In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X illustrates his life as an Afro-American by showing the readers examples of systemic oppression, racial identity, and separation vs integration (central ideas). The three key events that interact to develop the central ideas in the memoir includes: Malcolm’s talk with his teacher Mr. Otrowski, his incarceration, and his pilgrimage to Mecca. Malcolm’s imprisonment ties into the central idea systemic oppression because Malcolm began to practice the teachings of Elijah Muhammad in which he would later become a radical. It also can tie into racial identity because Malcolm learns about the teachings of Elijah Muhammad in which he would later become a radical advocating civil rights for African Americans.
…show more content…
In court, the girls that assisted Malcolm got low bail while Malcolm and Shorty had to serve 10 years in prison. This is an example of systemic oppression because Malcolm and Shorty faced harsher consequences compared to the white girls who had to face one to five years in prison. Also, on page 153, the court clerks and the bailiffs said “Nice white girls…goddam niggers” which further shows how society doesn’t recognize African Americans as their equal. Malcolm’s incarceration also ties into the central idea racial identity, which can be seen when Malcolm started to practice the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. While in prison, Malcolm starts to develop an anti-white prejudice when he learns about “the true knowledge” or “Yacub’s History.” In this story, Malcolm learns that the black race was the first race to come into existence and the “devil” white race was “the enemy of the blacks” (170). Malcolm would enhance his knowledge by reading books about history involving the crimes of the whites like Uncle Tom’s Cabin. For example, he learns about slavery and how the “evil white men” would beat their slaves with weapons like whips and chains. Also, he states how “books like the on by Frederick Olmstead opened my eyes to the horrors suffered when the slave was landed in the United States” (179). Because of Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm changed the way he perceived the world around him and …show more content…
Malcolm also noticed how people looked upon him as a Muslim rather than a Negro. Compared to the America, the people that Malcolm met on his pilgrimage were more accepting to people of different skin color. When Malcolm made the Hajj to Mecca, Malcolm witnessed a lack of racial division within the Islamic world. In his letters that he sent to various people, he says how he never witnessed “such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races” (346). This relates to the central idea integration vs separation because it shows people of different races accept each other in the Islamic world and the Western world fails to mirror this unity and brotherhood due to racism. It opened Malcolm’s eyes to the true nature of his religion and it supports the unity of all races. An example of his change is shown on page 370 when a random white passenger in a car asked Malcolm to shake hands with a white man. Malcolm responded, “I don’t mind shaking hands with human beings”
In court, the girls that assisted Malcolm got low bail while Malcolm and Shorty had to serve 10 years in prison. This is an example of systemic oppression because Malcolm and Shorty faced harsher consequences compared to the white girls who had to face one to five years in prison. Also, on page 153, the court clerks and the bailiffs said “Nice white girls…goddam niggers” which further shows how society doesn’t recognize African Americans as their equal. Malcolm’s incarceration also ties into the central idea racial identity, which can be seen when Malcolm started to practice the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. While in prison, Malcolm starts to develop an anti-white prejudice when he learns about “the true knowledge” or “Yacub’s History.” In this story, Malcolm learns that the black race was the first race to come into existence and the “devil” white race was “the enemy of the blacks” (170). Malcolm would enhance his knowledge by reading books about history involving the crimes of the whites like Uncle Tom’s Cabin. For example, he learns about slavery and how the “evil white men” would beat their slaves with weapons like whips and chains. Also, he states how “books like the on by Frederick Olmstead opened my eyes to the horrors suffered when the slave was landed in the United States” (179). Because of Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm changed the way he perceived the world around him and …show more content…
Malcolm also noticed how people looked upon him as a Muslim rather than a Negro. Compared to the America, the people that Malcolm met on his pilgrimage were more accepting to people of different skin color. When Malcolm made the Hajj to Mecca, Malcolm witnessed a lack of racial division within the Islamic world. In his letters that he sent to various people, he says how he never witnessed “such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races” (346). This relates to the central idea integration vs separation because it shows people of different races accept each other in the Islamic world and the Western world fails to mirror this unity and brotherhood due to racism. It opened Malcolm’s eyes to the true nature of his religion and it supports the unity of all races. An example of his change is shown on page 370 when a random white passenger in a car asked Malcolm to shake hands with a white man. Malcolm responded, “I don’t mind shaking hands with human beings”