Malcolm Little, commonly known as Malcolm X, was born on May 19th, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His father, Reverend Earl Little, was a minister and an organizer for the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Earl Little was a passionate man who supported the Back to Africa movement, encouraging African Americans to return Africa as a way to escape the racism and hatred present in the United States. His involvement with Marcus Garvey and other problack groups ultimately resulted in the need for the Little’s to relocate from their home a couple of times. Malcolm Little did not know his father for long since Earl was allegedly murdered by white supremacists when Malcolm Little was six years old. Despite the fact that Earl Little was murdered early …show more content…
He started by acting out in school and on the streets after his mother was hospitalized. He continued by moving to Boston where he worked for the railways until he was unable to control himself and was ultimately fired. Malcolm gambled and stole until he went to prison, but while serving his sentence it appears that Malcolm X changed his personality and became a model citizen. Serving in prison was a critical moment in shaping Malcolm X’s personality. In my paper I hope to research why Malcolm X was heavily influenced by Islam even though his father had been a Christian. I also hope to explore Malcom X’s character flaws. Even as a model citizen, Malcolm X was eventually ordered to complete a 90 days of silence from his mentor Elijah Muhammad. By using the Biological, Psychodynamic and Social Cognitive approaches to personality it is clear to see how Malcolm X developed his own personality. Malcolm had death with racism all through his life which resulted in a change in how he saw and interacted with white people. After leaving prison Malcolm X used his drive for fulfilling a higher purpose to lead thousands of members in the Nation of
Malcolm Little grew up in Lansing, Michigan. While he was growing up, he developed mistrust towards white Americans due to the fact that the Ku Klux Klan burned down his house, and later murdered his father. Later on in Malcolm’s life, he moved to Harlem where he soon turned to crime and was arrested and sent to jail.
Malcolm X while in prison completed his first transformation. Like many great figures and history makers had a low point in is life. At this time Malcolm was into drugs, hustling, women and money. He became so dependant on making a lot of money he and some of his friends decided to rob the house of an old white man. They were caught for this crime and were not only charged with this crime but were also charged with having sex with white women. Malcolm and his friend "Shorty" were sentenced to six years in prison. The two white women that were Malcolm and Shorty’s accomplices were sentenced to a year in jail. During the first couple days of prison Malcolm was coming off a drug high and was having withdrawals. These withdrawals led Malcolm into solitary confinement for two months. When he was let out of his chamber he met the man that would later be responsible for Malcolm’s transformation. This man was a follower of the nation of Islam and the great Alijah Muhammad. Malcolm learned a great deal form him. This shows us that even in the worst of circumstances we can learn and become better. This transformation was a great test for Malcolm and starts to let us see what a great influence he would end up being in the lives of many Americans.
However, it was what happened in his life that made Malcolm X the man who people remember today. From a very early age, Little lived in fear of racism and hate groups, much of it rooting from his father’s murder by white supremacists. He was effectively orphaned by 13, as his mother was placed in a mental institution, and lived until he was 20 in several different foster homes. He was arrested for a crime and once released, went on to commit several crimes, including using and distributing drugs, etc. It was when he was imprisoned that he found the Nation of Islam, who helped him when he was released from prison to find a new life. From them, he was able to attain great oratory skills and create an environment when he spoke in which the people around him, white and black alike, felt empowered and equal. Once he discovered corruption and began to disdain the Nation of Islam, he became independent and was later assassinated. However, he along with MLK, were empowered by their stories, Malcolm’s being one of hatred, poverty, hope, and truth, that changed him to become a stimulus for African American equality in
In 1929, members of a group white racists burned the house of the Littles to the ground and two years later his father was murdered. In addition,
His quest for an education had begun, but it would be a long one. He decries how it all really began while he was being held at the Charlestown Prison. Bimbi, a fellow prisoner, was very intelligent and Malcolm envied his gift. Bimbi encouraged him to read and Malcolm would try but would end up quitting because he would skip the words he didn't know and keep reading. The problem with this was that he could never fully understand what he was reading and would put the book down. So he decided that he needed to learn how to read and write properly.
