Malcolm X: Misunderstood
In the year of 1960s, the civil right movement was at its peak. At this time, blacks were mistreated and discriminated against and because of that, the Negroes were searching for a leader who can change the status of blacks. What is a leader? A leader is, according to a dictionary, a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group. There is no doubt that Malcolm X, formerly known as El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, had many characteristics of a great leader written all over him, when he joined the Nation of Islam.
As a result, African Americans looked up to Malcolm X, who called himself the angriest Negro in America, for leadership. In this paper, I am going to argue that Malcolm was a great leader, who gave his life for the struggle for equal rights in the richest and most powerful country of the world, the USA. In a country, where everybody seeks to fulfill “the American dream”, but where many people live in a nightmare. For that, he should be remembered along with Martin Luther King Jr. To fully understand how great of a leader that he was, we need to take a closed look at Malcolm X’s life.
Malcolm led three remarkable lives in less than four decades: first as Malcolm Little, a convicted burglar and con man; as Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam’s flamboyant orator; finally, as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, organizing an international approach to the problems besetting African Americans. It all began when Malcolm Little’s confidence and dream was shattered and crashed. His teacher told him that he had to be “realistic about being a nigger. ” (Malcolm X 118) I don’t think Malcolm would became what he was if it was not for his teacher’s comment on his dream of becoming a lawyer one day.
Then, we have Minister Malcolm X, who devoted his life to the teaching of Elijah Muhammad. “The Honorable Elijah Muhammad is giving us true identity, and a true position – the first time they have ever been known to the American black man. ” (Malcolm X 356) Malcolm was fascinated by the discipline, the obedience, and the strong sense of community responsibility the members of the Nation showed, and soon became one of Elijah’s most devoted followers. Finally, after his trip to Mecca, we see Malcolm as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz whose belief was now in world brotherhood and human justice.
Malcolm X was a misunderstood figure of his time, in my opinion. If you have read or heard what he said, you would undoubtedly label him as a racist. He went as far as calling whites the “devils” and he stirred up both the black and white communities with his “anti-white” philosophy. Malcolm is usually projected as the uncompromising advocate of Black Nationalism. Malcolm, always brooding and alienated, is depicted as the architect of armed revolution and confrontation and he is presented as the hostile critic of White liberalism.
Many people base this on his denunciation of racism and they misinterpret this statement to mean that now he endorsed the principles of integration as a solution to America’s racial dilemma. What people didn’t realize at that time was Malcolm’s basic goal or objective never changed: He was totally committed to freedom for oppressed people. Malcolm wanted for blacks only what whites wanted for themselves, no more and no less. Also we have to realize that his trip to Mecca had changed the way he thought about white people and he was not given enough time to show the world his new point of view because he was assassinated soon after.
That’s why most people today have the impression that Malcolm was a “bad” guy, who would gain freedom by any means necessary. What made him so great? He was a man of word and action. Malcolm represents a leader, which all communities look up to as dynamic, intelligent, and most importantly revitalizing. The Muslims of today, from all parts of the world see Malcolm as a man who not only had strong convictions and beliefs, but was not afraid to voice them and stand up to a system of oppression from white supremacy over powerless and minority black people.
Black people need a leader who speaks the truth even when white people don’t want to hear it, and Malcolm X is filling that role. As Malcolm X traveled around the country, preaching and encouraging blacks to take pride in their history and strengths as a people, membership in the Nation of Islam grew from about couple hundred to hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, I think it was Malcolm’s vigorous passion for Black self-determination and Black unity as well as his spiritual connection to Islam that attracted black people to Nation of Islam and Elijah’s vision played only a little part of it.
In addition, the reason why the number of followers increase in Nation of Islam was contributed by Malcolm’s exceptional oratorical ability, his quick wit, and piercing analysis that he gave in front of many audiences. Analysis such as “US government make their citizens hate Germany and Japan during WWII and now US had again make the people love Germany and Japan after the war”. And the comment that he made about the racial problems of today “If you pull out a knife on my back, the wound left a permanent scar which you can get rid off”.
Those points that he made were right on the money. He was very charismatic, and when he talks, people listen. Communication is a very powerful weapon to use if you want to spread your words and wisdom, and Malcolm took advantage of that. Armed himself with knowledge of Islam, books that he read, and debating skill, he went on television shows argued against his many critics and performed public speech day in and day out. He was so eagerly devoted to spread the teaching of Nation of Islam that he found himself out on the road and was away from his family for many weeks or months.
The development of Nation of Islam was his priority. Why Malcolm had such impact on black communities? Because Malcolm was one of them before he joined Nation of Islam and became a minister. Came out from the heart of the Harlem ghetto, he knew the first hand experience of prejudice and inequality that impose on blacks. Therefore, many of his audiences can relate some of the things that he said in their everyday life. In addition, Malcolm transformed himself from a street hustler to an articulate leader and was convinced that others could change for the better as well.
His message about self-improvement was loud and clear. Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world. In his autobiography he said, “My whole life had been a chronology of changes”. Such an extreme change seems to unbelievable, but after reading his autobiography; everyone can feel how much power this man had. Another reason why he was a great leader was that his readiness to revise his ideas and change them. People make mistakes and it takes courage to admit it publicly and try to change it so the mistake won’t happen again.
In the fields of politic and religion, which he was vigorously involved in, people usually don’t change, even they proved to be wrong. Malcolm X was different. He turned all his beliefs and his way of life upside down when joining the Nation of Islam. He stopped drinking, smoking and abusing drugs instantly and dedicated his life to his leader, whereas he had been selfish and greedy his whole life before. Everything is going well till when the affairs of Elijah Muhammad with his secretaries made Malcolm questioned the leadership and belief of Nation of Islam.
As a result, he left Nation of Islam and took a pilgrimage to Mecca where he experienced real brotherhood, being accepted and treated as a human being. The friendliness and respect he received made a great impression on him. “I saw that people who looked alike drew together and most of the time stayed together? KIt tucked it into my mind that when I returned home I would tell Americans this observation; that where true brotherhood existed among all colors. ” (Malcolm 350) He became less militant and even admitted that white people could contribute to the black movement.
Malcolm also got rid of Mr. Muhammad’s doctrines and taught the real Islam he experienced in the East. When we remember Malcolm X, we cannot ignore that he did change from seeing race as a dividing issue to his final testimony as a Muslim who believed in a religion which spells out clearly that all humankind is created and judged equally. He declared that “all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color. ” Malcolm often predicted that his leaving the Nation of Islam would lead to his death.
When he heard of the Black Muslim’s plot to kill him, he did not feel any fear; he just wanted his family to be safe. Before he died, he declared that he would be glad if he could have helped the black people, but that all credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes were his. This is another admiration that I have for him. He did not fear death and went on doing his business as usual. Like I stated earlier, Malcolm put himself last and newfound religion and his family first.
He was not afraid to accept the ultimate freedom for African Americans, as he stated, which is death. Today, nearly 30 years after the end of the Civil Rights Movement, some things have changed. A strong black middle-class has emerged, and some African-Americans have been able to get into leading positions in management or government. In several big cities with a majority of black citizens, black mayors are in office. Both civil right leaders Martin and Malcolm have become American heroes.
Finally, Malcolm was a great man and a role model for all African Americans and Malcolm was a man who made people proud and showed them who they were. He dared to speak truth against the lies of racism, to stand tall before the blows of hatred and oppression. When they died, they left examples of wisdom, courage, and spiritual tenacity that few leaders of any race have matched. He didn’t die in vain because things have improved since his death. We see the growth of strong black middle class.
