Preview

Was Malcolm X Assassination Justified?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
526 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Was Malcolm X Assassination Justified?
Have you ever thought about the assassinations of famous people or presidents? Did you think about if it was justified based on their beliefs and actions? Well, I have thought about this with Malcolm X. Malcolm X assassination was not justified. He fought for civil rights and encouraged blacks to stand up for themselves. However, many people felt he made matters worse by not practicing non violence.

Malcolm X, growing up, had a hard life. He was raised in Lansing, Michigan but then early in his adult years he moved to Boston. There he met people and often stayed in trouble. After getting caught stealing, he was sentenced to jail for ten years. During his time in jail Malcolm became familiar with teachings of Islam. Malcolm eventually converted to Islam and changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. Soon after Malcolm was released for good behavior. During his time served Malcolm was aware of the growing Civil Rights Movement and the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. Although, he was admirable of King’s leadership, he did not agree with King’s nonviolent protest.
…show more content…
He utilized his platform with the Nation of Islam to engage followers and other activists. He became a prominent leader. Malcolm believed everyone should be treated equally and with respect. He organized meetings with civil rights activists, to include Martin Luther King, Jr., to discuss change within the black community and economy. He believed that blacks should have had the same rights as whites. Malcolm believed that “by any means necessary” blacks should be treated equal.

Furthemore, Malcolm was an inspiration to the black community. Malcolm believed in fighting back and defending oneself, unlike King. Malcolm encouraged followers to use self defense. He was against the nonviolent movement. Malcolm was a very aggressive and influential speaker. He spoke passionately of his belief of black equality and fairness for

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Malcolm X aspired for justice and liberalisation for all African-American people during the late 1950's and early 1960's. He was a dynamic spokesperson and used religious concepts from the Nation of Islam to appeal to many African-Americans. Malcolm X was an activist for Black Nationalism and separation as solutions to the scourge of white racism. He preached against many teaching of other Civil Rights activists, and discarded ideas of non-violence and desegregation. His rough bringing combined with religious concepts from the Black Muslims, was what brought about his biased opinion on white people. His visitation to Mecca proved to be pivotal experience which would lead Malcolm to find the real Muslim religion. Many historians would conclude that it was only though his assassination that his goals and contributions were truly recognised, whilst others argue he was successful and left a lasting legacy.…

    • 2313 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Malcolm X was released from prison in 1952. Now a free man, Malcolm traveled to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked with the leader of the NOI, Elijah Muhammad, to help expand the NOI’s following among black Americans nationwide. Malcolm is largely responsible for the spread of Islam in the black community in the United States. Malcolm X went on to become one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. He is credited with raising the self-esteem of black Americans and reconnecting them with their African heritage.…

    • 274 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Even though Malcolm was a muslim, he connected with everyone with his thoughts and speeches. He wanted a change in the world. He wanted equality with every race to be able to do things together. He wanted a change for the better not the worse. Even when he was killed he still made an impact on everyone.…

    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    MHS Student 
on August 15, 2012

Reply

Christian Alex Amezquita- Malcolm X has had a lot of events happen early in his life that has affected/shaped him throughout his entire life. For example, there was that time when the welfare workers came to Malcolm's house to split up his family and send his mom to an insane asylum (Kalamazoo). In addition, Malcolm was put with a white family whom treated him like an over glorified dog. He never could feel as if he was one of them, but always felt that he was beneath them. Furthermore, Malcolm's teacher telling him that he could not become a lawyer because of his color really had an impact on him. All of these events gave Malcolm a good reason to become a Civil Rights leader. These events where the wood to his fire and Elijah Muhammad was his flint and steel.…

    • 2021 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    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.…

    • 1028 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However, Malcolm's dreams of becoming a lawyer were harshly shattered by teachers and students criticism. Malcolm's peers and teachers shunned him for being an intelligent black male. Malcolm lost almost all interest in school, confused and upset, he dropped out of school. After Malcolm dropped out of school, he left his family and traveled to Boston holding various odd jobs. He then traveled to Harlem, New York where he committed petty crimes and got involved with gangs and crime. By 1942 Malcolm was coordinating various narcotics, prostitution and gambling…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Malcolm X was a brave, ambitious civil rights leader. He fought against racism and brought hope to African-Americans. Malcolm X changed African-Americans by giving them hope and freedom.…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Even though some people thought that Malcolm X was an “uncompromising” leader, he was a very vital participant in the civil rights movement. He didn’t follow the nonviolent movement. “Instead of nonviolence in the face of anti-black attacks, he called for self-defense” (Ali, para.3). This supports his famous quote “by any means necessary”. According to Zaheer Ali, X wanted to bring all African-American people together and create a…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Malcolm X was, well, a lot different. As Martin was remembered by everyone happily, most people tried to forget Malcolm. After being sent to prison for drug use he was converted to Islam and prior to that was pro segregation. But after his pilgrimage to Mecca decided that he wanted to be treated equally. Malcolm was known for his boldness, he is often tagged with the quote “To do whatever it takes.” Meaning that he would do whatever it took to be considered equal. This usually led to less peaceful acts of protesting, plus he was more interested in spreading “black pride”. He was assassinated by members of the Black Muslim movement on February 21, 1965.…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Was Malcolm X Unjust

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Malcolm was a strong believer of self defense . He was known for causing violent protest and many ridiculed him for his past which was full of crime. Malcolm told his followers that they needed to defend themselves to the fullest by any means necessary. When asked about the issue he said "It is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself, when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks. It is legal and lawful to own a shotgun or a rifle. We believe in obeying the law." Malcolm X was taught by his Muslim leader that beloved that the white man was the devil . However after going on a trip to Mecca he was enlightened and saw that the blacks and whites there loved each other and tested each other like they were of the same color. He later returned to the US with a changed heart and went about creating peace with…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During Malcolm’s time in jail, he read a lot of books about justice and equality and joined the Nation of Islam. He also changed his last name from Little to X. He believed that his original last name represented the name slave owners gave his ancestors and he did not want that. He believed that the letter X represented or was a symbol of the unknown name of his…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He promoted black supremacy. He was encouraging people to go out and have violent protests. Malcolm X taught that people of color were the people of the world and that white people were an evil race. He called the white man devils. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr who wanted the Civil Rights movement to end racial segregation, Malcolm X wanted the separation of blacks from whites.…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Malcolm X Argument

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    He also believes that hate that was seen among black people is a reaction to the hate of society that has rejected them. When Malcolm was asked if the God of Muslims and of the Jews and the Christians ate the same God? Malcolm believed and said that “If they believe in the same God who created the universe, then we all believe in the same God.” Malcolm meant by this that we are all the same and believe in the same God but might call God with different names according to the religion but does not change the fact that we all believe in one God. He also believes in a society in which people can live like human beings on the basis of quality. He wanted the African Americans to be treated in the same way and have their rights as human beings because that’s what they…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Malcolm X's Legacy

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages

    He shined shoes but soon he started to sell drugs. He got locked up for ten years and while he was in school he decided to read a lot of books. He joined the Nation of Islam and he changed his name to Malcolm X and dropped Malcolm Little. The X stands for a tribute to the unknown name of his African ancestors where little was entitled to slavery.…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Malcolm Little or Malcolm X as most people know him by, was born on May 19, 1925. He was a foster child after he lost his father and his mother was sent to a mental hospital. When he was only in the eighth grade, he wanted to be a lawyer and his teacher told him that he was better of becoming a carpenter because he was black and that he should use his hands. When Malcolm became of age, he dropped his last name…

    • 524 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics