malcolm x analysis essay

Malcolm X’s “Ballot or Bullet” Speech: An Analysis Essay

On 12 April 1964, Malcolm X delivered his famous “Ballot or Bullet” speech to inspire Black Nationalism and urge African Americans to fight for their rights. This essay analyses the many instances of rhetorical devices used by Malcolm X in his speech.

Malcolm opens his speech with a dramatic flourish when he states that “This afternoon we want to talk about “The ballot or the bullet.” The ballot or the bullet explains itself…”. Straight away, the speaker appeals to use Pathos by homing on to the emotions of his audience. Here Malcolm is quizzically talking about the choice of the Black people to either adopt peaceful means through the electoral process or take up arms to win their rights. The emotional appeal of the opening gambit is reinforced with Logos that Malcolm uses to build his case. Malcolm employs the ‘them versus us’ logic by identifying the white man as an “enemy” who had kidnapped the Black people and brought them to America. Malcolm then goes on to build his logic by asserting that the speech is about social and political rights and not religion which he urges his audience to “Keep it between you and your God”. Here Malcolm, in a convoluted way, is using the parameter of Ethos to separate the matters of the Church from that of the State. Malcolm then raises the emotional pitch of his rhetoric by arguing that “They don’t hang you because you’re a Baptist; they hang you ’cause you’re black. They don’t attack me because I’m a Muslim; they attack me ’cause I’m black”. Here the emotional appeal is extremely strident where Malcolm strikes at the collective feeling of persecution that the Blacks in America felt during the 1960s that it was the color of their skin that made the White people look down upon them and treat them inferior.

Malcolm then builds up the logic to say that the Government had failed the Black people and now only ‘self-help’ was possible and he brings in the imagery of Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali) to reinforce the next part of his argument of fighting it out and adhere to Black nationalism to claim their equal rights. Malcolm then calls America a “hypocritical colonial power” that is yet another emotional rhetorical point as he links it with the condition of Blacks as “20th-century slaves” and “second class citizens. Malcolm’s next development takes Pathos to a fever pitch when he states that there has never been blood- less revolution and that the choice of Ballot or the Bullet existed for the Black man which the White people should understand and prevent bloodshed by giving the Black man his rights.

The entire speech is built on sweeping generalities with no specificity in the accusations. Malcolm makes the least sense or logic when he talks about the White man’s “Atomic Bomb’, which is completely out of context with the general flow of his speech. There is nothing ethical in Malcolm’s urgings in his overt and covert ‘call to arms’ though he cleverly covers up by giving a choice of either using the ‘Ballot’ or the ‘Bullet’ when he actually is exhorting the Black people to use the ‘Bullets’. In the final analysis, using Aristotelian parameters of a rhetorical speech it can be stated that the entire speech is steeped in Pathos meant to whip up sentiments, with less emphasis on Logos ad the least on Ethos.

X, M., & Starr, S. (2018). The ballot or the bullet. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

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Bibliography

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The Ballot or the Bullet

By malcolm x, the ballot or the bullet summary and analysis of the ballot or the bullet, part 1.

" The Ballot or the Bullet " opens by addressing the differences in religious beliefs that divide the African-American community. Malcolm X , a Muslim, credits Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam, with making him into the man he is today. Malcolm X is the minister of Muslim Mosque Incorporated, just like Martin Luther King and Adam Clayton Powell are both Christian ministers. Though he holds different religious beliefs from King and Powell, all three men are united by their prodigious work as civil rights advocates. He declares that religion is a personal matter, not a political one. He is not here today to discuss his relationship with God, but to speak about black nationalism.

Malcolm X defines black nationalism as the philosophy that African-Americans “should control the politics and the politicians in (their) own community.” Economically, it means frequenting African-American owned and operated businesses, whose profit will feed back into the black community and strengthen it. He declares himself to be “a black nationalist freedom fighter.”

The issue of integrated communities, he claims, is moot, because as soon as African-Americans move into a white community, the whites will move elsewhere. As such, African-Americans must endeavor to educate themselves on which politicians will best serve the aims of the civil rights movement.

Being a black nationalist, Malcolm X says, does not require you to give up any of your personal organizational affiliations. You can subscribe to whichever religious beliefs you’d like, and remain a member of whichever civic organizations you’d like.

Malcolm X juxtaposes black nationalism with the non-violent philosophy of advocates like Martin Luther King Jr., who favor peaceful protest, which Malcolm denounces as passive. Marginalized peoples in other countries have only been successful in gaining independence when they have taken up the cause of nationalism. Second-class citizenship, such as is held by the African-American community, is tantamount to 20th-century slavery, says Malcolm.

According to Malcolm X, 1964 is the year of the ballot or the bullet not only because it is the year of what he considers a failed march on Washington, but because it is an election year, and because there is a new generation of African-Americans who are no longer willing to be subjugated.

The history of America is one of colonialism; Malcolm likens the colonists’ struggle against the British to that of African-Americans against white supremacy.

Malcolm X warns African-Americans against the white politicians that will come into their communities (for the first and last time, he suggests) and make false promises of equality. He explains that he does not subscribe to either the Democratic or the Republican party, because he considers himself “a victim of America’s so-called democracy.” For African-Americans, there is no American dream, only an American nightmare. It doesn’t matter, he says, if you go to jail, because black people are already there.

The African-American community has enormous political power, Malcolm X claims, if they vote as one. The white community is divided by its party affiliations, and as such, elections are often so close that there is cause for a recount. If the black community throws their support behind a single candidate, as they did behind Kennedy, that candidate will win.

At the start of "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X dispenses with the divisive issue of religion in favor of the common cause of civil rights. He likens his status as a Muslim to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s as a Christian, knowing that in the past, his own religious affiliation has been a point of contention; he and Dr. King may have different ways of worshipping, but they are both known as civil rights leaders. Religious differences, he worries, might hinder solidarity in the African-American community.

This downplaying of his religion reverberates in the context of a speech advocating for political engagement. The Nation of Islam, as led by Elijah Muhammed, forbade its members from participating in political processes. Earlier in the year, Malcolm X, once an outspoken follower of Elijah Muhammed, declared his separation from the Nation of Islam and realigned himself with the civil rights movement. In these opening paragraphs, Malcolm X calls for increased political participation and awareness in the black community. This marks a meaningful divide between Malcolm X’s ethos and the ethos of the Nation of Islam.

Malcolm provides an economic summary of black nationalism: African-Americans should buy from African-American owned and operated businesses so as to feed the prosperity of their own communities and “lift the level…to a higher level…so that we will be satisfied in our own circles and won’t be running around here to knock our way into a social circle where we’re not wanted.” This economic attitude is in keeping with the larger social and political attitudes of separatism that marked black nationalism, which claimed that integration would only result in further oppression of black peoples and advocated, as the name suggests, for entirely separate and self-governed communities.

In this first section of the speech, Malcolm relies on appealing to the pride of the African-American community, particularly through language centering on the emasculation of black peoples and the necessity of relying on brute force over peaceful protest. Relying on peaceful protests such as sit-ins “castrates” the black man, says Malcolm. Sit-ins are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the African-American community as cowardly and weak. If gaming the political system doesn’t work, he recommends African-Americans turn to outright revolution. “Well, you and I been sitting long enough,” he claims, “and it’s time for us today to start doing some standing and some fighting to back that up.”

