Malcolm X 's actions as a leader are both opposed and celebrated, due to his villainous portrayal as a drug-dealing criminal versus a courageous and principled freedom fighter. Malcolm X was an African American civil rights activist and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam. A hero of the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, he was known over the course of his life as Detroit Red, Malcolm X most famously, and finally as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Assessing the legacy of his leadership is complex as throughout Malcolm X’s life his attitude to civil rights and the best methods of achieving them changed and much of his testament is viewed through the lense of his Islamic beliefs. Perspective is important in deciding whether Malcolm
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In the final year of his life he had began rejecting his prior views on race and reevaluating his political ideas. Malcolm X died “just as he was moving toward revolutionary ideas that challenged oppression in all its forms”. (Shawki, 2015)
The various representations, readings, and interpretations of Malcolm X differ in their portrayal of him as heroic or villainous.
Malcolm X is considered a villain due to the fact that he was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, led a life of crime prior to his imprisonment and conversion to Islam and made controversial statements such as encouraging complete separation from white America and encouraging African Americans to combat racism "by any means necessary," including violence. His philosophies on the use of violence to achieve equality and criticism of mainstream civil rights strategies of non-violence and civil disobedience were considered controversial. Malcolm X criticised the method of nonviolence underpinning the Southern desegregation movement, frustrated by the civil rights movement’s lack of progress. He argued instead for black self-defense and said “be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts a hand on you, send him to the cemetery.” Malcolm X association with the Nation of Islam painted him in a villainous …show more content…
His actions as freedom fighter and a anti-Racism spokesman are often viewed positively. He energised thousands of African American people to take action by articulating “their moods, feelings, and sensibilities in ways that helped them gain greater clarity as to who they were, what their problems were, and how they might go about building a movement to liberate themselves.” (Sale, 2010). His martyrdom is also considered heroic as “he died as he lived; working, teaching and inspiring” people. (Joseph,
In the final year of his life he had began rejecting his prior views on race and reevaluating his political ideas. Malcolm X died “just as he was moving toward revolutionary ideas that challenged oppression in all its forms”. (Shawki, 2015)
The various representations, readings, and interpretations of Malcolm X differ in their portrayal of him as heroic or villainous.
Malcolm X is considered a villain due to the fact that he was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, led a life of crime prior to his imprisonment and conversion to Islam and made controversial statements such as encouraging complete separation from white America and encouraging African Americans to combat racism "by any means necessary," including violence. His philosophies on the use of violence to achieve equality and criticism of mainstream civil rights strategies of non-violence and civil disobedience were considered controversial. Malcolm X criticised the method of nonviolence underpinning the Southern desegregation movement, frustrated by the civil rights movement’s lack of progress. He argued instead for black self-defense and said “be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts a hand on you, send him to the cemetery.” Malcolm X association with the Nation of Islam painted him in a villainous …show more content…
His actions as freedom fighter and a anti-Racism spokesman are often viewed positively. He energised thousands of African American people to take action by articulating “their moods, feelings, and sensibilities in ways that helped them gain greater clarity as to who they were, what their problems were, and how they might go about building a movement to liberate themselves.” (Sale, 2010). His martyrdom is also considered heroic as “he died as he lived; working, teaching and inspiring” people. (Joseph,