Malcolm X
Throughout our country's history, many African Americans have contributed to the success of our country. Although we have not given African Americans the credit that they deserve, the month of February has been set aside to recognize all of their many achievements. I think one of the greatest and most influential African American, other than Dr. Martin Luther King, was Malcolm X. Malcolm X later known also by the religious name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was an African American activist. His militant views that Western nations were inherently racist and that black people must join together to build their own society and value system had an important influence on black nationalist and black separatist movements of the 1950s and 1960s. His beliefs gained a broader audience through his autobiography, published after his assassination.
When he was 20, Malcolm received a sentence of ten years in prison for burglary. There he soon entered the fringes of the underworld, and at the age of 17 he moved to Harlem in New York City. By the early 1960s, the Nation of Islam had become well known and Malcolm was their most prominent spokesperson. Earl Little was an outspoken promoter of social and economic independence for blacks and a supporter of the "Back to Africa" movement of black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. In 1964 Malcolm made a hajj (pilgrimage) to the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Based on this trip, and other travels to Africa and Europe, he renounced his previous teaching that all whites are evil, began advocating racial solidarity, and adopted the Arabic name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. When Malcolm was released in 1952, he joined a Black Muslim temple in Detroit, and took the name Malcolm X. While in prison, Malcolm became interested in the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Black Muslims, also called the Nation of Islam. His father's death had a disastrous effect on Malcolm and his family. In 1958 he married Betty Shabazz, and they had six daughters. In 1931 Earl Little was killed, probably murdered by white terrorists because of his political and social activism. born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. Known as Detroit Red, Malcolm turned to a life of crime, including drug dealing and armed robbery. Hopefully in the future, instead of learning about black history for only one month a year, we'll be taught about it all year round.
Common topics in this essay:
Earl Little,
African Americans,
African American,
Black Muslims,
Red Malcolm,
Africa Europe,
Islam Malcolm,
Unity OAAU,
Nation Islam,
Black Muslim,
black muslims,
african americans,
black nationalist,
nation islam,
earl little,
el-hajj malik el-shabazz,
african american,
el-hajj malik,
islam malcolm,
name el-hajj,
malik el-shabazz,
name el-hajj malik,
nation islam malcolm,
|
Acceptance Essays