Malcolm X frequently uses provocative language to incite anger in his audience, as is evident in his accusation that the white man has “made a fool out of you.” Here, he is utilizing the rhetorical device of pathos, or appealing to the audience’s emotions, to his advantage. Insulting his listener is meant to stoke the listener’s sense of anger and injustice, and therefore to provoke him into more direct action against white supremacy than the peaceful protests advocated for by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are able to do.

Malcolm X invokes one American dream while condemning another. The white man didn’t know what he was doing when he let black children read about “liberty or death” in his history books, he says. Like the colonists, Malcolm X is ready to fight tooth and nail for the liberation of his community, whether that means using his vote advantageously or participating in outright revolution. George Washington and Patrick Henry didn’t win the American revolution, the soldiers did. So too will the black community win by force, and not by peaceful protest.

Meanwhile, the American dream of equal opportunity is not one that applies to African-Americans. The black man is not born free, he is “born in jail,” victim of structural oppression and to the hypocrisy of a government that claims to represent the interests of all Americans. Everything south of the Canadian border is the South, he jokes. In one of many clever turns of phrase, Malcolm employs both humor and repetition to rename the situation facing African-Americans as “an American nightmare.”

The Ballot or the Bullet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

in "the Ballot or the Bullet" with Malcom X. what made the speaker qualified to give this speech.

Malcolm X wa the leading black figure in the American Civil Rights movement advocating for a stronger even violent response to White American apathy of black rights. "The Ballot or the Bullet," a famous civil rights speech delivered by Malcolm X...

Malcolm X religious beliefs had caused controversy within the Black community. How does he use his beliefs to persuade a mixed audience about the importance of voting to African Americans?

Summary of Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech.

Gradesaver has a complete summary of "The Ballot of the Bullet" speech readily available in its study guide for this unit.

Study Guide for The Ballot or the Bullet

The Ballot or the Bullet study guide contains a biography of Malcolm X, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Ballot or the Bullet
• The Ballot or the Bullet Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Ballot or the Bullet

The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X.

• Malcolm X: His Voice in Poetry and Politics
• A Question of Appeal: Rhetorical Analysis of Malcolm X and MLK

Wikipedia Entries for The Ballot or the Bullet

• Introduction

May 19, 1925 to February 21, 1965

As the nation’s most visible proponent of  Black Nationalism , Malcolm X’s challenge to the multiracial, nonviolent approach of Martin Luther King, Jr., helped set the tone for the ideological and tactical conflicts that took place within the black freedom struggle of the 1960s. Given Malcolm X’s abrasive criticism of King and his advocacy of racial separatism, it is not surprising that King rejected the occasional overtures from one of his fiercest critics. However, after Malcolm’s assassination in 1965, King wrote to his widow, Betty Shabazz: “While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem” (King, 26 February 1965).

Malcolm Little was born to Louise and Earl Little in Omaha, Nebraska, on 19 May 1925. His father died when he was six years old—the victim, he believed, of a white racist group. Following his father’s death, Malcolm recalled, “Some kind of psychological deterioration hit our family circle and began to eat away our pride” (Malcolm X,  Autobiography , 14). By the end of the 1930s Malcolm’s mother had been institutionalized, and he became a ward of the court to be raised by white guardians in various reform schools and foster homes.

Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam (NOI) while serving a prison term in Massachusetts on burglary charges. Shortly after his release in 1952, he moved to Chicago and became a minister under Elijah Muhammad, abandoning his “slave name,” and becoming Malcolm X (Malcolm X, “We Are Rising”). By the late 1950s, Malcolm had become the NOI’s leading spokesman.

Although Malcolm rejected King’s message of  nonviolence , he respected King as a “fellow-leader of our people,” sending King NOI articles as early as 1957 and inviting him to participate in mass meetings throughout the early 1960s ( Papers  5:491 ). Although Malcolm was particularly interested that King hear Elijah Muhammad’s message, he also sought to create an open forum for black leaders to explore solutions to the “race problem” (Malcolm X, 31 July 1963). King never accepted Malcolm’s invitations, however, leaving communication with him to his secretary, Maude  Ballou .

Despite his repeated overtures to King, Malcolm did not refrain from criticizing him publicly. “The only revolution in which the goal is loving your enemy,” Malcolm told an audience in 1963, “is the Negro revolution … That’s no revolution” (Malcolm X, “Message to the Grassroots,” 9).

In the spring of 1964, Malcolm broke away from the NOI and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. When he returned he began following a course that paralleled King’s—combining religious leadership and political action. Although King told reporters that Malcolm’s separation from Elijah Muhammad “holds no particular significance to the present civil rights efforts,” he argued that if “tangible gains are not made soon all across the country, we must honestly face the prospect that some Negroes might be tempted to accept some oblique path [such] as that Malcolm X proposes” (King, 16 March 1964).

Ten days later, during the Senate debate on the  Civil Rights Act of 1964 , King and Malcolm met for the first and only time. After holding a press conference in the Capitol on the proceedings, King encountered Malcolm in the hallway. As King recalled in a 3 April letter, “At the end of the conference, he came and spoke to me, and I readily shook his hand.” King defended shaking the hand of an adversary by saying that “my position is that of kindness and reconciliation” (King, 3 April 1965).

Malcolm’s primary concern during the remainder of 1964 was to establish ties with the black activists he saw as more militant than King. He met with a number of workers from the  Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee  (SNCC), including SNCC chairman John  Lewis  and Mississippi organizer Fannie Lou  Hamer . Malcolm saw his newly created Organization of African American Unity (OAAU) as a potential source of ideological guidance for the more militant veterans of the southern civil rights movement. At the same time, he looked to the southern struggle for inspiration in his effort to revitalize the Black Nationalist movement.

In January 1965, he revealed in an interview that the OAAU would “support fully and without compromise any action by any group that is designed to get meaningful immediate results” (Malcolm X,  Two Speeches , 31). Malcolm urged civil rights groups to unite, telling a gathering at a symposium sponsored by the  Congress of Racial Equality : “We want freedom now, but we’re not going to get it saying ‘We Shall Overcome.’ We've got to fight to overcome” (Malcolm X,  Malcolm X Speaks , 38).

In early 1965, while King was jailed in Selma, Alabama, Malcolm traveled to Selma, where he had a private meeting with Coretta Scott  King . “I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult,” he assured Coretta. “I really did come thinking that I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King” (Scott King, 256).

On 21 February 1965, just a few weeks after his visit to Selma, Malcolm X was assassinated. King called his murder a “great tragedy” and expressed his regret that it “occurred at a time when Malcolm X was … moving toward a greater understanding of the nonviolent movement” (King, 24 February 1965). He asserted that Malcolm’s murder deprived “the world of a potentially great leader” (King, “The Nightmare of Violence”). Malcolm’s death signaled the beginning of bitter battles involving proponents of the ideological alternatives the two men represented.

Maude L. Ballou to Malcolm X, 1 February 1957, in  Papers  4:117 .

Goldman, Death and Life of Malcolm X , 1973.

King, “The Nightmare of Violence,”  New York Amsterdam News , 13 March 1965.

King, Press conference on Malcolm X’s assassination, 24 February 1965,  MLKJP-GAMK .

