On 19 May 1925, Louise Little gave birth to Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. At first, Malcolm Little led a troubled path of preaching radical Islam and opposing desegregation and integration, but later he converted and worked for racial equality. Because he challenged power, told of immediate troubles, suffered discontent, and provided fear of the Lord, one might call Malcolm a modern-day prophet. In other words, Malcolm shows the characteristics of an ancient prophet, thus making him a modern prophet.
Although Malcolm was born in Nebraska, his family moved to Lansing, Michigan when he was just an infant. His father, Reverend Earl Little, was a Baptist minister and supporter of black nationalism. In 1931, a streetcar most likely operated
…show more content…
By calling the people in power, the whites, “devils” and encouraging African-Americans to defend themselves against them “by any means necessary,” it is clear that Malcolm X opposed the establishment. One ancient prophet, Amos, also challenged power and strength when he said, “They hate those who reprove at the gate and abhor those who speak with integrity; therefore because you tax the destitute and exact from the levies of grain, though you have built houses of hewn stone, you shall not live in them; though you have planted choice vineyards, you shall not drink their wine. Yes, I know how many are your crimes, how grievous your sins: oppressing the just, accepting bribes, turning away the needy at the gate,” (New American Bible, Revised Edition, Amos 5: 10-12). In this quote, Amos speaks out against the rich who live in live in comfortable stone houses while they tax the poor. Another reason showing Malcolm X as a modern prophet is because he told the immediate troubles. Malcolm once said, “Good education, housing, and jobs are imperatives for the Negroes, and I shall support them in their fight to win these objectives. But while the Negro does not have these objectives, he is nobody.” Here, Malcolm X warns that if African-Americans cannot achieve these three goals, they will never be equal to the white man in society. Similarly, the ancient prophet Amos also told of the immediate troubles when he proclaimed, “Thus says the Lord: for three crimes of Judah, and now four - I will not take it back-because they spurned the instruction of the Lord, and did not keep his statutes; because the lies which their ancestors followed have led them astray, I will send fire upon Judah, and it will devour the stronghold of Jerusalem,” (Amos 2: 4-5). Here, Amos warns Judah that God will send fire upon it for its crimes. Next, Malcolm X suffered discontent, another characteristic
Organized into six topical groups, the author did an excellent job in comparing and contrasting King and Malcolm’s views on subjects including integration, the American dream, means of struggle, and opposing racial philosophies that needless any improvement. An interpretive introductory essay, chronology, bibliography, document headnotes, and questions for consideration provide further pedagogical support for students. The author explains how Malcolm X came closer than any social reformer in history to embodying and articulating the totality of the African experience in America while Martin Luther King was not only the most important figure in American religious history in the 20th century, he was arguably its most brilliant
May 19, 1925 Malcom Little was born in Omahaw, Nebraska to his parents Earl and Louise Little. In1928 the Little family moved to a home in Lansing, Michigan into a white supremacy neighborhood. Shortly after they moved in they were sued for eviction for living in a house that was only livable for Caucasians. On November 7, 1928 the house that they were living in got burned down.
Moreover, Malcolm X believed that the christian american government wouldn’t be able to help. During his talk with a ranking african leader, Malcolm states(pg 406), “white man is not racist, but it’s the american political, economic and social atmosphere that automatically nourishes a racist psychology...for humans to meet in american and not be conscious of their color differences” The government was to blame for the racist actions of whites in america. They both agreed that America would be very fruitful if racism was gone. It would even help with how the rich and poor interacted. He also states on page 403, that, “I am agreement with one hundred percent with those racist who say that the government laws ever force brotherhood” The government
Malcolm was born on, May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother was Norton little and his was Earl little. The family had eight children. Earls civil rights activism caused death threats from white people. Their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground.
Nobody could’ve led an organization better towards freedom than he did. Malcolm X had an impact in his early life, great accomplishments, and his examples of leadership. A first thing to remember is how Malcolm X’s early life affected him and his family in many ways. “Malcolm X began to study the the teachings of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad.” When he started studying about the Nation of Islam, it turned his whole life around when he was in prison.
