Malcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X, was a self-destructive youth who was transformed into an educated leader. An African American leader, famous and followed for his strong belief in Black Pride and equal rights, overcame many trials and tribulations throughout his life. He is a great example on shifting his paradigm and changing a lifestyle that would eventually result in and early, and unexpected, death. Showing a desire for learning and education, he fulfilled his hunger for knowledge through reading and experiencing. Malcolm X overcame his addiction to cocaine, gambling and other crimes, showing personal growth and overcoming adversity.
Malcolm Little, born fourth into a family of seven, had a rough childhood. His father, Earl Little, was a very influential Baptist lay speaker, a Pan-African supporter, and a local leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. His father taught his children the values of Black Pride and self-reliance, which would later impact Malcolm when he grew up.
When Malcolm was at a young age three of his brothers, one of which was lynched, died violently at the hands of the local White Suppremists. Because of Ku Klux Klan threats, the Little family was forced to relocate to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1926. In 1929 the Little’s home was burned down by Klansmen, fortunately, the family escaped with minor injuries. Malcolm suffered from many racial antagonism and harassment during his years growing up.
Malcolm grew up in the ghetto and later got involved in drug dealing, racketeering, robbery and pimping. He got arrested for picking up a stolen watch he dropped off at a repair store. He was sentenced to 8-10 years in prison. While in prison he continued his self-destructive behaviors until he met a man he called Bimbi. Bimbi encouraged him to educate himself by reading and changing his life around. Malcolm found the Nation of Islam (NOI) and changed himself. This transformation and commitment to the NOI would later influence his speeches and teachings.
Malcolm X was a very influential and educated speaker for the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad appointed Malcolm and the National Speaker for the NOI after he led a demonstration due to police brutality. I think his greatest accomplishment was recognizing a problem with society at the time, and he had the incentive to do something about it. Many people viewed him as a hate monger and a Black Suppremist, but in my opinion he was standing up for what he believed in. Malcolm X was on a path to death but he changed it and turned into one of the most educated and influential leader of his time. Everyone else was allowing negative things to go on that society deemed appropriate, but Malcolm saw the visible flaws in what was going on and he committed to stopping it. He went to extremes to stopping the racial hate that was going on. What was happening deserved to be treated harshly and extremely.
Malcolm X exemplifies many aspects of the Creed, but the most profound ones are Education and Life Long Learning, and Personal Growth. While Malcolm was in prison he educated himself by reading books and then he developed a love for learning and education. A high school drop out turned into a smart, well educated leader is a good way to describe Malcolm X. He was a drug addict, preferably cocaine, a gambling addict and a thief, but he changed his life around, with help from Bimbi and the NOI. He changed his self-destructive behaviors and became clean and respectable. Malcolm X was very smart, excelling in school, until the eighth grade. A teacher had told him he couldn’t do anything because he was black and then he dropped out. He figured out a legal way to evade the draft to fight in World War Two and didn’t get caught for most of his crimes. He wasn’t stupid and when he decided to put his brain to good use he made history.
Malcolm X, demonstrating a desire for education and life long learning and personal growth is an example we should all look up to and follow. Seeing through his mistakes, and only looking at the positive, will allow us to better ourselves and improve certain aspects of our lives. Sometimes all of us could do, as Malcolm X demonstrated, is seeing the flaws in the society and media and make an effort to change it. There is always room for improvement and everything changes, except change, so we should influence the world we live in positively. Malcolm X shows that you can always turn your life around, even in the darkest circumstance. We should implement his positive aspects into ourselves. I respect him for what he did and his inherent values and skills.
Bibliography:
Gormley, Beatrice, “Malcolm X: A Revolutionary Voice”. Copyright Date: 2008 to Sterling Biographies, New York. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
Sherol, “Malcolm X: A Story with a Twist”. Africana Online, August 18, 2010. Site visited on March 16, 2011.
www.africanaonline.com/2010/08/malcolm-x-a-story-with-a-twist/
“Malcolm X” Wikipedia.org. Site visited on March 16, 2011.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
5 comments:
Hey Nate, I think that you have a talent for writing. They way that you word your sentences makes me interested in what you have to say. One thing I would to see you excel in during your writing is length. I really enjoy your papers and I would like to see them longer. One thing that i learned in your paper is that Malcolm X went to prison then decided to learn instead of continuing down in his downward spiral that won't get him anywhere.
Lesli's right, your a great writer, you went deep in to detail when others just used what ever they can find.I don't think you could have made this any better. I didn't know that he went to prison over a stolen watch, I thought it was because he killed someone, but this is a good paper. "make it a little shorter though"
You're such a good writer! I really liked how you are trying to inspire people to follow his example. You did good, because I didn't know anything about Malcom X and know there is a lot to consider! Great JOb!
Wow, you described Malcolm X in great detail. I can't think of anything you need to change in your paper. I didn't know Malcolm X was into drugs, woman, and dealing.
You did really good with your word choices and very specific with what he did and the concepts of his accomplishments great job man.
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