Malcolm X

In this passage on identity and race, Malcolm X speaks out about thinking for yourself when it comes to judging and accepting other people. He stresses the point when it comes to ignoring other people's opinions about "certain" individuals or groups. He tells us to dismiss what others say or write about people, but instead judge these people on how you perceive them first handedly. According to Malcolm, this is the best way to avoid being fooled. He is telling us to be independent. Just because certain groups and races have not been accepted within the majority of society does not mea that you, as a person, should not accept them. If you want to like them, then like them. If you don't want to like them, then don't. The point he was trying to get across was that it should be your own decision who you like and don't like, not someone else's. Malcolm X describes this country as being "this kind of society which has mastered the art of very deceitfully painting people whom they don't like in an image that they know you won't like." This quote by Malcolm is basically saying this country as a whole is pushing its views and opinions on us individuals in a way that we end up agreeing with. They twist things around and deceive you, all the while turning you against their enemies and towards their friends.

I think that Malcolm X is 100% right when saying that this country is deceitful. Obviously, now, different races and groups are more accepted than they were in the 1960's. However, I still feel that society is trying to persuade individuals in a subtle way. I, personally, am very independent when it comes to judging other people. I do not believe a lot of what I hear or read about others, and do not take it too seriously until I meet them personally. It was clear that Malcolm X was a very open-minded person. He did not judge people by the way they looked, which I am really against. I think that even though different races are more accepted in this country today, there are still those that are racist and hypocritical about it. I say this because of an issue going on in my family at this time. People state over and over that they are not racist but when a "racial" situation shows up in their life or family, they will try to somehow get around it, or get rid of it. They worry about how society will react and what people will say. Instead of coming out and saying that