King, Statement on Malcolm X’s break with Elijah Muhammad, 16 March 1964,  MCMLK-RWWL .

King to Abram Eisenman, 3 April 1964,  MLKJP-GAMK .

King to Shabazz, 26 February 1965,  MCMLK-RWWL .

(Scott) King,  My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. , 1969.

Malcolm X, Interview by Harry Ring over Station WBAI-FM in New York, in  Two Speeches by Malcolm X , 1965.

Malcolm X, “Message to the Grassroots,”  in Malcolm X Speaks , ed. George Breitman, 1965.

Malcolm X, “We Are Rising From the Dead Since We Heard Messenger Muhammad Speak,”  Pittsburgh Courier , 15 December 1956.

Malcolm X to King, 21 July 1960, in  Papers  5:491 .

Malcolm X to King, 31 July 1963, 

Malcolm X with Haley,  Autobiography of Malcolm X , 1965.

Historical Material

Maude L. Ballou to Malcolm X

From Malcolm X

• Lesson Plans
• Teacher's Guides
• Media Resources

Malcolm X: A Radical Vision for Civil Rights

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X waiting for press conference, March 26, 1964.

Wikimedia Commons

When most people think of the civil rights movement, they think of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, and his acceptance of the Peace Prize the following year, secured his place as the voice of non-violent, mass protest in the 1960s.

Yet the movement achieved its greatest results—the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act—due to the competing and sometimes radical strategies and agendas of diverse individuals such as Malcolm X, whose birthday is celebrated on May 19. As one of the most powerful, controversial, and enigmatic figures of the movement he occupies a necessary place in social studies/history curricula.

Malcolm X’s Black Separatism

Malcolm X’s embrace of black separatism shaped the debate over how to achieve freedom and equality in a nation that had long denied a portion of the American citizenry the full protection of their rights. It also laid the groundwork for the Black Power movement of the late sixties.

Malcolm X believed that blacks were god's chosen people. As a minister of the Nation of Islam, he preached fiery sermons on separation from whites, whom he believed were destined for divine punishment because of their longstanding oppression of blacks.

Whites had proven themselves long on professing and short on practicing their ideals of equality and freedom, and Malcolm X thought only a separate nation for blacks could provide the basis for their self-improvement and advancement as a people.

In this interview at the University of California—Berkeley in 1963, Malcolm X addresses media and violence, being a Muslim in America, desegregation, and other issues pertinent to the successes and short-comings of the civil rights movement. 

Malcolm X and the Common Core

The Common Core emphasizes that students’ reading, writing, and speaking be grounded in textual evidence and the lesson Black Separatism or the Beloved Community? Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. , which contrasts Malcolm X and Martin Luther King’s aims and means of achieving progress for black American progress in the 1960s, provides a wealth of supplementary historical nonfiction texts for such analysis.

This lesson helps teachers and students achieve a range of Common Core standards, including:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.2 —Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.9 —Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.4 —Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks.

The background to the teacher section, written by a scholar of African American political thought, will benefit both novice teachers and those who seek to deepen their understanding of this seminal figure.

In the activity section, students gain an understanding of Malcolm X’s ideas and an appreciation for his rhetorical powers by diving into compelling and complex primary source material, including an exclusive interview with the journalist Louis Lomax (who first brought Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam to the attention of white people) and by reading and listening to a recording of Malcolm X’s “Message to the Grassroots.”

The assessment activity asks students to evaluate both visions for a new and “more perfect” America. In this way they will gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of civil rights movement writ large.

In the extending the lesson section, the evolution of Malcolm X’s views are traced and considered.

After he left the Nation of Islam in March 1964, Malcolm felt free to offer political solutions to the problems that afflicted black Americans. He advised black Americans to (1) engage in smarter political voting and organization (for example, no longer voting for black leaders he viewed as shills for white interests); and (2) fight for civil rights at the international level .

One of Malcolm X’s last speeches, "The Ballot or the Bullet," is crucial, and a close reading of it will help students understand how his thinking about America and black progress was evolving.

More Common Core Connections

Teachers may also wish to use a radio documentary accessible through the NEH-supported WNYC archive that includes a rare interview with Malcolm X and goes on to explore his legacy and relationship with Islam through interviews with friends, associates, and excerpts from his speeches.

Last and not least, the NEH-supported American Icons podcast on The Autobiography of Malcolm X surveys The Autobiography ’s  appeal and includes riveting passages read by the actor Dion Graham. Teachers can listen to both podcasts as they begin to plan lessons around the text, or they may choose to listen with students in order to introduce them to the debates the text continues to spark around race, rights, and social justice. This activity would help students meet another of the ELA Standards.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.5 —Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

Additional Resources

• American Icons podcast on The Autobiography of Malcolm X
• WNYC Archive: Rare Interviews and Audio with Malcolm X

Related on EDSITEment

The music of african american history, the green book: african american experiences of travel and place in the u.s., grassroots perspectives on the civil rights movement: focus on women, lesson 2: black separatism or the beloved community malcolm x and martin luther king, jr., the works of langston hughes.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Malcolm X's The Autobiography of Malcolm X . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Malcolm X: Introduction

Malcolm x: plot summary, malcolm x: detailed summary & analysis, malcolm x: themes, malcolm x: quotes, malcolm x: characters, malcolm x: terms, malcolm x: symbols, malcolm x: theme wheel, brief biography of malcolm x.

Historical Context of The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Other books related to the autobiography of malcolm x.

• Full Title: The Autobiography of Malcolm X
• When Written: 1963-1965
• Where Written: New York
• When Published: 1965
• Literary Period: African-American memoir, 20th century memoir
• Genre: Autobiography, Nonfiction
• Setting: Primarily Lansing, Michigan, Boston, Massachusetts and New York City, with journeys throughout the US, the Middle East, and Africa
• Climax: While Malcolm’s assassination occurs outside of the narration, it looms over the book like a shadow, and can therefore be rightly considered the climax.
• Antagonist: The racial caste system that denies equality and justice to African Americans
• Point of View: First person

Extra Credit for The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is someone who writes a book on behalf of someone else and generally attempts to mimic their voice. Whether or not Alex Haley is a ghostwriter in the context of the Autobiogrpahy of Malcolm X is up for debate. On the one hand, Malcolm had considerable oversight on the text, rendering it more in line with his own style and language. On the other hand, Haley had considerable influence in convincing Malcolm to allow certain thoughts and feelings to be made public. So, perhaps the Autobiography is best understood as a collaboration, rather than as the product of a ghostwriter.

Film adaptation. Malcolm X (1992), starring Denzel Washington and directed by Spike Lee, was largely based on the Autobiography of Malcolm X . Washington was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, but lost to Al Pacino’s performance in Scent of a Woman (1992) – a choice publicly criticized by Lee.

Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Malcolm X — Malcolm X: A Legacy of Black Empowerment and Resistance

Malcolm X: a Legacy of Black Empowerment and Resistance

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

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Early life and experiences, political and social activism, legacy and impact.

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Movie Reviews

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Spike Lee 's "Malcolm X" is one of the great screen biographies, celebrating the whole sweep of an American life that began in sorrow and bottomed out on the streets and in prison before its hero reinvented himself. Watching the film, I understood more clearly how we do have the power to change our own lives, how fate doesn't deal all of the cards. The film is inspirational and educational - and it is also entertaining, as movies must be before they can be anything else.

