Compare And Contrast Malcolm X And W. E. B. Du Bois

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Malcolm X and W.E.B. Du Bois both grew up in different era; however, they both equally felt the burden of racism and of “the color line”. They both experienced racism when they were young, during their life, and until their death; furthermore, they knew it would be challenging to change the mindsets of millions of white, but that didn’t stop them from trying. Malcolm X and W.E.B. Du bois realized the inequalities that burdened African Americans, and will be remembered for their life’s work and contributions. As a child, Malcolm X had a very immediate encounter with racism. In 1929, a couple of white men came and set his home on fire. Although the policemen and firemen came – whom were also white – they did nothing to help stop the fire (X, …show more content…

Although he was the top of his class, and class president, Malcolm X’s teacher unfortunately still had a very clear message for him – you won’t ever be what you dream of. Malcolm wanted to become a lawyer, but his teacher had a message for him: “A lawyer – [is] no realistic goal for a nigger” (X, Malcolm 43). This is a clear attack on African Americans and what whites still believed was their role in the United States – to serve as lower class citizens. Malcolm X, however, still became a successful leader later in his life up until his death, despite the condescending message of his …show more content…

Malcolm X says he “Negroes with Howard University degrees, who were working as laborers, janitors, porters, guards, taxi-drivers, and the like” (X, Malcolm 84). Although African Americans were receiving higher educations, they were still not receiving the benefits that this education gave to whites. A white person would have not had to have a degree to be a janitor, or a taxi-driver, but an African American would to even receive these basic jobs. This is also another example of “the color line”, where African Americans are clearly distinct from their white

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