The Biography of Malcom X - Report Example

History and Political Science 1April The Biography of Malcom X Birth and Childhood Malcom X was born at a period when the USA suffered from intense racism, since the white community dominated the black people. His early and later life experiences demonstrate the character of a charismatic religious man, who had the power to influence the black (Africa- American) people. He was born to Earl Little and Louise Little in “May 19th of 1925 in Nebraska state” (specifically in a university hospital in Omaha) and was named Malcom Little (Davis 7). He came from a black family and had a challenging childhood. In the southern states, the blacks were being pushed out to terminate the cheap labor and allow wages to increase for the white laborers. The western USA was no better because the newly formed White Anglo Saxon Protestants caused the congress to impose tariffs that radically reduced blacks’ migration. Though Malcom X could not understand the events at his tender age, his father was among the few who came out to rebuke racism and encouraged the black community to defend their rights. Because of his father’s stand on racism, their family was once attacked and had their homestead set ablaze before Malcolm’s father died. The family kept shifting to new areas for their safety pertaining Earl Little’s revolutionary movement that posed a threat to the white community. The family had moved from Milwauke to Lansing in Michigan, and then to the outskirts of East Lansing after their home was burnt down. Malcom and his siblings had a Christian background, which was well enforced by his father, a preacher in Baptist ministry, despite his sudden death six years later. They were left under the care of a single mother in a tough economy. Faced by numerous troubles after her husband’s death, Louse struggled to repay the pending family’s debts and raise the children. Though there was little support from the State’s pension system that supported poor families, Louise health deteriorated and after giving birth to Malcolm’s half-brother, she was confined in a state mental hospital for her mental illness. This left young Malcom without a closer family and had to be moved to several foster homes. This afforded him basic necessities, which their family would go missing from time to time. Many times, when his family could not afford a meal, Malcom dropped in at neighbors’ homes and stayed in for meal times. He studied at the Pleasant Grove School along with his siblings, and due to their poverty, they were actually the target of the relief program, which their mother had previously proudly refused to accept. Malcom soon began stealing and engaged in gambling activities, which was used to counter attack his mother’s objection of taking him away. At school while living with the foster parents, Malcolm’s performances improved, he was always among the top students and was once elected the president of the class. Besides his engagement in basketball, he liked English and History subjects. Malcolm’s Urban Life in Boston He was already a troubled youth and despite been enrolled in west junior high school and a series of foster homes, he ended up spending some of his time in juvenile detention homes. He later joined his sister in Boston at his teen age and began working. Malcom was inspired by Ella’s confidence for she was not only smart, but had grown to help others and make them feel valuable. Since he was very energetic, he got to move around the neighborhood and explore the new experiences of the urban night life. Eager to get a job, he met with a man from Lansing whom introduced him to other blacks in the society; he learned numerous odd words and behavior from the pool-players and loungers. Through the friend, Malcom got his first job in Boston as a shoe shiner, where he became exposed to the night clubs fun and pleasure. Besides cleaning, brushing shoes and acquiring extra tips, he was exposed to the night club dances and musical bands. As the friendship with Shorty lasted, Malcom engaged in smoking cigarettes and reefers, drinking liquor, gambling for more cash, hanging out at night. He also changed his dressing code from the countryside old fashion to urban classic expensive and classic clothes (Shabazz, A. 43). Through the hustle and odd jobs at night he had learned to save and could afford zoot suits, and other flashy clothes that were acquired on credit. He adopted the slang words from the black’s interaction and danced with older women at the night clubs. He later quit shoe shining and began serving drinks. He did not last enough and acquired another job with the railroad company. This created an opportunity for him to visit New York and got him exposed to drug dealings, which slowly slipped his young life into petty crimes. He shifted from loading food requisition onto the trains, and after moving into Harlem New York, he became a waiter. He once enrolled for US army recruit, but because of his background and psychological struggles growing up, he was found unsuitable for the service. New York city drove him further into criminal activities. Other than “steering white people to black brothels, he gambled sold drugs (Marijuana), and engaged in armed robbery;” his reputation was dwindling and consequently, he lost several jobs for his involvement in gangster life (Haley 5). Before long the authorities became aware of his crimes and Malcom had to shift from New York back