Systemic Oppression In Malcolm X

The first key event in the book is Malcolm’s first involvement with black ghettos where he fully experiences systemic oppression. Systemic oppression is the main central idea that is always prominent in events throughout the book and is an essential factor that shapes Malcolm. When Malcolm first enters Boston he is initially shocked by the culture and immediately strives to become immersed in it. Malcolm is introduced to integration v. separation, racial identity, and systemic oppression through various people throughout Boston. The Hill characters represented the idea of integration v. separation by attempting to act "white" and seek approval from them. Racial identity also plays a part in the sense that they completely threw away their African

He realizes that whites have oppressed blacks for hundreds of years and that the reason for the current state of blacks is due to heavy systemic oppression inflicted on them by whites. Racial identity plays a major role during this event because Malcolm strips away the mentality of white culture by getting rid of his conk and recreating himself by willingly enforcing a self-education. Further building on the racial identity, Malcolm abandons Christianity, the "white" religion, and submits himself to the Nation of Islam, which he considered the "black" religion. By reforming himself, Malcolm is fully aware of the race issue in America and begins addressing systemic oppression and preaching the idea of separation v. integration. Racial identity and separation v. integration interact and build on each other by Malcolm having the idea that blacks should be completely separated from whites and given their own land and society and doesn’t want to rely upon the whites. Malcolm has an extreme mindset on separation from all whites until he makes his pilgrimage to