Malcolm X Influence

Born Malcolm Little, Malcolm X’s childhood changed quickly and dramatically with the death of his father by racially motivated murderers in Omaha, Nebraska. When his mother was unable to deal with the tragic loss of her husband, she became mentally ill and left her home to live in a mental hospital, while Malcolm moved away to Boston, where he became quickly absorbed in the Urban lifestyle. He lost sense of himself as he became more involved in drugs and crime, and his carelessness led to his arrest. Lost, alone, and locked up, he submerged himself in religion, discovering Allah and the Nation of Islam. Bigotry and prejudice inspired him to speak out against the unfair treatment of the black community in America, furthering his eloquent speaking …show more content…
During the civil rights movement, Malcolm X was the figurehead for violently protesting racial injustice. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of peaceful protesting, Malcolm firmly believed the only way to combat oppression was to do so aggressively. Many African American civil rights activists accepted his beliefs and utilized them in their struggle for equality. As his ideologies gained traction within the fight for civil rights, he became a prominent black nationalist leader, often referencing the Islamic faith in his teachings. In one of his speeches, Malcolm X explained how whites put up a facade when interacting with black people by saying, “I don’t care how nice one is to you, the thing you must always remember is that almost never does he really see you as he sees himself, as he sees his own kind” (Haley and Malcolm X 28). He preached to his followers the deceptive nature of the white man, explaining their unwavering ability to view the black community as starkly inferior. Malcolm X often expressed his belief that skin color poses obstacles in the fight for racial equality, causing the black community to realize their desire to fight for their freedom. His words struck a chord with many black Americans, which fueled their willingness to fight for their cause. In a speech to his followers, he exclaimed, “You want to know how to spread my …show more content…
Malcolm X went through a variety of challenges to create the person that could make a difference in the world, but becoming a new person took an immense amount of work. As Malcolm broke away from the Nation of Islam and devoted his life to his new religious beliefs, he felt empowered to impact the equality problem going into the pre-civil rights era. Not only did he stand up for his beliefs, but he also persevered to become a leader and role model in the efforts to create racial equality. Without his strong work ethic, the journey he went through could have ended up on a different path. Embracing the time consumed from making a change, Malcolm X pointed out, “I live by my watch, keeping appointments. Even when I’m using my car, I drive by my watch, not my speedometer. Time is more important to me than distance” (Haley and Malcolm X 196). Living by the time on his clock, Malcolm X packed every day with opportunities to support his cause and raise awareness in order to change the world around him. He dedicated his life to combating racial equality, and he displayed his passion through his consistent hard work to change a world that became desensitized to the discrimination. For instance, Malcolm X set up rally group and various events to spread the issues of equal rights to the public. Every minute