Three events in Malcolm X’s life were very significant in Malcolm’s development and influenced his ideas. His interaction with Mr. Ostrowski opened his eyes to a new, more aware, point of view that marked his transition from childhood. His time in prison turned him against white people and led him to completely accept the ideas of Elijah Muhammad and transition away from hustling and crime. Malcolm’s pilgrimage to Mecca transitioned him from the hate-driven society of the Nation of Islam and towards a more accepting society of traditional Islam. All these events progress or completely change Malcolm’s ideas about systemic oppression, racial identity, and separation verses integration and push him to a new period of life and the next event.
Malcolm X lived a life of difficulty, in which some might believe would have been impossible to control. From his days as a Harlem hustler, to his imprisonment, to his death, Malcolm X remained an unchanging man of faith. He put this faith in things such as "fate" or his god, Allah, never fully realizing that he had worked for, and stumbled towards, everything that he ever got out of life. He was the master of his own destiny. Even though many "decisions had been made for [him]," (pg. 312) he had the power to do or become whatever he wanted.
When Malcolm x was known as Malcolm Little which was from his birth until during his time in prison went he converted to the Nation of Islam ( Malcolm X 154-172) he experienced traumatic events that laid the foundation in terms of how he came to view white people u...
Malcolm X’s forceful declamations attracted a lot of publicity as well as a large personal following. In his speeches he implored black people to separate from the whites and gain their freedom “by any means necessary.” This became his “motto.” Through many public political and religious protests Malcolm X became notorious with the white community. He became the most well known figure in the Islam Nation.
Malcolm Little, born in Omaha, NE on May 19, 1925 has been dealing with racism before he was even born. When Louise Little was pregnant with Malcolm they used to get many death threats and harsh treatment from racist groups such as the KKK. When Malcolm was around 6 years old his house was bombed while everyone was asleep luckily everyone managed to escape unharmed.
Due to his involvement in civil rights, Malcolm and his family were harassed and experienced racism from an early age, and Malcolm’s encounter before he was even born. In his own words, Malcolm said: “When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me, ‘a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped to our home, brandishing their guns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out’.” They later moved to East Lansing, Michigan, where harassment continued, and in 1929, their house was set on fire by a group called the Black Legion, a white fascist group (J. Simon, 26). Two years later, Earl was found dead on a streetcar track. His death was ruled a suicide, even though it was very likely that he was killed by racists.
Malcolm traveled to Chicago to meet Elijah Muhammad and there, he became assistant minister of Nation of Islam’s Detroit Temple. Suddenly and without warning in 1961, Elijah Muhammad got violently ill. Malcolm does everything that he can to help the situation, but he knew deep down that he liked how the Nation was growing. Little did he know another hardship would be coming his way. People start getting mad and saying that he was trying to take credit for what Elijah was trying to teach and making money off of it. Although he denies all of the allegations, the news gets around and Malcolm states “What astonished me even more- a telegram had been sent to every New York City newspaper and radio and television station.” This would ding his reputation for a long time, because it was everywhere and that makes him go crazy. He was offended at all the remarks, but this would help him reevaluate his views on white people and people of different
“At no point in his life could Malcolm cease struggling” (Frady 3). “Malcolm was very systematic and disciplined with tasks he enjoyed doing even at an early age” (Roedmeir 2). However, he began to have troubles in school. He knew there were things he couldn’t do because he was black. This brought him to the streets. Later on, Malcolm was sent to prison.
Malcolm X served prison for seven years. During the times in prison, he changed to a whole new different person. Before he was sent to prison, he was a hustler, drug addict, thief, and etc. jobs was discriminated against the colored skin people during Malcolm’s time and the jobs he was able to achieve was low status. He had many reasons why he went rogue. Malcolm’s mental model “Doing Time” was Influence by his social relations and material conditions in prison.