Why Is Malcolm X Considered A Menace To Society
Question Presented
Is Malcolm X considered a martyr or a menace to society?
Facts of the Case
Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His family has been plagued with offences from whites. His father was killed, possibly from the KKK. His mother, stricken by his father’s death and stresses to provide for his children, was accepted into a mental institution. When he was in high school, Malcolm was a bright student with dreams of becoming a lawyer, but they were crushed when an English teacher discouraged him, telling him to be “realistic”. Because of he didn’t know what else to do with his life, Malcolm dropped out of high school and began selling and using drugs. In 1946, he was sentenced to prison for 10 years on burglary charges. There he met Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Black Muslim sect, and converted. After his …show more content…
prison term, he became nationally known as speaker of Muslim doctrines for the Nation of Islam.
Argument
“Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.” This quotation by Malcolm X reflects the denial of an education when he was a youth.
Even though he wasn’t denied specifically the right to go to school, his dreams of becoming something great were shattered by a white man. He realized later that education is necessary to become something great. His experiences from growing up on the streets however caused him to view the world as how it could and should be. It would not be right to point out Malcolm’s blunders of his past; lower classes honored him because they saw it as coming a long way.
“I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.” Malcolm X’s opinions and personal experiences reflect what he thinks of people. As a young child growing up, his troubled experiences caused him to view the whites in a negative way. However, he was a believer of Islam and converted because he believed followers didn’t
discriminate.
Malcolm X died a martyr, just as those who fought for freedoms and rights such as Martin Luther King and Gandhi. You may argue, however, that his tactics and strategies are unconventional, but nonetheless similar principles and similar rights. He sought a society in which African Americans were respected and granted equal rights, and was against racism and segregation.
Malcolm X’s early beliefs centered in the philosophy of retribution, the belief that is reflected in both the Code of Hammurabi and in the Laws of the Old Testament (an eye for an eye). These views changed over time when he learned to accept that not all whites were evil and blacks could achieve what they wanted with hard work. He also became known for his quotation “We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” By any means necessary, a philosophy similar to the famous Machiavellian idea that the end justifies the means as noted in his text, The Prince.
After hearing the Elijah Muhammad went against his beliefs (and committed adultery) that Malcolm religiously followed in his early years as a member of the Nation of Islam, he broke away and was baffled at Muhammad’s hypocrisy. This flaw, therefore should not be used against him because some of his greatest impacts on the people were apparent after the pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964. He had realized that the racist teachings of Muhammad were conflicting with Islam religion. He broke from the Nation of Islam and continued to call for rights of African Americans. After numerous death threats, he was assassinated on Feb 21, 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam.
Conclusion
Malcolm X can be seen as a controversial character; however he has done considerably enough for African Americans and his followers. His tactics can be compared with those of Machiavelli, and his principles to those of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, but he nonetheless is considered a martyr, one who suffers for the sake of principles, and his principles revolve around freedom and rights for African Americans.
Is Malcolm X considered a martyr or a menace to society?
Facts of the Case
Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His family has been plagued with offences from whites. His father was killed, possibly from the KKK. His mother, stricken by his father’s death and stresses to provide for his children, was accepted into a mental institution. When he was in high school, Malcolm was a bright student with dreams of becoming a lawyer, but they were crushed when an English teacher discouraged him, telling him to be “realistic”. Because of he didn’t know what else to do with his life, Malcolm dropped out of high school and began selling and using drugs. In 1946, he was sentenced to prison for 10 years on burglary charges. There he met Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Black Muslim sect, and converted. After his …show more content…
prison term, he became nationally known as speaker of Muslim doctrines for the Nation of Islam.
Argument
“Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.” This quotation by Malcolm X reflects the denial of an education when he was a youth.
Even though he wasn’t denied specifically the right to go to school, his dreams of becoming something great were shattered by a white man. He realized later that education is necessary to become something great. His experiences from growing up on the streets however caused him to view the world as how it could and should be. It would not be right to point out Malcolm’s blunders of his past; lower classes honored him because they saw it as coming a long way.
“I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.” Malcolm X’s opinions and personal experiences reflect what he thinks of people. As a young child growing up, his troubled experiences caused him to view the whites in a negative way. However, he was a believer of Islam and converted because he believed followers didn’t
discriminate.
Malcolm X died a martyr, just as those who fought for freedoms and rights such as Martin Luther King and Gandhi. You may argue, however, that his tactics and strategies are unconventional, but nonetheless similar principles and similar rights. He sought a society in which African Americans were respected and granted equal rights, and was against racism and segregation.
Malcolm X’s early beliefs centered in the philosophy of retribution, the belief that is reflected in both the Code of Hammurabi and in the Laws of the Old Testament (an eye for an eye). These views changed over time when he learned to accept that not all whites were evil and blacks could achieve what they wanted with hard work. He also became known for his quotation “We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” By any means necessary, a philosophy similar to the famous Machiavellian idea that the end justifies the means as noted in his text, The Prince.
After hearing the Elijah Muhammad went against his beliefs (and committed adultery) that Malcolm religiously followed in his early years as a member of the Nation of Islam, he broke away and was baffled at Muhammad’s hypocrisy. This flaw, therefore should not be used against him because some of his greatest impacts on the people were apparent after the pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964. He had realized that the racist teachings of Muhammad were conflicting with Islam religion. He broke from the Nation of Islam and continued to call for rights of African Americans. After numerous death threats, he was assassinated on Feb 21, 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam.
Conclusion
Malcolm X can be seen as a controversial character; however he has done considerably enough for African Americans and his followers. His tactics can be compared with those of Machiavelli, and his principles to those of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, but he nonetheless is considered a martyr, one who suffers for the sake of principles, and his principles revolve around freedom and rights for African Americans.