Its hero was born Malcolm Little. His father was a minister who preached the beliefs of Marcus Garvey, the African-American leader who taught that white America would never accept black people and that their best hope lay in returning to Africa. Years later, Malcolm would also become a minister and teach a variation on this theme, but first he had to go through a series of identities and conversions and hard lessons of life.

He was victimized by violence. His father was murdered, probably by the Klan, which had earlier burned down the family house. His mother was unable to support her children, and Malcolm was parceled out to a foster home.

He was the brightest student in his classes but was steered away from ambitious career choices by white teachers who told him that, as a Negro, he should look for something where he could "work with his hands." One of his early jobs was as a Pullman porter, and then, in Harlem, he became a numbers runner and small-time gangster.

During that stage of his life, in the late 1940s, he was known as "Detroit Red," and ran with a fast crowd - including white women who joined him for sex and burglaries. Arrested and convicted, he was sentenced to prison; the movie quotes him that he got one year for the burglaries and seven years for associating with white women while committing them. Prison was the best thing that happened to Red, who fell into the orbit of the Black Muslim movement of Elijah Muhammad and learned self-respect.

The movie then follows Malcolm as he sheds his last name - the legacy, the Muslims preached, of slaveowners - and becomes a fiery street-corner preacher who quickly rises until he is the most charismatic figure in the Black Muslims, teaching that whites are the devil and that blacks must become independent and self-sufficient.

But there was still another conversion ahead; during a pilgrimage to Mecca, he was embraced by Muslims of many colors and returned to America convinced that there were good people of peace in all races.

Not long after, in 1965, he was assassinated - probably by members of the Muslim sect he had broken with.

This is an extraordinary life, and Spike Lee has told it in an extraordinary film. Like " Gandhi ," the movie gains force as it moves along; the early scenes could come from the lives of many men, but the later scenes show a great original personality coming into focus. To understand the stages of Malcolm's life is to walk for a time in the steps of many African Americans, and to glimpse where the journey might lead.

Denzel Washington stands at the center of the film, in a performance of enormous breadth. He never seems to be trying for an effect, and yet he is always convincing; he seems as natural in an early scene, clowning through a railroad club car with ham sandwiches, as in a later one, holding audiences spellbound on streetcorners, in churches, on television and at Harvard. He is as persuasive early in the film, wearing a zoot suit and prowling the nightclubs of Harlem, as later, disappearing into a throng of pilgrims to Mecca. Washington is a congenial, attractive actor, and so it is especially effective to see how he shows the anger in Malcolm, the unbending dogmatic side.

Accomplished storytelling Lee tells his story against an epic background of settings and supporting characters (the movie is a gallery of the memorable people in Malcolm's life). Working with cinematographer Ernest Dickerson , Lee paints the early Harlem scenes in warm, sensuous colors, and then uses cold, institutional lighting for the scenes in prison. In many of the key moments in Malcolm's life as a public figure, the color photography is intercut with a black and white, quasi-documentary style that suggests how Malcolm's public image was being shaped and fixed.

That image, at the time of his death, was of a man widely considered racist and dogmatic - a hatemonger, some said. It is revealing that even Martin Luther King Jr., seen in documentary footage making a statement about Malcolm's death, hardly seems overcome with grief. The liberal orthodoxy of the mid-1960s taught that racism in America could be cured by legislation, that somehow the hopeful words in the folksongs would all come true. Malcolm doubted it would be that simple.

Yet he was not the monolithic ideologue of his public image, and one of the important achievements of Lee's film is the way he brings us along with Malcolm, so that anyone, black or white, will be able to understand the progression of his thinking. Lee's films always have an underlying fairness, an objectivity that is sometimes overlooked. A revealing scene in "Malcolm X" shows Malcolm on the campus of Columbia University, where a young white girl tells him that her heart is in the right place and that she supports his struggle. "What can I do to help?" she asks. "Nothing," Malcolm says coldly, and walks on. His single word could have been the punch line for the scene, but Lee sees more deeply, and ends the scene with the hurt on the young woman's face. There will be a time, later in Malcolm's life, when he will have a different answer to her question.

Romantic relationships are not Lee's strongest suit, but he has a warm, important one in "Malcolm X," between Malcolm and his wife, Betty ( Angela Bassett ), who reminds her future husband that even revolutionary leaders must occasionally pause to eat and sleep.

It is her sweetness and support that help him to find the gentleness that got lost in Harlem and prison.

Al Freeman Jr. is quietly amazing as Elijah Muhammad, looking and sounding like the man himself and walking the screenplay's tightrope between his character's importance and his flaws. Albert Hall is also effective, as the tough Muslim leader who lectures Malcolm on his self-image, who leads him by the hand into self-awareness, and then later grows jealous of Malcolm's power within the movement. And there is a powerful two-part performance by Delroy Lindo , as West Indian Archie, the numbers czar who first impresses Malcolm with his power and later moves him with his weakness.

Walking into "Malcolm X," I expected an angrier film than Spike Lee has made. This film is not an assault but an explanation, and it is not exclusionary; it deliberately addresses all races in its audience. White people, going into the film, may expect to meet a Malcolm X who will attack them, but they will find a Malcolm X whose experiences and motives make him understandable and finally heroic.

Reasonable viewers are likely to conclude that, having gone through similar experiences, they might also have arrived at the same place.

Black viewers will not be surprised by Malcolm's experiences and the racism he lived through, but they may be surprised to find that he was less one-dimensional than his image, that he was capable of self-criticism and was developing his ideas right up until the day he died.

Spike Lee is not only one of the best filmmakers in America, but one of the most crucially important, because his films address the central subject of race. He doesn't use sentimentality or political cliches, but shows how his characters live, and why.

Empathy has been in short supply in our nation recently. Our leaders are quick to congratulate us on our own feelings, slow to ask us to wonder how others feel. But maybe times are changing. Every Lee film is an exercise in empathy. He is not interested in congratulating the black people in his audience, or condemning the white ones. He puts human beings on the screen, and asks his audience to walk a little while in their shoes.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Malcolm X (1992)

Rated PG-13 For A Scene Of Violence, and For Drugs and Some Language

202 minutes

Denzel Washington as Malcolm X

Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz

Albert Hall as Baines

Directed by

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Introduction to the autobiography of malcolm x.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X was written by Alex Haley in collaboration with Malcolm X the central character of the autobiography. It was released in 1965 in the United States and soon became a global bestseller. Halley accompanied in all interviews he conducted with Malcolm X until his assassination. The story , thus narrated, not only presents Malcolm X’s real character but also highlights his views about African American heritage and the role of the white race in demeaning the African American community through its physical and material exploitation. Despite the popularity of the book, it is considered that Haley is behind the creation of suspense and drama in the autobiography. The book has won applause around the world for its rhetorical pathos and logos .

Summary of The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The autobiography starts with Malcolm X’s hometown of Omaha where he was born amid anti-African American discrimination and violence. Unable to face this racial onslaught, the family moves to the African American quarters of Michigan but again faces the same racial discrimination and threats. Meanwhile, his patient and tolerant preaching father is killed during an attack by the supremacist after which his mother experiences mental bouts and is sent to a mental asylum.

