Was Malcolm X Justified
Malcolm X
Malcolm X was one of the most iconic figures of 20th century America. He is often grouped with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., because both men were involved in the civil-rights movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s. However, these two men were drastically different. While King preached about nonviolence and equal rights, Malcolm X condoned violence as a means to get what one wants. While Malcolm X was justified in some of his endeavors, his philosophy as a whole was unhealthy and damaged the minds of young people. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Malcolm X was a widely known civil-rights leader. People were drawn to him, because he has a willingness to do whatever was necessary to get things done. He was quoted as saying
he would “support fully any action, by any group, that is designed to get meaningful, immediate results.”(Source A) This was a powerful message in a time when people wanted to get rid of their oppression, and would justify any means to do so. People became swept up into this idea, especially young black people, who were vulnerable and searching for an identity. Malcolm X's message on Black Rage affected even King, who held strong to his own message of nonviolence. (Source C) Much of X's following was from the young black community, people who felt alienated, both from the white world, and from the older people of their own race, who adopted King's non-violent approach. (Source C) Malcolm X tapped into the vulnerability that these young people were experiencing, and used it to further his own message. He preached that it was okay to use violence, because white people used violence towards black people all the time. That may be true, however, the saying is true, two wrongs do not make a right. In addition to preaching a message of violence, Malcolm X taught that one race could only rise if the other fell. Meaning that for the black community to rise, white people must fall. A famous slogan of his was “the white man is the devil.” (Source E) How does this make him any better than the white people he felt were oppressing him? Malcolm X was not preaching a message of equal rights, but one of racism and black supremacy. That makes him just as bad as the racist white man. How is telling people that they are better than others because their skin is dark, any better than telling people that they are better than others because their skin is light? He should of used his power and influence to preach a message of equality. One race is not better than the others, all of the races are different, but equal. Malcolm X was just as racist against white people, as many white people were against black people. Malcolm X had a lot of power over young black people, and he taught them a message of hate, instead of a message of accepting others, no matter their skin color. At the same time, one can understand why Malcolm X felt this way. He truly believed that his father was killed by a white racist group. He also grew up in a bad home situation. His father died when Malcolm was 5, and his mother was institutionalized a few years later. After that, young Malcolm became a ward of the state, and moved from different foster homes and reform schools, where he was raised by white parents. (Source A) There is a major possibility that he was treated badly by many of these families, because he was a different race. When he was older, he found a home in a place where people would accept him, even with his darker skin. Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam(NOI) and, in 1952, changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X.(Source A) At the NOI, he probably felt accepted for the first time in a long time. This is also probably where he learned some of the ideas that he later taught. He probably believed these ideas, because these people had accepted him, and they helped him to express some of the anger he felt from his childhood. Malcolm X was a major civil-rights leader during the 1950s and 1960s. He taught a message of violence and black supremacy. While it can be understood why Malcolm felt this way, he should have instead used his influence to achieve something positive, and fight for equality. While Malcolm X overall had solid goals, some of his methods and beliefs are hard to agree with. Malcolm X should have taken a page from Martin Luther King's book and used his influence for good.
Malcolm X was one of the most iconic figures of 20th century America. He is often grouped with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., because both men were involved in the civil-rights movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s. However, these two men were drastically different. While King preached about nonviolence and equal rights, Malcolm X condoned violence as a means to get what one wants. While Malcolm X was justified in some of his endeavors, his philosophy as a whole was unhealthy and damaged the minds of young people. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Malcolm X was a widely known civil-rights leader. People were drawn to him, because he has a willingness to do whatever was necessary to get things done. He was quoted as saying
he would “support fully any action, by any group, that is designed to get meaningful, immediate results.”(Source A) This was a powerful message in a time when people wanted to get rid of their oppression, and would justify any means to do so. People became swept up into this idea, especially young black people, who were vulnerable and searching for an identity. Malcolm X's message on Black Rage affected even King, who held strong to his own message of nonviolence. (Source C) Much of X's following was from the young black community, people who felt alienated, both from the white world, and from the older people of their own race, who adopted King's non-violent approach. (Source C) Malcolm X tapped into the vulnerability that these young people were experiencing, and used it to further his own message. He preached that it was okay to use violence, because white people used violence towards black people all the time. That may be true, however, the saying is true, two wrongs do not make a right. In addition to preaching a message of violence, Malcolm X taught that one race could only rise if the other fell. Meaning that for the black community to rise, white people must fall. A famous slogan of his was “the white man is the devil.” (Source E) How does this make him any better than the white people he felt were oppressing him? Malcolm X was not preaching a message of equal rights, but one of racism and black supremacy. That makes him just as bad as the racist white man. How is telling people that they are better than others because their skin is dark, any better than telling people that they are better than others because their skin is light? He should of used his power and influence to preach a message of equality. One race is not better than the others, all of the races are different, but equal. Malcolm X was just as racist against white people, as many white people were against black people. Malcolm X had a lot of power over young black people, and he taught them a message of hate, instead of a message of accepting others, no matter their skin color. At the same time, one can understand why Malcolm X felt this way. He truly believed that his father was killed by a white racist group. He also grew up in a bad home situation. His father died when Malcolm was 5, and his mother was institutionalized a few years later. After that, young Malcolm became a ward of the state, and moved from different foster homes and reform schools, where he was raised by white parents. (Source A) There is a major possibility that he was treated badly by many of these families, because he was a different race. When he was older, he found a home in a place where people would accept him, even with his darker skin. Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam(NOI) and, in 1952, changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X.(Source A) At the NOI, he probably felt accepted for the first time in a long time. This is also probably where he learned some of the ideas that he later taught. He probably believed these ideas, because these people had accepted him, and they helped him to express some of the anger he felt from his childhood. Malcolm X was a major civil-rights leader during the 1950s and 1960s. He taught a message of violence and black supremacy. While it can be understood why Malcolm felt this way, he should have instead used his influence to achieve something positive, and fight for equality. While Malcolm X overall had solid goals, some of his methods and beliefs are hard to agree with. Malcolm X should have taken a page from Martin Luther King's book and used his influence for good.