to Boston in Roxbury. He could not sustain the new job he found and continued his illegal acts of drugs and theft. He was finally arrested for armed robbery and larceny, “sentenced for 8-10 years in prison in 1946” at the age of 20 (Vards 95). Malcom in Prison At the beginning, he proved stubborn in prison and to his visiting family. He still continued taking drugs that he would slip into the cells. With time however, his reformation started out; this was with the help of a friend (Bimbi), who directed him to use his brains, such that he had the advantages to use the prison library to educate himself (Gormley 41). The wide literature and religious book gave him knowledge and changed his character. He was first introduced to Islam after being transferred from Charlestown prison to Concord reformatory; his siblings had joined the Nation of Islam and he too was compelled to through his discipline. Through the support of his younger brother, he engaged in self-realization, and gave it all to learn more about black’s cultures, slavery and the nation of Islam to back up Elijah’s Muhammad message. Norfolk prison provided good facilities for change and gave him hope for freedom. While serving at the penitentiary, he discovered the power of words and knowledge, “quit all his vices and most of his pleasures” (Goldman 35). Transformation in prison also gave him carpentry skills and patience. He got out of prison in 1952 on parole. Nation of Islam (NOI) He changed his name to Malcom X, which was symbolic in denouncing slavery and became an active member of the NOI. The charismatic leader pulled many others in NOI and was a frontline pupil of Mr. Muhammad. After clearing ministry studies, he was appointed assistant and later full minister in NOI temples located in New York, Philadelphia and Boston. During the period after 1955 to the sixties, his ministry expanded and he could travel abroad in Africa and the Middle East, where he took the advantage to condemn anti-black racism and blacks’ oppression by imperialist regimes. He also married a nurse and was blessed with 6 daughters. He served as Nation of Islam’s (NOI) newspaper spokesman and editor and from his position in Harlem neighborhoods and platforms in college campuses, denounced the policies of the US government internally and externally, for its oppression on the people (Shabazz, B. 9). His talks targeted on the black audience and young people urging for revolution and blacks to defend their civil rights. He gave numerous speeches to the public and young people in campuses across the continents. His speeches included the message to the grassroots, historic multicultural talks, and the urge for radical humanism after his trip from Mecca. Malcom X went beyond to organize street protests against the killing and injuries of several Muslims by the authorities in LA, but was prevented by his superior, Mr. Muhammad. Soon, Malcom X learnt of the man’s deviant adulterer’s acts and exploitation of his power to oppress women. Malcom X’s political involvement clashed with NOI’s hierarchy, so he was later forced out in 1963, only to break away from nation of Islam to form Muslim Mosque Inc (Shabazz, B. 10-11). He stressed for moral reformation of the society after knowing the truth of Mr. Muhammad’s adulterous behavior. The last two years of his life were the climax of his speech underlying political and social oppressions. He had the opportunity to meet with prominent black leaders like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Martin Luther King jr, Muhammad Ali, formed Organization of African American Unity, acquired wide hearings across the continents and his organization and teachings were successfully radicalizing youths and laborers (“Malcom X,” nypl.org). The US authorities had been tracking him since his engagement with NOI and considering his critics on government policies and blame of American capitalist on racism and oppression. For this reason, his life was at stake. To add on, he had broken off NOI and seemed to have betrayed Mr. Muhammad’s credibility through his moral reformation talks. Malcom’s early life was surrounded by poverty, he had spent half of his life in criminal activities, but his life towards the end was great and inspiring, especially to the black society in the USA and across the continents with the message for people to fight for their liberation. He was assassinated on 21st February in 1965 at Audubon Ballroom in Harlem (Knight 454). It is believed his death was as a result of NOI members avenging for his betrayal and to Mr. Muhammad. Works Cited Davis, Lucile. Malcolm X: A Photo-illustrated Biography. Minnesota: Capstone Press, 1998. Print. Goldman, P. L. The Death and Life of Malcolm X. 2nd Ed.Illinois: University of Illinois, 1979. Print.  Gormley, Beatrice. Malcolm X: A Revolutionary Voice. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 2008. Print. Haley, Alex. “The Autobiography of Malcom X.” Rickscape.com. n.d. Web. 1 April 2014. . Knight, Peter. Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia. California: ABC- CLIO, 2003. Print. “Malcom X to El Hajj Malik El- Shabazz, 1964-65.” Nypl.org. n.d. Web. 1 April 2014. . Shabazz, Attallah.” Attallah Shabazz Foreword.” Al-rasid.com. n.d. Web. 1 April 2014. . Shabazz, Betty. “Malcom X talks to Young people.” Pathfinderpress.com. 2002. n.d. Web. 1 April 2014. . Varda, S. J. A Rhetorical History of Malcolm X. Michigan: ProQuest, 2007. Print. Read More