The most articulate spokesman for black power was Malcolm X. Malcolm has risen from a ghetto childhood involving narcotics dealing and other crimes to becoming the chief disciple of Elijah Mohammad, the Black Muslim leader in the United States. “Yes, I'm an extremist,” Malcolm acknowledged in 1964. “The black race in the United States is in extremely bad shape. You show me a black man who isn't an extremist and I'll show you one who needs psychiatric attention.” By 1964 Malcolm had broken with Elijah Mohammad and founded an organization committed to the establishment of alliances between African-American and the “colored” people of the world. However, shortly after the publication of Autobiography in 1964, Malcolm was gunned down by Harlem
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First, it motivated African-Americans to take greater pride in their racial heritage. As Malcolm X often pointed out, prolonged slavery and institutional racism had eroded the self esteem of many blacks. “The worst crime that the white man has committed,” he declared, “has been to teach us to hate ourselves.” He and others helped blacks appreciate their African roots and their American accomplishments. As a matter of fact, it was Malcolm X who insisted that blacks call themselves African-Americans as a symbol of pride in their roots and as a spur to learn more about their history as a …show more content…
Micheal Eric Dyson once said, “His influence was so far-reaching that it is sometimes hard to spot. Who today can remember what it was like, in the early 60's, when most Americans still imagined that race was a soluble problem, or that underneath, color aside, blacks and whites were fundamentally the same?” I didn't agree with his method at first that he advocated the use of violence,particularly in self defence,as the most effective method for blacks to obtain full civil rights in practice in USA. Personally,while I agree that violence is justified in self defence in certain circumstances,as a policy for getting a law change in a properly functioning democracy it can only be counterproductive,so I wouldn't support the use of violence as an overall policy for black civil rights at the time. However, over time he became more lenient, softened up, and advocated for the civil right of not just blacks, but all. “He did not invent most of these ideas, and he did not create the rage he tapped into. But by giving voice to this message just when and how he did, he changed forever the racial consciousness of both blacks and whites.”-Micheal Eric
First, it motivated African-Americans to take greater pride in their racial heritage. As Malcolm X often pointed out, prolonged slavery and institutional racism had eroded the self esteem of many blacks. “The worst crime that the white man has committed,” he declared, “has been to teach us to hate ourselves.” He and others helped blacks appreciate their African roots and their American accomplishments. As a matter of fact, it was Malcolm X who insisted that blacks call themselves African-Americans as a symbol of pride in their roots and as a spur to learn more about their history as a …show more content…
Micheal Eric Dyson once said, “His influence was so far-reaching that it is sometimes hard to spot. Who today can remember what it was like, in the early 60's, when most Americans still imagined that race was a soluble problem, or that underneath, color aside, blacks and whites were fundamentally the same?” I didn't agree with his method at first that he advocated the use of violence,particularly in self defence,as the most effective method for blacks to obtain full civil rights in practice in USA. Personally,while I agree that violence is justified in self defence in certain circumstances,as a policy for getting a law change in a properly functioning democracy it can only be counterproductive,so I wouldn't support the use of violence as an overall policy for black civil rights at the time. However, over time he became more lenient, softened up, and advocated for the civil right of not just blacks, but all. “He did not invent most of these ideas, and he did not create the rage he tapped into. But by giving voice to this message just when and how he did, he changed forever the racial consciousness of both blacks and whites.”-Micheal Eric