The Life of Malcolm X
Biography of Malcolm X
Malcolms early life
He was known as Malcolm little, and was born on the nineteenth of May in Nebraska, in a town known as Omaha. His mother was a homemaker while his father was a well known minister of the Baptist church. His childhood was a difficult one. The problems in his life started after the death of his father, Earl Little. Prior to his death, Earl was a strong supporter of Marcus Garvey, who led a group known as the Black Legion. This group was against the white supremacy. Malcolms family had relocated twice so as to escape the threats of the whites. However, they lost eventually. Their house was burnt down in Michigan. After the fathers death, Malcolms mother, Louise Little became mentally ill and was taken to a mental institution. As a result, Malcolm and his eight siblings were subjected to great suffering. They spent the rest of their lives in orphanages and homes.2
Malcolm left school and was incarcerated as a result of criminal activities. During his stay in prison, one of his brother known as Reginald visited him. He told Malcolm of his conversion to the Islam religion. Additionally, he had also joined the Nation of Islam. Malcolm was intrigued and decided to follow cue. He learnt that the Nation of Islam was very instrumental in encouraging the African Americans to be empowered and achieve social, political and economic success. Additionally, the Nation of Islam always advocated for a state separate from the one of the whites. Malcolm received his parole in 1952, and became a staunch Islam follower. He replaced the name Little to X. This was symbolic as it signified the tribal name he had lost.2
By the time Malcolm X was being converted to Islam, Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam. As a result of Malcolms total commitment in the Islam religion and the organization, Malcolm was appointed as a national spokesman and a minister of the organization. Elijah Muhammad also gave him the responsibility of constructing new mosques in Harlem, Detroit, Michigan and New York, among other cities. He ensured that he communicated his messages to the nation of Islam through the print and broadcast media. As a result of his drive, charisma and conviction, he attracted so many new members in the organization. He broke a record, as the numbers increased from five hundred to thirty thousand from 1952 to 1963. He became popular, and severally attracted the attention of the media.2
After a television interview with a renowned presenter, Mike Wallace, in 1959, tension ensued between him and Elijah. This is because he had become popular than Elijah, his mentor. During the increased activities of the civil rights movements in 1963, he learnt of Elijahs promiscuous behavior, where he was accused of having affairs with over six Muslim women at the same time.2 In fact, he had even fathered some children. He could not understand why his own mentor could defy the teachings of Muhammad that all Islam followers were supposed to remain celibate until marriage. He felt deceived, so much so that he refused to keep quiet regarding this matter. He felt guilty because of the large number of people who had joined the Nation of Islam, as it was led by a person who did not practice what he preached. Elijah silenced him because he had talked ill about the late President John F. Kennedy. It was clear that the intentions were to make him not to reveal the secrets of Muhammad, and not for the comments he had made.2
Tension was not only internal he also faced a lot of scrutiny from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agents. This is because in the 1960s, there was a high level of racial activities. Since the group was known for its African- Americans acts against the supremacy of the whites, bugs, surveillance equipment, cameras and wiretaps were secretly placed so as to monitor what the entire group was involved in. One agent of the FBI had even interviewed Malcolms bodyguard.2
Events prior to Malcolms assassination
Before the death of Malcolm X, there were several attacks made to the members of the Nation of Islam who had left the group, with some losing their lives. These efforts created a good climate for the assassination of Malcolm X. His relationship with the members of the Nation of Islam and their leader was so volatile. This stemmed from the fact that he had renounced the actions of Elijah Muhammad and had exposed him to the public. He was marked for assassination, as the nation of Islams warned. There was an instance where one person had instructions from Elijah to have Malcolms car bombed. The attempt to murder him continued, and his life was always threatened. He never visited any place without being accompanied by bodyguards. In 1965, their home in New York was firebombed. At this time, he and his wife together with their four daughters survived the bomb attacks, as they escaped with some physical injuries.2
Malcolms assassination
Malcolm was delivering a speech on February 21, 1965 in the Manhattans Audubon Ballroom. Three gunmen rushed to him and shot him fifteen times at a very close range. Malcolm was pronounced dead immediately he was rushed to the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. At the time of his death, he was only thirty nine years old.2 His burial was attended by over fifteen hundred people. It was held in a church known as the Faith Temple Church of God in Harlem. The friends of Malcolm buried his remains by forcefully taking away the shovels from those who were digging the grave. He was buried in New York, at a cemetery known as Ferncliff. Betty, Malcolms wife was expectant at this time. She soon after gave birth to two daughters. The people responsible for the assassination of Malcolm belonged to the Nation of Islam movement. They were arrested and charged with high class murder in 1966.2