Meanwhile, Malcolm X is sent to a detention home in Michigan where he completes his 8 th grade and moves to Boston to live with, Ella, his half-sister. However, instead of coming of the age, Malcolm X finds himself mired in the urban lifestyle of that time, almost marring every other chance of his being a gentleman. He becomes stylish in fashion and also gets addicted to drinking and gambling, including dating, Sophia, a white woman much older than him. Finally, not seeing the future in this game, he joins the railway as a porter and moves to the city of New York to see better prospects. There, Malcolm X soon finds himself as a hustler in Harlem , the popular African American suburb in New York, and starts doing odd jobs including selling drugs and doing work as a pimp for African American prostitutes. At that time, he was also involved in armed robberies, inviting risks to his life.

Unsatisfied with his type of life, he soon returns to Boston where he takes up house burglary as a new job and faces arrest. When he is thrown behind the bars, he comes to his senses, and seeing no way out of this blind alley of committing crimes and playing hide and seek with the police, he embraces Islam, joining his siblings. Eventually, he stops drugs and starts praying during this time, studying Latin and English, and joining the debates in the prison. Demonstrating exemplary behavior, the prison officials release him on parole after which he moves in with his brother Wilfred and becomes active in preaching Islam in Detroit.

A change in his name also occurs when he drops the last name given by the former owner of his ancestors and uses “X” to signify his African American heritage. Following this, he meets Elijah Muhammad, the Muslim leader, and soon becomes the minister in the organization sheer by his passion and hard work. Becoming popular as the new convert among the Muslim circles in the United States, he starts preaching peace and Islam despite his suspension from the organization after his advocacy of violence and African American unity.

After his suspension, he starts facing threats to his life which leads him to give up his membership of the organization of Islam to start his own, Muslim Mosque and preach Islam. He becomes more passionate about his preaching after his tour to the Middle East and Africa where he comes to know the differences in different versions of Islam. He realizes what true Islam is and understands that he has been preaching the wrong version till now . Following his iconic rise, he faces continuous death threats. Finally in an assassination attempt; he is shot to death in 1965.

Major Themes in The Autobiography of Malcolm X

• Perception: Perception building about the African American and specifically about the author, Malcolm X, is the main thematic strand of the autobiography due to the hatred against the oppression and racial discrimination under which the African American community was undergoing at that time. However, Malcolm has presented two perceptions about his heritage; the first one is that they have lower or inferior status within the American social setting and that the white population thinks about granting their due status. The other is his Islamic conversion which has brought him to the point where the white and the African American must cohabit with each other, granting equality instead of just equal rights. The murder of his father and later his differences with Elijah Muhammad also contribute to sharpening this wedge in his perception about these two different realms. It continues to widen until his assassination in 1965.
• Religion: The theme of religion in this autobiography forcefully emerges when Malcolm converts to Islam in the prison and starts its preaching and teaching. Malcolm’s religious father, Rev. Earl Little, who cultivated a patient personality through his Baptist ministerial career, does not fit into his shoes. Sadly, he is killed, and later his family is expelled from Michigan. Therefore, when Malcolm joins the Nation of Islam, he also adopts “X” to add to his name and later gives up his membership of the organization when comes to know that Elijah Muhammad is using the organization for his own interests. He, then, establishes his own organization and starts preaching religion from his perspective .
• Survival: During the turbulent period of his life until his death, Malcolm seems to narrate the story of his survival against the heavy odds of racism and racial violence in the United States. Even when his father becomes a Baptist minister, he sees him mercilessly shot down in Michigan after which he turns to the world of crimes, drugs, and imprisonment. He does not find enough space to breathe which pulls him towards Islam. Even this platform proves discomforting when he sees the Nation of Islam and its head exploiting circumstances and people to their own ends. Therefore, he sees his survival in teaching the true religion of Islam and finally dies in the same brawl.
• Perspectives: Through his autobiography, Malcolm X shows the changing public perspectives about racialism and its growth or decline in the United States. When he is born in Michigan, he sees his father preaching Christianity and getting killed by the same audience . He sees the contradiction in the society about the preaching and teaching about human equality where the African Americans are always at the receiving ends. He turns to Islam but again sees the same selfish interest involved in the religion and perspectives.
• Success: Success in life despite fighting heavy odds is another theme of the autobiography. Malcolm X reviews his entire life from the world of crimes to his imprisonment, hustling to drug pedaling, and then taking to Islam to succeed. However, when he sees that all are using different sources and platforms for personal successes, he charts his own course and uses his Harlem experience to win success in the world. Malcolm’s violent methods or philosophy places him opposite Martin Luther King Jr, who preferred peace over violence.
• Humanity: The Autobiography of Malcolm X is also a lesson in humanity in that it highlights the dehumanization of African Americans in the United States through racial discrimination. The treatment that he gets in Michigan, in the jail, and out of jail shows him that the white segment of the population does not consider them human beings and treats them differently from other people. Although some people become to treat African Americans with equality, it is just to show their unprejudicial approach to demonstrate that they are a higher race. Although he himself treats Sophia differently yet he acknowledges the humanity of individuals when he visits Mecca.
• Family: The theme of family in The Autobiography of Malcolm is significant in that it shows how Malcolm considers family as extending beyond biological relations through his acceptance of Islam. Despite his own upbringing in an extended family having many relations, Malcolm faces the worst discrimination in that his father is murdered and his mother is mentally ill. This destruction of his family and family life haunts him throughout his life until he starts his own family with the help of his teacher, Shorty. His acceptance of Islam, relations with Elijah, and then the action of forsaking the organization point to his desire of forming a family and living in that setup.
• Class: The story of Malcolm X also demonstrates that class and class consciousness cause the worst to human beings. His upbringing in Michigan makes him aware of the raging poverty among the African Americans, the increased welfare burden, the ghettoization of their settlements, and their exploitation for jobs. This has left deep scars on his mind about his class and his moves to create consciousness about class differences and their worst impacts on the lives of individuals. His notion to create this awareness in the white society wins currency later. His act of joining Islam shows his attempt to abolish class differences but it doesn’t prove right.