Malcolm X “You can’t separate peace from freedom, because nobody can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” These words came from the mouth of Malcolm X, but who was he? Some people call him deranged, others call him too radical. But truthfully, Malcolm X was one of the most influential African Americans in history.
Religion can be a source of enlightenment and a tool of corruption at the same time and has done so for most of human history. Spike Lee’s cinematic masterpiece Malcolm X demonstrates the potential for religion to be used for both good and evil. Malcolm X was a hustler who hadn’t done anything else but con people all of his life. As a result of this, he wound up being sentenced to prison for ten years. His defiant attitude quickly got him into trouble with the prison guards and he was beat and thrown into solitary confinement.
1925 • (May 19) Born as Malcolm Little in University Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska. 1931 • Enrolled in Pleasant Grove Elementary School (kindergarten). • Malcolm's father, Earl Little, is run over by a streetcar and is killed. 1939 • Malcolm's mother, Louise Little, is committed to the State Mental Hospital in Kalamazoo, consequently placing Malcolm in a juvenile home.
Malcolm X and his ideals are arguably a representation of the transition from the early 1950 's non-violent movement for integration to a more aggressive black power movement. Evidence of this is shown through powerful strands of his novel “The Ballot or the Bullet” including when he writes, “I don 't mean go out and get violent, but at the same time you should never be non-violent unless you run into some non-violence.” (Malcolm 439). In writing that members of the civil rights movement should never be non-violent he does so facetiously. This excerpt indicates a call for violence as a more powerful method for achieving the equality he feels they deserve.
(Mamiya 1). He spread the idea that only a violent revolution would bring change and equality for black Americans. “You don't have a peaceful revolution. You don't have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There's no such thing as a nonviolent revolution,” he said (“Malcolm X Biography” 1).
Thesis [part b] What arguments does Malcolm X make in favor of violent action to reclaim African American rights? Malcom X argues that Black ballots were being wasted. Congress has opposed bills that were intended to support the equality and civil liberties of Blacks. White
According to X, “The ballot or the bullet”... “Now in speaking like this, it doesn't mean that we're anti-white, but it does mean we're anti-exploitation,we're anti-degradation, we're anti-oppression. And if the white man doesn't want us to be anti-him, let him stop oppressing and exploiting and degrading us”(Malcolm #2). The essence of Malcolm’s argument is that he is not anti white, he is anti whites oppressing and disenfranchising African Americans and if the white person wants to not be hated, then he should stop hating himself. In a letter written in Mecca, Malcolm X says,“on this pilgrimage, what I have seen,and experienced, has forced me to re-arrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions” (Malcolm X).
Malcolm was not a man who believed that the problem of the African Americans would be solved through a peaceful, quiet means and nuances, he believed the problem has graduated through the centuries and has come to a stage when the assertion of African Americans’ existence as humans has to be forcefully done or never. Malcolm’s methods were mainly campaigns and speeches aimed at restoring the dignity of the black man, his confidence in himself and a complete freedom as Americans
African american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. Malcolm X was no banal man he was a extravagant civil rights speaker, he showed the truth on how coming together can put the end to African American indifference. Due to the lack of government the dichotomy between african americans and the white men was still a major problem ; as African americans needed to put and end to the separation and earn civil rights. Malcolm speaks out to all who are willing to obtain their civil rights. ”In Ballot or Bullet” Malcolm X uses Anaphora, Antithesis, Ethical Appeal, Word choice, and Rhetorical question to show the lack of support from government and how coming together can help fight back.
Though he is still seen as a controversial figure, I believe that Malcolm X was one of the most compassionate figures in history. He once said, “I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.” I really admire how he fought for what he believed in. Initially, I learned about Malcolm X in my AP English Language class, but I was reintroduced to his influence on the modern day black society in my college history class. Prior to being reintroduced to his philosophy in my college history class, I thought that X was a violent, racist man.