THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOM X
Published on Nov 23, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Summary
- born in 1925 (Civil Rights Movement 1960s)
- impoverished
- imprisoned in early 20s
- atheist - Nation of Islam - Muslim Mosque
The Autobiography of Malcom X takes readers through the sequence of events making up the life of Malcom Little, also known as Malcom X. Malcom grew up in extreme poverty during the African-American Civil Rights movement. After landing himself in jail for five years in his early 20s, he finds the religion of Islam and goes on to be a very influential human rights activist and Muslim leader. He joins and later leaves the Nation of Islam and then founds Muslim Mosque Inc. He later was assassinated by three Nation of Islam members, ending his life as an advocate for black supremacy and Muslim beliefs. His autobiography came out in 1965, shortly after his death.
Context #1
- beginning of book
- father was civil rights activist - more subdued in beliefs
This quote is said by Malcom X in the very beginning of the autobiography but reflects the mentality that he possesses for the rest of his life. At a young age he can recall his father showing him photos of civil rights activist Marcus Garvey who had millions of followers and, therefore, was successful in provoking a worldwide revolution.
quote #1
- “So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.”
“So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise”.
Photo by Franco Folini
Analysis #1
- father didn't make enough "noise" as an activist
- therefore, Malcom made lots of noise
- this gave him the massive influence he had
This definitely proved to be a common theme in the book. Malcom’s father was also a civil rights activist but, for his dad, this meant he primarily just attended underground meetings and his thoughts on african american empowerment were kept relatively subdued. Although not directly stated, I feel like Malcom did not believe his father made enough “noise” as an activist which is why Malcom then chose to be so vehement and in his lifelong endeavors. Whenever Malcom wanted something, whether it was money or drugs or for people to convert to Islam, he did not keep quiet about it and found a way to get what he wanted. This is possibly what caused him to have so much influence throughout his life.
Photo by Schilling 2
Context #2
- dropped out of school at an early age
- goes to jail for theft - utilizes jail library
- find Islam in jail
Malcom was at the top of his class in elementary and middle school but soon after his father died and he was put into foster care, he dropped out. This meant that he was fending for himself on the streets in order to stay alive instead of getting an education. When he goes to jail for theft and several other charges in his early 20’s is when he teaches himself to read and develops almost an obsession with books.
Photo by Lotus Carroll
Quote #2
- “The ability to read awoke inside of me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive.”
“The ability to read awoke inside of me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive.”
Photo by Patrick Feller
ANalysis #2
- going to jail is what saved him
- developed the ability to read and articulate his thoughts on paper
- this ability is what helped him become such an influential leader
Ironically, going to jail is what saved Malcom. His new ability to read caused him to think and subsequently acquire the ability to articulate his new thoughts on paper. His thoughts and capacity to present them are what made him such a great and influential leader.
Photo by kdinuraj
Context #3
- white people have never treated him well - killed his father and separated him from his mother
- decides to do something about the lifestyle he was forced into
Malcom grows up with a very bitter hatred towards white people as he can only recall maybe a handful of times when the white people in his life have even treated him as a human. Three of them assassinated his father when he was little and, shortly after, white social workers stalked his family until they could find a reason to take Malcom and his siblings away from their mother, leaving their mother in an insane asylum for the entity of her life and her children jumping around from foster home to foster home. After this point, he chose to disassociate himself with white people and crawl out of the oppressive and dark lifestyle they forced him into. Towards the end of the book he acknowledges that maybe the judgements he made of all white people were not entirely fair.
Photo by Elvert Barnes
Quote #3
- “In the past, yes, I have made sweeping indictments of all white people. I never will be guilty of that again – as I know now that some white people are truly sincere, that some truly are capable of being brotherly toward a black man. The true Islam has shown me that a blanket indictment of all white people is as wrong as when whites made blanket indictments against blacks.”
“In the past, yes, I have made sweeping indictments of all white people. I never will be guilty of that again, as I know now that some white people are truly sincere, that some truly are capable of being brotherly toward a black man. The true Islam has shown me that a blanket indictment of all white people is as wrong as when whites made blanket indictments against blacks.”
Photo by Kheel Center, Cornell University
Analysis #3
- his religion allowed him to forgive
- still supports blacks supremacy
Malcom’s religion allowed him to forgive the white race enough to not immediately make the judgement of hating them all upon first meeting. He accepts that not all white people are evil, but also acknowledges that many still are, which is why he continued to advocate for black supremacy until the day he died. The conflict he has with white people is what caused him to become infuriated and then go public with his thoughts. This publication of his ideas is what made such large advancements in the retrospect.
Photo by asyraaf.azahari
Critique
- discloses all details of his life
- abolishes stereotypes
This book was very well written and I respect Malcom X’s bold decision to disclose every aspect of his life. While he could be ashamed of many of his choices before landing in jail, he instead chooses to tell the world about his mistakes to empower other and encouraging the abolishment of the stereotypes of those who have made mistakes such as drug use and imprisonment.
Photo by Bob Jagendorf
critique cont...
- used to shame white people
- race should be deemed irrelevant
On a personal level, I was often frustrated with this book as I felt like it was partially used to shame white people and, in turn, empower black people. I firmly believe in the irrelevance of skin color when it comes to how individuals should be treated, so I do not believe he should turn around and try to oppress white people by arguing how black people are superior. I find the advocation for equality as much more respectable and humanely correct. This book reveals that any human is capable of making difference and capable of good.
Photo by Gamma Man
Human experience
- religion gives humans an outlet to 'fix' themselves
- religion lets us believe in good
- still applicable today
This book shows first handedly how religion sometimes gives humans an outlet to fix ourselves and gives us something to believe in. I believe that this is true today. While many people’s transitions are not as drastic as that of Malcom’s, religion has the power to pull people out of very dark places. I think everyone at some point in their lives comes to the realization that the world is corrupt and we need something bigger to believe in so that we can believe in the good in ourselves. I think that the world is no less corrupt than it was during Malcom’s time so I believe that religion has just the same relevance in our lives now as it did then.
Photo by Thomás