Major Characters The Autobiography of Malcolm X

• Malcolm X: The Autobiography of Malcolm X presents Malcolm going through different phases of his life, ranging from Malcolm as Detroit Red to Malcolm as Satan, Malcolm X, and Malcolm Al-Haj. All of these phases show him in different characters. In the first phase, he is sent to a juvenile center after the murder of his father after which he becomes a hustler engaged in excessive boozing and gambling, winning the nickname of “Detroit Red.” This soon leads to his arrest and transformation into Satan for his foul temperament and imprisonment. However, he works on his self-edification and finally jumps into the fold of Islam to show his true character of being a good man. After meeting Elijah Muhammad, he joins the Nation of Islam which he later leaves because of his differences with Muhammad but he does not leave his personal beliefs.
• Alex Haley: Although Alex is not a character of the Autobiography in the true sense like Malcolm X, he is still considered a partner or a co-author in the writing venture. He remains in the background and writing after the epilogue in which he shares about himself. He highlights the rigors of interviewing Malcolm X at odd times, taking up more than two years of his life. Although Malcolm does not truly trust him in the initial encounters, later he becomes his close confidante so much so that he reaches out to Alex for emotional support.
• Elijah Muhammad: A very significant character in the latter part of Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad heads the Nation of Islam, an organization, working for the better of American Muslims. When Malcolm embraces Islam, Elijah teaches him the truths about Islam. The inspiration of Elijah proves for him a beacon of light in the initial stages of his journey toward Islam. However, later, he develops serious differences with him and leaves the Nation of Islam to lay the foundation of his own organization. Muhammad also causes his flight after his sexual escapades surface in the media.
• Sister Betty: As the wife, Sister Betty proves the strength and power of her character during low moments in his life. Although the book does not show her role in the true sense, still her supportive character as the housemaker, soul mate of Malcolm and her secretary shows that she has played a significant role in his entire life after their marriage. Despite having traveled miles with him, she becomes the mother of Malcolm’s five children and remains faithful until his death.
• Shorty: A musician by profession, Shorty has been a chum of Malcolm when he stayed in Boston. Although he tries his best to lead Malcolm but soon follows him in the world of crimes and almost proves his foil . Despite following him on his heels, he does not adopt his hustling style . He is almost surprised to find Malcolm’s aggressive and belligerent behavior.
• Ella Little: Malcolm’s half-sister, Ella proves a source of great strength and pride for him during his dark hours when he touches his adolescence period. Within the book, it seems that she is a source of familial unity. Whenever Malcolm finds himself going low, he always seeks her support and contacts her even during his pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Earl Little: Earl’s character in the course of the autobiography is significant in that he is a faithful Christian, a preacher, and also works for the African American unity. His outspokenness, however, takes its toll on him when he is assassinated for preaching Garvey’s ideas.
• Louise Little: Louise is Malcolm’s mother. Her charm and strength lie in her being able to survive the Great Depression. Although she is sent to a mental asylum after her husband is murdered, and Malcolm regularly visits her to seek her love.
• Sophia: Sophia represents the white public reception of the African American community when she marries Malcolm. In fact, none of them loves the other. They only manipulate each other to get ahead in life. Her emptiness is clear from her cynic romance with Malcolm.
• Laura : Laura is Malcolm’s first love and she is an African American background. She is abandoned by Malcolm as he starts dating Sophia. Sadly, after that, she loses interest in life and takes to drugs and prostitution. She rather becomes a victim of Malcolm’s stardom obsession with high society.

Writing Style of The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Alex Haley used excessive foreshadowing in the autobiography to make it more interesting for the readers. It has served two purposes in showing its writing style; the first is quick anticipation of the turbulent life of Malcolm X and the second is continued reading by the readers until its end. The sentence structure and phrases are very simple and direct. Written in freestyle, the autobiography shows that the author used similes and metaphors along with personifications and epigrams to highlight the major theme of the rise of a star and racial prejudice prevalent in the United States.

Analysis of the Literary Devices in The Autobiography of Malcolm X

• Action: The main action of the autobiography comprises the whole life and growth of Malcolm X to an adult until his assassination in 1965. The falling action occurs when Malcolm X leaves the Nation of Islam to inaugurate his own organization. The rising action , however, occurs when he becomes popular after witnessing low moments of his life.
• Anaphora : The autobiography shows examples of anaphora as given below, i. He’s a professional gambler; he has all the cards and the odds stacked on his side, and he has always dealt to our people from the bottom of the deck. (Chapter-I) ii. It seemed that the white boys felt that I, being a Negro, just naturally knew more about “romance,” or sex, than they did—that I instinctively knew more about what to do and say with their own girls. (Chapter-2) These examples show the repetitious use of “he has” and “knew more.”
• Allusion : The autobiography shows good use of different allusions as given in the below examples, i. And a big percentage of the Hill dwellers were in Ella’s category—Southern strivers and scramblers, and West Indian Negroes, whom both the New Englanders and the Southerners called “Black Jews.” (Chapter-3) ii. And every time Joe Louis won a fight against a white opponent, big front-page pictures in the Negro newspapers such as the Chicago Defender , the Pittsburgh Courier and the Afro-American showed a sea of Harlem Negroes cheering and waving and the Brown Bomber waving back at them from the balcony of Harlem’s Theresa Hotel. (Chapter-4) iii. As a “fish” (prison slang for a new inmate) at Charlestown, I was physically miserable and as evil-tempered as a snake , being suddenly without drugs. The cells didn’t have running water. The prison had been built in 1805—in Napoleon’s day—and was even styled after the Bastille. In the dirty, cramped cell, I could lie on my cot and touch both walls. (Chapter-10) The first example shows the reference to places and ethnicities, the second to newspapers, and the third again to places and personalities.
• Antagonist : At first, Elijah Muhammad appears as the main antagonist of the autobiography. However, according to Malcolm X, the white race is the main culprit, which embeds in his mind, when talking about the opposition. Therefore, both Elijah and racism are the antagonists at different points in his life.
• Conflict : The autobiography shows both external and internal conflicts. The external conflict is going on between the African Americans and the white Americans. However, the internal conflict is going on in the mind of Malcolm X about his ethnicity, his race, his religion, and his place in society.
• Characters: The book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, shows both static as well as dynamic characters. Malcolm X is a dynamic character as he shows a considerable transformation in his behavior and conduct by the end when he faces his assassin. Along with him, Laura and Elijah, too, are dynamic characters, though, some others are static characters like his brothers, sisters, Ela, and his father.
• Climax : The climax in the autobiography occurs when Malcolm X embraces Islam in the prison and starts studying it. Since then, he starts rising in his life.
• Foreshadowing : The autobiography shows many instances of foreshadows as given in the examples below, i. When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night . Surrounding the house, brandishing their shotguns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out. (Chapter-1) ii. On June twenty-seventh of that year, nineteen thirty-seven, Joe Louis knocked out James J. Braddock to become the heavyweight champion of the world. And all the Negroes in Lansing, like Negroes everywhere, went wildly happy with the greatest celebration of race pride our generation had ever known. (Chapter-2) The mention of the Ku Klux Klan, guns, and then African Americans show that Malcolm X is going to tell horrifying tales of his life in the worst racial discrimination in history. , resistance and nightmare show that the times for Jane are going to be very difficult.
• Hyperbole : The autobiography shows various examples of hyperboles as given below, i. “Them,” he said. “The white man is the devil.” He told me that all whites knew they were devils—“especially Masons.” (Chapter-11) ii. But in the arena of dealing with human beings, the white man’s working intelligence is hobbled. His intelligence will fail him altogether if the humans happen to be non-white. (Chapter-15) Both of these examples exaggerate the white man in the argument that Malcolm X makes in his book.
• Metaphor : The Autobiography of Malcolm X shows good use of various metaphors as given in the examples below, i. They were as vicious as vultures . They had no feelings, understanding, compassion, or respect for my mother. (Chapter-I) ii. Human history’s greatest crime was the traffic in black flesh when the devil white man went into Africa and murdered and kidnapped to bring to the West in chains, in slave ships, millions of black men, women, and children, who were worked and beaten and tortured as slaves. (Chapter-10) iii. That’s a powerful combination for a man who has been existing in the mud of society. In fact, once he is motivated no one can change more completely than the man who has been at the bottom. I call myself the best example of that. (Chapter-12) These examples show that several things have been compared directly in the book such as the first shows people compared to vultures, the second shows white people compared to devils, and the third shows society compared to a moorland.
• Mood : The book shows various moods; it starts with a somber and bitter mood but turns out to be exciting at places and becomes tragic when it ends.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, are race, killing, discrimination, and Harlem.
• Narrator : The book is narrated from the first-person point of view , who happens to be Malcolm X himself.
• Pathos : The author used pathos in the book as given in the example below, i. When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night. Surrounding the house, brandishing their shotguns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out. My mother went to the front door and opened it. Standing where they could see her pregnant condition, she told them that she was alone with her three small children and that my father was away, preaching, in Milwaukee. (Chapter-1) ii. He says Uncle Tom Negroes had tipped off the devil white man to his teachings, and he was charged by this devil white man with draft-dodging, although he was too old for military service. He was sentenced to five years in prison. (Chapter-12) Both of these examples show that Malcolm is trying to evoke the emotions of his readers, showing situations that require compassion and thoughtfulness.
• Personification : The autobiography shows examples of personifications as given below, i. My shine rag popped with the rhythm of those great bands rocking the ballroom. White customers on the shine stand, especially, would laugh to see my feet suddenly break loose on their own and cut a few steps. Whites are correct in thinking that black people are natural dancers. (Chapter-4) ii. The more hate was permitted to lash out when there were ways it could have been checked, the more bold the hate became—until at last it was flaring out at even the white man’s own kind, including his own leaders. (Chapter-18) iii. My car took me to participate in special prayers at Mt. Arafat, and at Mina. The roads offered the wildest drives that I had ever known: nightmare traffic, brakes squealing, skidding cars, and horns blowing. (Chapter-19) These examples show as if the shine, hate, car, and roads have life and emotions of their own.
• Rhetorical Questions : The autobiography shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places as given in the examples below, i. “Baby, wanna have some fun?” The pimps would sidle up close, stage-whispering, “All kinds of women, Jack—want a white woman?” (Chapter-5) ii. Was West Indian Archie, I began to wonder, bluffing a hype on me? To make fun of me? (Chapter-9) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed but different characters not to elicit answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.
• Setting : The setting of the book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, is Michigan, Boston, Harlem in New York, Saudi Arabia, and other places that Malcolm X visited.
• Simile : The book shows excellent use of various similes as given in the examples below, i. I couldn’t get over marveling at how their hair was straight and shiny like white men’s hair; Ella told me this was called a “conk.” (Chapter-3) ii. Moving swiftly, like shadows, we would lift clothes, watches, wallets, handbags, and jewelry boxes. (Chapter-9) I would pace for hours like a caged leopard, viciously cursing aloud to myself. (Chapter-10) These are similes as the use of the word “like” shows the comparison between different things.

