Introduction for essay about Malcolm X
Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a leading figure in the Nation of Islam. He was also an African-American nationalist and social critic. After his release from prison in 1952, Malcolm X became a prominent spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. He also advocated for the rights of black Americans, and spoke out against white supremacy and racism. In 1963, he was assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam.
Structure of essay papers on Malcolm X
- Malcolm X’s Life Story
- Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 19, 1925. He was the fourth of seven children born to Earl and Louisa Little. His father, Earl, was a Baptist minister and an outspoken follower of Marcus Garvey, the black nationalist leader. Because of his father’s involvement with the Garvey movement, the family was constantly harassed by white supremacists and forced to move several times. In 1929, when Malcolm was four years old, his father was killed by white racists; some say that he was killed by the Black Legion, a secret society made up of former members of the Ku Klux Klan.
- After Earl Little’s death, Louisa Little struggled to support her large family. In 1930, she suffered a nervous breakdown and was committed to a state mental hospital; her children were placed in foster care or sent to live with relatives. Malcolm spent several years living with different foster families before moving in with his half-sister Ella in Boston. It was while living with Ella that Malcolm began getting into trouble with the law. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade and became involved in petty crime and drug use. In 1946, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for burglary.
- While in prison, Malcolm began reading about the Nation of Islam (NOI), a black nationalist organization founded in 1930 by Wallace Fard Muhammad. Upon his release from prison in 1952, Malcolm joined the NOI and quickly rose through its ranks. He changed his last name from Little” to “X” to symbolize his lost African heritage. In 1954, he met Betty Sanders (later known as Betty Shabazz), whom he married shortly thereafter. The couple had six children together: Attallah (born 1957), Qubilah (born 1960), Ilyasah (born 1962), Malikah (born 1963), Gamilah (born 1964), and Malaak (born 1965).
- In 1957, Malcolm X helped establish Temple No. 7 of the Nation of Islam in Harlem, New York. He quickly became one of the organization’s most popular and influential leaders; however, he also attracted much criticism for his controversial views on race relations. In 1963, he broke with the Nation of Islam after disagreements with its leader, Elijah Muhammad; he then founded Muslim Mosque Inc., an organization that advocated for black separatism.
- On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated by Nation of Islam members while giving a speech at Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom; he was 39 years old. His autobiography, The Autobiography of Malcolm X (co-authored with Alex Haley), was published posthumously in 1965 and has since become a classic work on race relations in America.
- The Importance of Education
- One of the recurring themes in Malcolm X’s life is the importance of education. Despite dropping out of school in the eighth grade, Malcolm later became an avid reader and spent much of his time while in prison educating himself on history, politics, and religion. He believed that education was essential for empowering black Americans and helping them achieve equality with whites. After joining the Nation of Islam, he became one of its most effective leaders due largely to his charisma and eloquence; both traits were likely products of his self-education while incarcerated.
- In his autobiography, Malcolm X recounts how he initially felt anger and resentment towards whites because of their mistreatment of blacks; however, after reading books by white authors such as Karl Marx and George Orwell, he began to see that not all whites were responsible for racism and discrimination against blacks. This realization led him to believe that education could help bridge the divide between races and create understanding between people of different backgrounds. Sadly, Malcolm X did not live long enough to see his dream realized; however, his legacy continues to inspire people around the world who are fighting for social justice today
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Malcolm X was a controversial and influential figure in the civil rights movement. He advocated for black pride and self-defense, and was unafraid to speak his mind, even when his views were unpopular. Malcolm X was a complex and multi-faceted individual, and his legacy continues to inspire people today.
The most popular works of this author
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention
- The Portable Malcolm X Reader
- Malcolm X on Afro-American History
- To Die For the People: The Writings of Huey P. Newton
- Black Skin, White Masks
- The Wretched of the Earth
- Toward a Black Radical Tradition
- From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation
- Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison Industrial Complex