A legacy that lives on
His legacy has trickled down to generations through several movies, documentaries and books. Films have been acted in his respect and all who fought for the black liberation. In 1992, a movie known as Malcolm X was released by Spike Lee. It later received Oscar nominations for the best costume design and actor. The main actor was the renowned Denzel Washington.2
There are several people who heard him speak. His speeches were really inspirational. Even after his death, his principles were followed by many. Prior to his death, he had delivered a speech in Alabama on February 1965. Members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) were some of the people who started supporting his ideas. This was on issues like racial pride, self defense and the formation of organizations which were run by blacks. Some radical Marxists also followed his teachings especially those who were members of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). They became critical to capitalism just like Malcolm X did. They were against the classes that were in the society, where they were a few affluent citizens and very many ghetto dwellers, mainly of the black race.2
Discussion on his life occurrences
His association with Marcus Garvey
The parents had been very keen in ensuring that their children got the best kind of education. Before their death, they were actively involved in the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which was led by Marcus Garvey. The Littles frequently gave their children the movements materials to read. This influence helped them to be lovers of education. They learnt a lot especially from the movements paper referred to as The Negro World. The parents ensured that whatever learning they got had to align with the philosophical teachings of Garvey.3
The Organization of Afro-American Unity
This organization was formed after Malcolms visit to Mecca. It was a non -sectarian and non-religious group which aimed at uniting and organizing the Afro- Americans. This was a very constructive approach in the attainment of human rights. The group aimed at cooperating with all groups that consisted of the blacks. Even though the group was meant to unite the Africans and the Americans, it never accepted any whites as part of the group. Violence was not in any way advocated for. Instead, there was a strong emphasis on tactics which were non-violent. The group had a general view, that all the people who oppressed the others on the basis of their color were not morally sound. All the same, it was the responsibility of all people to protect themselves from the hate crimes of their opposite races.3
Racial discrimination was too much
He was a bright boy and graduated at first in his class at junior high. However, one incident made him to give up school, the problem of race. After being asked by his teacher about his career aspirations, he responded that he always wanted to be a lawyer. Consequently, the teacher made a statement which destroyed him and made him drop out of school, that his aspiration was no realistic goal for a nigger.4 As a result, he left school and went to look for petty jobs in Massachusetts. He finally ended up in organizing rings involved in gambling, narcotics and prostitution. Together with a friend, they were arrested and charged with robbery. The judge announced that his punishment would teach him To stay away from white girls, and the white people.4
Pilgrimage
After the formation of the Muslim Mosque Inc., Malcolm made his initial pilgrimage to Mecca. Upon his return, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbaz was his new name, which was adopted from an Islam group known as Sunni. He stated that this visit helped him realize the true brotherhood 4 of the human being. It is after this visit that he publicly stated that the white societies were not devils as he had previously said. Even though he said this, he still remained a staunch Black Nationalist. He continued to advocate for self-organization and determination for the blacks.4
It is after the pilgrimage that his interest in the African countries grew. He visited several African countries including Ghana, Sudan, Egypt and Nigeria. In this way, he had developed a Pan-Africanist or a Third World perspective as far as politics were concerned. In 1954, Malcolm delivered a speech where he compared the war in Vietnam to the colonial rebellion of the Mau Mau (a group which fought for Kenyas Independence) in Kenya. Malcolm considered both of these movements as uprisings of the blacks against the waves caused by the U.S.4
From Malcolm Little to Malcolm X
His stay in prison was characterized by several criminal activities. He continued to use drugs and take beer in prison. Additionally, he was frequently transferred from one prison to another. After staying for one year in Charlestown State Prison he was transferred to the Reformatory center of Concord (Mass) and lastly landed in the Prison Colony of Norfolk (Mass).He read so many cowboy books, and was a frequenter of the prison library. Even though most of the prisoners took the German and English courses so as to break the cells monotony, Malcolm read seriously. In an interview about his prison life, he stated that Language became an obsession with me. I began to realize the meaning and the power of words.4
His social life
Malcolm was married to a lady known as Betty Shabazz. He often affirmed the love he had for his wife in public. According to him, the wife was the most supportive as she sacrificed when Malcolm had to travel abroad. Sometimes, he would be away for over five months. He described her as a good Muslim woman and wife.5
The Nation of Islam