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The following sample is meant to be a source of inspiration for students in their academic pursuits.

The American civil rights movement, a pivotal era in the nation’s history, was marked by the emergence of two prominent leaders: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Their visions and methods for achieving racial equality and freedom were distinctly different, offering diverse perspectives within the struggle for civil rights. This essay explores the differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King in their approaches to achieving racial justice for African Americans.

Historical Background

The mid-20th century in the United States was characterized by a profound struggle for civil rights, particularly for African Americans who faced rampant segregation and discrimination. This period was marked by significant social and political upheaval as African Americans actively sought to assert their rights and claim their rightful place in society. Amidst this backdrop, two influential figures emerged as leading voices in this struggle: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Both leaders, while united in their ultimate goal of achieving equality and freedom for African Americans, adopted markedly different philosophies and tactics in their pursuits. Malcolm X, known for his fiery and uncompromising rhetoric, advocated for a more radical approach to securing these rights. In contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. championed a path of nonviolent resistance, drawing on principles of peaceful protest. These divergent approaches highlighted the complexity and multifaceted nature of the fight for civil rights during this pivotal era in American history.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Non-Violence

Martin Luther King Jr., often abbreviated as MLK, was a proponent of non-violent protest. Influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, King believed in peaceful methods to achieve civil rights. He led marches and peaceful protests, advocating for integration and equality in a non-aggressive manner. King’s philosophy was one of love and forgiveness, aiming to unite rather than divide the nation. His leadership during events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington was instrumental in bringing national attention to the injustices faced by African Americans.

Malcolm X and Separatism

In contrast, Malcolm X, a member of the Nation of Islam, initially advocated for separatism rather than integration. He believed that African Americans should establish their own institutions and communities, separate from those of white Americans. Malcolm X’s approach was more radical, often perceived as militant. He famously stated that freedom should be achieved “by any means necessary,” which was interpreted as an endorsement of violence, if required, for self-defense. Malcolm X’s stance softened after leaving the Nation of Islam, where he began to advocate for racial unity but still maintained a more militant approach than King.

Ideology Differences and Community Impact

The core difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King lies in their ideologies. King’s approach was rooted in non-violence and peaceful protest, aiming to achieve racial integration and harmony. On the other hand, Malcolm X initially supported racial separatism and was open to using more aggressive means to defend and uplift African Americans. Their differing views on how to achieve freedom and equality reflected the diversity of thought within the civil rights movement.

Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had significant impacts on the civil rights movement. King’s non-violent approach garnered widespread support, leading to significant legislative changes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Malcolm X’s advocacy for black self-sufficiency and his later openness to racial harmony inspired many African Americans to fight more assertively for their rights. Their combined efforts contributed to the gradual dismantling of segregation and the advancement of civil rights in America.

In conclusion, while Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both aimed to achieve racial equality and freedom for African Americans, their methods and philosophies were notably different. King’s legacy of non-violent, peaceful protest and Malcolm X’s initial separatist stance, followed by a call for racial unity, represent the diverse strategies within the civil rights movement. Understanding the differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King is crucial in appreciating the multifaceted nature of the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Their distinct approaches played a significant role in shaping the nation’s journey towards racial equality.

Did Martin Luther King disagree with Malcolm X?

Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. did have disagreements with Malcolm X, primarily concerning their approaches to the civil rights movement. While both sought racial equality, King advocated for nonviolent resistance and peaceful protest, influenced by Christian ideals of love and forgiveness. Malcolm X, initially a member of the Nation of Islam, advocated for black empowerment, often perceived as endorsing a more militant stance. Their differing views on violence and integration versus separatism were central to their disagreements.

What were the religious differences between MLK and Malcolm X?

The religious beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X significantly influenced their approaches to civil rights. MLK, a Baptist minister, was deeply rooted in Christian teachings, which shaped his philosophy of nonviolent protest and love-based activism. Malcolm X, initially a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, held Islamic beliefs that emphasized black self-sufficiency and were critical of white America. His views evolved over time, but his Islamic faith remained a guiding factor in his activism.

What was a common goal of MLK and Malcolm X?

Despite their different approaches and philosophies, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X shared a common goal: achieving racial equality and freedom for African Americans. Both leaders were deeply committed to the advancement of civil rights and worked tirelessly to eradicate the systemic racism and injustices faced by African Americans. They sought to uplift the black community and ensure a society where all individuals were treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race.

What are the differences between MLK and Malcolm X?

