Halima Chowdhury
Mr. Sullivan
AP Language and Composition
17 March 2014
From Malcolm Little to El-Hajj Maalik El Shabazz: The Contributions of Malcolm X
In 1964, Civil Rights activist Malcolm X and his companion, Alex Haley enshrined Malcolm's life and legacy into the contents of an autobiography. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is in narrative detail, the progression of his life from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X to El- Hajj Maalik El Shabazz. Malcolm X was a force that brought upon change in both Black America and the global community as well. His ideology of necessitating power for the black people, and no longer standing the advent of racism was a radical conception in his time. Malcolm X's contributions to the Nation of Islam, as well as Islam, his cultural renaissance and pursuit of justice in the civil rights movement are visible within the narrative of his life as well as the evolution of his perceptions throughout time.
English: Image from the FBI monograph of the Natio...
English: Image from the FBI monograph of the Natio...
Elijah Muhammad standing behind microphones at pod...Born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska Malcolm Little was both impressionable and rebellious; a dangerous combination for a black youth at the time. Malcolm's father was an advocate for the UNIA and ardent admirer of Marcus Garvey's back to Africa movement. Malcolm's mother was fair complexioned whilst his father was very dark. Amongst his five siblings, Malcolm was of fairest complexion, with red hair. Interestingly, he notes how his mother treated him the worst and his father favored him the most. These perceptions, he muses, are based on the psychological imprint of race superiority and conversely shame. Nevertheless, young Malcolm lived without the pretenses of race weighing heavily upon him. He engaged in white culture for much of his youth. From an early age, he possessed natural charisma and intelligence. These attributes, paired with passion for his cause and confidence...