According to Saeed,6 the Nation of Islam, commonly referred to as NOI, was founded at a period when there were racial conflicts, known as the Great Depression Period.6 It became the largest nationalist organization of the African -Americans since the formation of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which was formed by Marcus Garvey. The NOI combined the ideas of the Black Nationalists and the pseudo Islamic doctrines. It was exclusively black, and had very strong political demands. The common belief of the organization was that the U.S. was the modern day Babylon soon to be destroyed by the wrath of God, whereupon blacks would ascend to their predestined positions as world rulers.6
Malcolm joins Orthodox Islam
Malcolm left the NOI in 1964 and became an orthodox Islam. He formed an organization known as the Muslim Mosque Inc. Consequently, he made visits to Asia and Africa .He stated that I am only warning of a power-keg situation. There are twenty two million African -Americans who are ready to fight for independence right here. I dont mean any nonviolent fight or turn-the-other-cheek fight. Those days are gone. Those days are over.6 These words made the rest of the black community in the world develop a sense of motivation, courage and pride. Instead of fighting against crime and race, Malcolm focused on the political, economic and social societal inequalities. In other words, he just decided to fight the institutional racism that was present in the society. He became the Black Power paradigm-the archetype, reference point, and spiritual advisor in absentia for a generation of Afro-American activists.6
Malcolm X was the most prominent Apostle of Elijah Muhammad. He was the chief spokesman and the one responsible for the recruitment of new members. He is in fact the one who recruited the famous boxing Champion, Muhammad Ali into the Nation of Islam movement.7
His faith
Malcolm practiced a unique religion which was referred to as the Black Muslim Faith. In this faith, there was a combination of the Islam aspects of religion and ideas of Black Nationalism and power. The founder of this idea was behind the Nation of Islam formation. He was known as Wallace Fard. According to Fard, Christianity was not a religion of the blacks. They despised it as it was associated with the whites who mistreated them. The African Americans were only forced to practice it during the slave period. Therefore, Islam was believed to be the best way the blacks would use to get their emancipation from the bondage of the white supremacy. It was considered very close to the identity and roots of the Africans.8
The members of the Nation of Islam identified Allah as their only God. They read their Holy Book, the Koran and respected Prophet Muhammad as their only chief prophet. All those who followed Fard were popularly known as the Black Muslims. It is only after the mysterious disappearance of Fard that Elijah Muhammad became the movements leader. One of the major aims of this religion was to ensure that the Blacks had their own churches, schools and networks of support. They did not at all believe in integration of the blacks and Whites. Adherence to high levels of moral standards was one of the things that the organization preached. There were many recruits, including prisoners.8
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr
The two are said to be the most significant figures behind the Civil Rights movements in the U.S. All the movements that were formed drastically changed the American society in the latter years. This was in relation to religion, social life and on the basis of the race. The movements they formed were responsible for the knocking away of the white supremacy in the U.S. Both of them were good orators, and they gave speeches which were meant to liberate the black race from oppression of the whites. Even though there are very close links between the two in history, their leadership styles, visions, ideals, family backgrounds and religious beliefs were quite different. All the same, they have set records in the annals of history, in that they were instrumental in the black liberation.9
The theories and Malcolm X behavior
The social psychologists had a lot to say regarding all the actions of Malcolm X. These theories reflect a strong bias in relation to the status quo of the black race. The critics of Malcolm X state that his significance has been misunderstood. He has never been given respect as one of the major pioneers of the U.S. Black liberation. He was viewed as a good example of the personalities affected by pathology, and those who had led their lives in the urban ghetto. Social scientists described his leadership as demagogic, and that he was fully inspired by the blind hatred that he had against the White people.10
Additionally, the critics argue that Malcolm lacked the serious reflection of a rational thinker.10 Most importantly, the action of the masses that was led by Malcolm was viewed as pathological, as they were always involved in rebellion. The only theory that clearly supports the liberation acts of Malcolm X is the Resource Mobilization Theory. This is because it involves using all the groups in the society based on status and race so as to fight for the rights of the oppressed.10
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Malcolm X played a very big part in the liberation of the Black Islam group and the minority races in general. There has always been a rift between the black and the white race since the slave trade period. He however tried to change this by forming an organization which would unite the two antagonizing races. Though he died at a young age, his message still ran across the generations. It has seen the rise of very great leaders, including President Barrack Obama, whose election affirmed that all races in the world are equal, as well as religions.
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