The differences between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are primarily found in their methods and philosophies regarding the civil rights movement. MLK advocated for peaceful, nonviolent resistance and integration, inspired by Christian teachings. He believed in working within the existing system to achieve change. Conversely, Malcolm X, especially during his time with the Nation of Islam, supported the idea of black separatism and was open to the use of self-defense. His stance mellowed after leaving the Nation of Islam, advocating for racial unity but maintaining a more radical approach compared to King. Their contrasting views on violence, integration, and the role of religion in social activism marked the key differences in their strategies for racial equality.

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Malcolm X Movie Analysis

The film Malcolm X was released in 1992. In the movie, Malcolm X is portrayed by Denzel Washington. It is a biographical drama that depicts the life and legacy of African American civil rights leader, Malcolm X. One theme that I found to be very evident throughout this film is evolution. To evolve means to gradually go through a major change. This film effectively captures Malcolm X evolving from a troubled teen with a rough childhood into one of the most influential and powerful leaders of all time. Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Both of his parents were proclaimed pan africanist and followers of black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. There were also very active in the Universal Negro Improvement Association. When Malcolm was 6 years old, his father was killed by members of a white supremacist group called the Black Legion, mainly because of him involvement with UNIA and his commitment to pan-africanism and the advancement of colored people, which was highly frowned upon during that time. When he was 13 years old, his mother was admitted into a mental health facility after suffering a nervous breakdown. Consequently, Malcolm and his 10 siblings were separated and sent to various foster homes. In 1943, Malcolm moved to Harlem, New York where he began to engage in several illegal activities such as drug dealing, robbery, pimping, and gambling. In 1946, he was arrested and sent to jail for larceny and breaking and entering. During his

Biography of Malcolm X Essay

Biography of Malcolm X On May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm Little was born to Reverend Earl and Louise Little. Rev. Little, who believed in self-determination and worked for the unity of black people. Malcolm was raised in a background of ethnic awareness and dignity, but violence was sparked by white racists trying to stop black people such as Rev. Little from preaching the black cause.

Malcolm X, the Movie Essay

Spike Lee's version of Malcolm X's life is similar to the historical Malcolm X. By watching the movie and knowing who he was and his beliefs, one can easily tell how alike they are.

Compare and Contrast the Work of Martin Luther King Jr & Malcolm X

Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925. He was not as fortunate as Martin Luther King Jr. was while growing up. Malcolm X was one of eight children with two loving parents, but later on died. He was more so a lecturer about segregation than an orator from the Islamic point of view. The humor that flowed throughout all his speeches had underline meanings that were equally as serious as Martin Luther King Jr. made his speeches seem.

Malcolm X Biography Essay

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska to Earl and Louise Little. His father, a minister and devout Christian, was known for being an outspoken follower of the black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Garvey’s message promoted the “back-to-Africa” movement that encouraged African Americans of the time to sever ties with

Malcolm X - Changes in Malcolm’s Perspective of White People

Malcolm X was one of the primary religious leaders and reformers of the 1960, where he fought for and ultimately gave his life for racial equality in the United States. His father was a reverend who believed in self-determination and worked for the unity of black people. Throughout Malcolm’s life he was treated horribly by white people, hence shaping his misconceptions of all white people and developing his strong belief in black separatism. It wasn’t until years later where he embraced his black identity and discovered all races could live and work together for a common goal, brotherhood.

Malcolm X Essay

Soon after his release from jail, Malcolm worked for his oldest brother who managed a furniture store. While working, he also gave many speeches, and went "fishing"(fishing is when someone stands out on a sidewalk and hand out brochures and explained about

How Did Malcolm Little Commit Crime

Malcolm Little was very good in junior high school but dropped out after a white teacher told him racial slurs discouraging him from pursuing his career in law. From when he was 14 to 21 held many odd jobs while he lived with his half-sister Ella Little-Collins. After spending some time in Flint, Michigan, he moved to Harlem in 1943, Where he committed crimes such as drug dealing, gambling, racketeering, robbery, and

Dr. Martin Luther King vs. Malcolm X Essay

MALCOLM X Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was the son of a Baptist minister, who was an avid supporter of Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association. While living in Omaha, the family was often harassed - at one point the family's house was set afire. In 1929 the

A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE BOOK AND MOVIE: MALCOLM X Essay

During a pilgrimage to Mecca, he was embraced by Muslims of many colors and returned to America convinced that there were good people of peace in all races. Not long after, in 1965, he was assassinated - probably by members of the Muslim sect he had broken with. Denzel Washington stands at the center of the film. He never seems to be trying for an effect, and yet he is always convincing. Denzel captures the life of a civil rights leader Malcolm X, from his criminal activity to his rise in power under the Nation of Islam. Not only does Denzel present his speech, his policies and his charisma.

Malcolm Little Essay

Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His dad, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister, greatly affected by the racial failure of Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association. His mom, Louise, was conceived in Grenada and spent quite a bit of her life raising kids. Malcolm's teenager years were rough because the family was upset by family injury during various protests and marches. His dad was murdered by a streetcar in 1931, it was assumed the death was caused by racial oppressors; his mom was pronounced insane in 1939 and later was put in a psych ward in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Around that time, Malcolm dropped out of school, lived in a few foster homes in Lansing, Michigan. After Malcolm had dropped out, his teacher

The Assassination of Malcolm X Essay

Malcolm was arrested on January 12, 1946, and convicted of burglary, carrying an illegal firearm, and larceny (Crime and Investigation 1). He was sent to Charlestown State Prison for 8-10 years. While there, he joined the Nation of Islam. He began exchanging letters frequently with Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam’s leader, and changed his name to Malcolm X. He stated the “X” symbolized his lost tribal name, and that he was destroying the surname “Little” that his ancestor’s slave-owners had imposed on his family.

Biography Of Malcolm X

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska as Malcolm Little to parents Earl and Louise Little. The Littles moved to Lansing, Michigan when Malcolm was an infant due to threats the family received from the Klu Klux Klan. This was because Reverend Earl Little was an early follower of Marcus Garvey, who preached black independance and self-respect (Altman, 197). Reverend Little died when Malcolm was only six years old after being hit by a streetcar. Malcolm always believed that this was a hate crime committed by whites. Many speculate that this is what originally caused Malcolm to distrust whites. Malcolm’s mother, Louise Little, was committed to the State Mental Hospital in Kalamazoo in 1939. Her exact illness is unknown (Mamiya).

Essay on Malcom X: Movie and Real Life Comparison

In 1992, director Spike Lee combined his artistic vision with historical events to create the controversial and much hyped film Malcolm X, a biographical and historical account of the slain civil rights leader. Staring as Malcolm X was Denzel Washington who has been noted that this was his best role in a movie to date.

The Struggle Of The Civil Rights Movement

After his eighth grade year, Malcolm decided to drop out of school. Soon after, he became involved in the crime life, wearing zoot suits and adopting the nickname “Detroit Red.” In 1946,

The American Dream: Malcolm X and Rugged D.

In his book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm faced with adversity from the beginning of his life. Malcolm was born May 19th, 1925, during times of extreme racial violence and harsh discrimination . His family moved to Lansing, Michigan to avoid the persecution of local white groups, but they could not escape racial injustice. White supremacists burned Malcolm’s family home and murdered his father. Overcome with grief, Malcolm’s mother was confined to a mental hospital. Malcolm was then given to foster parents. He felt out of

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