Malcolm X's Role in the Fight for African-American Rights

In the 1960s and the early 1970s, America saw the rise of an important social and political movement amongst many African Americans. That movement is known as Black Nationalism. It is a movement that advocates for the economic and social empowerment of African Americans. It seeks to promote, grow and preserve the black race identity for people of black ancestry. These goals were also seen among the civil rights leader, but black nationalist believed that equality could only be achieved through the creation of an independent society. Malcolm X was known for being one of the most important black nationalist leaders in the United States who actively participated in the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1965. Additionally, he advocated for black-pride, for full civil rights and increased political representation of black Americans. He was a long-time supporter of the Nation of Islam, and supporter of Pan-Africanism which is a movement that aimed to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all people of African descent. The development will talk about Malcolm X’s journey to become a world-known influencer, the important events that made him one the most important black nationalist leaders, and finally the legacy he left behind.

First, Malcolm Little, nowadays known as Malcolm X, was born in 1925 in the United States in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was a Baptist minister and an outspoken follower of Marcus Grey, an important black nationalist leader in the 1920s who advocated a “back-to-Africa” movement for African Americans. When he was just an infant, Malcolm’s family was driven out of Omaha by the Ku Klux Klan having to settle in Lansing, the capital city of Michigan (Dyson, 1995). Their stay was temporary because, in 1929, their house was burned down by the Black Legionnaires, a white fascist organization (Simon,2005). These experiences of racial violence at such a young age deeply influenced his desire to denunciate white racism during his public career as a black nationalist leader. Furthermore, his father was murdered which broke his family apart: his mother was sent into a mental hospital, and all eight children were sent to different foster homes. Malcolm continued going to go to school until his favorite teacher told him he could never become a lawyer because of his skin color. He dropped out of school at the of 15 and started living with his sister in Boston where he did many jobs. During his time in Boston, he started his criminal life which includes gambling, selling drugs, burglary, and hustling. In 1946, his criminal activity was cut short when he was sentenced to jail for 10 years for burglary.

During his time in prison, he started to transform his life. He started to read, and debate about various subjects. It was also during this time that he experienced his first religious conversion. It coincided with the rise of the Black Muslim religion movement that started to play a really important role in America. The movements official name was The Nation of Islam and the spiritual leader of the movement was Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm Little was drawn to the Nation of Islam because of the character of its black nationalist practices and beliefs: its strong peculiar gift for rehabilitating black male prisoners, its strong emphasis on black pride, history, culture and unity (Dyson, 1995). The movement also strongly believed that white men were devils, and it advocated black separation from white society. Once he was out of prison, he started to study personally under Muhammed.

Malcolm X played a very important role in the growth of the movement. Under Malcolm’s leadership, the Nation grew from several thousand to a hundred thousand members by the early 1960s. The Nation produced, under Malcolm leadership, forty temples throughout the United States, spreading its influence at a rapid rate. The Nation provided schools both for children and for adults, offered cooperative food and clothing shops which also attracted many African Americans. However, the most effective ways the Nation was attracting followers and making a major impact on the views of many African American was with its many social and educational rehabilitation programs to morally reform and to physically and psychologically treat ex-convicts and drug addicts, and the expansion of the organization’s numerous literacy programs.

Secondly, while the Nation of Islam was rapidly growing during the 1960s, Malcolm X was becoming one of the country’s more sought-after speakers. He challenged the mainstream civil right philosophy of Dr. King and others. He began to emphasize the importance of the movement to address the liberation of African American in terms of human rights. He firmly believed that African American need to take action against racism instead of just relying on the constitutional legalities and protections of conventional political discourse (Natambu, 2002). His popularity spread across America, and all over the world because of his amazing debating skills which he used against many wide ranges of black and white intellectuals, scholars, activists, leaders, and theologians on television and on the radio. Malcolm X excelled at the droll practice of what the English call “one-up-ship”. This means that he would often use his understanding and analysis of American history to confound his enemies and force doubters or skeptics to reconsider their sources (Natambu,2002). He also started getting recognized by important newspapers such as The New York Times which explains his world-wide recognition. Malcolm was identified in 1961 as the second most requested speaker on the national college circuit which shows just how his popularity spread rapidly even among college students (Natambu, 2002). He preached on the streets of Harlem and spoke at major universities such as Harvard University and Oxford. His most important speech was given in the spring of 1964 called “Ballot or the Bullet”. This is when most of the white Americans started viewing as a menacing character. He stated in the speech that African Americans would use “any mean necessary” especially armed self-defence to get what they want.

However, as the civil rights movement expanded its influence, Malcolm X wanted to take a bigger part in the program but was stopped by Elijah Muhammad who forbade the Nation of Islam to participate in civil disobedience or social protest. Malcolm’s growing dissatisfaction with the Nation’s apolitical posture, his increased awareness of internal corruption in the Nation, and unorthodox behavior of Elijah Muhammed, made him leave the Nation of Islam in 1964. After, his departure he traveled to the Middle East for the religious pilgrimage to Mecca and traveled to Africa. His travels broadened his political perspective and he abandoned his belief in the whites-are-devils’ doctrine. He also founded the Muslim Mosque Inc., which is a religious organization, and the Afro-American Unity which is a political organization. It reflected Malcolm’s belief that broad social engagement provided blacks their best chance of ending racism (Dyson, 1995). Unfortunately, he was assassinated in February 1965 as he was addressing a meeting in Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom. The circumstances of his assassination are still unknown, but two of the men involved in the crime were from the Nation of Islam’s paramilitary called “Fruit of Islam”, and the third one was Malcolm’s bodyguard (Simon, 2005). The assassination is said to be ordered by Elijah Muhammed, who seeing how Malcolm X created alliances with many international Muslim leaders, felt threatened.

Finally, Malcolm X had an important impact on America and left behind an important legacy. For example, he led the Unity Rally in Harlem on June 29,1963, which was one of the nation’s largest civil rights movement. This rally, which is known for being a peaceful one, helped people change their minds about African Americans. It helped unify all African Americans regardless of religious background, social class, or political views. He left, for his people, a site filled with a rich history that defines their struggles and fights for civil rights, a place of hope, and a meeting point where they can continue their fight. He formed the Muslim Mosque Inc., which is now known as the “Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood”. He also structured the Organization of Afro-American, but it collapsed after Malcolm’s absence. Because of his sudden conversion at the end of his life to Sunni Muslim, he left a torn legacy in the black nationalist movement. He influenced many important revolutionary groups such as the “Black Panther party” and the “Republic of New Africa”. He spread and introduced Islamic religion to many African Americans during his time in the Nation of Islam. He also redefined the black role in American politics and society by encouraging them to run their own business, vote for their interested and keep their culture alive. Even today he is a respected figure that many activists of our generation quote.

In conclusion, Malcolm X represents an important figure in the civil rights movement and in the black nationalist movement. He proved that everyone, regardless of their race, is capable of success. He gave, with his encouraging and powerful speeches, voices to millions of African Americans who were being belittled by White Americans. He showed the importance of a nation to work together to make the world a better place for everyone which is seen with the shift that he lives near the end of his life when he realizes that he was wrong for believing that separatism was the only option for African American to get their civil rights. His impact is still very much present in today’s America by the numerous militant protest movements. For example, one of the most popular movements in our generation concerns the African American youths that are taking a stand to stop gun violence and police brutality that mainly target their population. Malcolm X has had a huge impact on American history, and his influence will persist in the generations to come.