seized the opportunity to take unfair advantage of non-whites when given the opportunity. He uses strong words such as “always” to emphasize his belief that the white man’s religion was used to justify for his behavior. He also refers to the actions of the white man as “Faustian machinations to make his own Christianity his initial wedge