Malcolm X Thesis Paper

The history of the United States has in it much separation or segregation due to race. For a long time our country has seen racism as a large problem and this has caused ethnic groups to be looked down upon and forced into a lifestyle of difficulties and suppression. Due to this, races, particularly African-Americans, have been forced to deal with unequal opportunity and poverty, leading to less honorable ways of getting by and also organizations that support change. Malcolm X is one strong example of an African American man who became apart of a group acted against it, uniting people to promote the advancement of colored people and change. Malcolm's thoughts towards race and civil right in the previous years were displayed in a less way to the people and "by any means necessary" perspective. After his pilgrimage in 1964 his view of civil rights had quickly changed into a more complete view of civil rights, and the peoples views towards him. No one really knows what kind of impact Malcolm X would have had on history if he had not been assassinated. His beliefs and philosophy did gain him a place in history as one of the best-known Black Nationalist Leaders. Everyone seems to have known who Malcolm X was, and he ranks high with all other Black leaders. His ideas were radical and he was very out spoken. He was a major force in the development of black history. He fought not only for his people but also for all oppressed people everywhere. He was well spoken and he laid the groundwork for the black power movement of the late l960's.

At a young age, Malcolm saw the ways in which blacks were seen as inferior, when his father supported an organization that promoted the return of blacks to Africa. Malcolm watched at a young age while the Klu Klux Klan burnt down his family's house, he also knew of his grandmother being raped by a white man, which caused his mother's light skin and his red hair. His father was killed when six white men beat him to death because they did not like what his father was doing in his organization. This was the early stage in like in which Malcolm's hatred of white people begins, and the dedication to help African Americans also started. I believe that the high point of Malcolm's hatred for white people comes when the welfare agency declares his mother insane and institutionalizes her, causing his family to be split apart. Malcolm blames the welfare agency for splitting up his family for the rest of his life. Even when he moves in with a white foster family, he is taught at school that black people are seen as lazy and dumb and will never be completely successful in this society, no matter how smart or gifted they are.

Malcolm begins to realize that all the white people surrounding him as constantly either indirectly or directly telling him that he does not belong in their world, and they would not let him in even if he was qualified, due to his color, and that was a popular thing for black role models in the 60's. At this point he knows he must leave this area and leaves his foster home to live with his sister in Boston. Although Malcolm finds work, they are dead end jobs and this leads him to have to earn money in less acceptable ways such as drugs, betting, and stealing. This is how many problems occur in poor communities today, due to the lack of choice and opportunity for advancement. Many years of this cause him danger and drug addiction until finally he ends up in jail and he begins to change his outlook in life. Then Malcolm became particularly intrigued with the ideas of a man named Elijah Muhammad. This man founded the Nation of Islam, which Malcolm joins after getting out on parole. Then Malcolm becomes a powerful influence and believes completely in the teachings of this form of Islam. He avidly tried to gain members and eventually becomes an important symbol to the faith due to his powerful speaking abilities. He found that Islam believers were of all colors, all social levels, and they believed in one God. He felt that if white Americans could accept one God, then they could accept the equality of man regardless of their differences in color. b

Through Malcolm's travels, he visits many African nations and also makes his hajj to Mecca. Here he learns about the Muslim faith in these areas and realizes that race is not a problem here, but America's long history of violence towards blacks has cause a distorted view in the United States. He feels that the evil in white people is the cause of this problem.