Racism, Prejudice And Discrimination In Malcolm X

Racism, discrimination, and prejudice are things that are prevalent throughout the novel and evident in Malcolm’s life. Malcolm witnesses discrimination proposed by his own race when his father gives him special treatment over his other siblings because of his lighter complexion. He is also exposed to racism firsthand numerous times, shaping his views on not only racism itself, but the people implementing it. Events such as these, and others gradually shape Malcolm to be the person he is. As the novel progresses, Malcolm’s mindset and perspective on life, racism, and white society change. The progression of Malcolm’s mentality prevails overall, displaying how events that he goes through influence and alter his perspective on certain matters. …show more content…
He does not grasp the bigger picture and does not comprehend that racism is an issue that the African American race deals with collectively. When the Swerlin family adopts him, he feels like an outsider. The family is white, while he is black, and he does not have acquire a sense of belonging. In school, Malcolm is top in his class, but still feels like an outcast due to his skin color. He exclaims, “My grades were among the highest in the school. I was unique in my class, like a pink poodle” (page 31). This shows the saddening truth that although he is a bright individual, he notices that it is irrelevant if his skin is darker than his peers. He feels as though he is their mascot and not a true human being. The turning point in Malcolm’s adolescent character, and the time that he truly grasps the extent of pure racism, is the interaction he has with his teacher. Malcolm aspires to be a lawyer and informs his teachers of his dreams. His teacher specifies that a career in carpentry would be more suitable for him, while he supports the high career goals of his classmates who are far less intelligent than him. At this point, Malcolm realizes that no matter how bright he is, his color will always overpower the presence of intelligence. The realization that white people will never see him as their equal creats a resentment towards white …show more content…
Events that happen in his life allow him to gain a new outlook on predispositions that he had about certain topics. By gaining these new outlooks, Malcolm’s character not only changes, but also improves overall. Malcolm grasps a powerful attitude towards racism and prejudice. At the beginning of the novel Malcolm selfishly views racism as a personal attack on him. Later on in his life, he realizes that the unfair treatment of his race by white society is the direct cause of the poor conditions his people have to undergo. These events enable him to become very angry and bitter towards the white race, informing African Americans that they do not need the assistance of white people to prosper and that they are able to do it themselves. Towards the end of the novel Malcolm comes to an understanding that racism is not customary in the Islamic world. This newfound information truly changes him as a person and allows him to come to the realization that equality for blacks is not the only goal that the human race should attend to. He believes that all races should live collectively and equally amongst one another. As the story unfolds, Malcolm’s progression towards a more mature mindset is very evident. The audience is able to witness his personal growth from an angry activist to a tranquil leader truly seeking equality for all