Malcolm X
Malcolm, like thousands of others of his generation, grew up during the Great Depression. A time that was hard on everyone economically, but that carried an even greater racial burden on African Americans. From early childhood, Malcolm had memories of Ku Klux Klan members tormenting his mother. They were in search of his father, who they claimed was “’spreading trouble’ among “good” Negroes of Omaha with the “back to Africa” preachings of Marcus Garvey,” page 1. After drawing the attention of local whites, Malcolm’s father is abused and berated. Their house is burnt down and when Malcolm is six, his father is murdered. Like most other Americans during this economic catastrophe Malcolm’s mother is forced to turn to welfare. She begins to have issues, especially with religion and is eventually sent to mental hospital. Malcolm and his eight brothers and sisters are separated. While first living with family friends, Malcolm is expelled from school and sent to a detention home. It was here, in Michigan, where Malcolm’s character begins to take shape. When a teacher asks him if he has given his career any thou
I spent my first month in the town with my mouth hanging open. The sharp-dressed young ”cats” who hung on the corners and in the poolrooms, bars and restaurants, and who obviously didn’t work anywhere, completely entranced me. I couldn’t get over marveling at how their hair was straight and shiny like white men’s hair; Ella told me this was called a “conk.” I had never tasted a sip of liquor, never even smoked a cigarette, and here I saw little black children, ten and twelve years old, shooting craps, playing cards, fighting, getting grown-ups to put a penny or a nickel on their number for them, things like that…” page 43. Malcolm, one of life’s first needs is for us to be realistic. Don’t misunderstand me, now. We all here like you, you know that. But you’ve got to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer—that’s no realistic goal for a nigger. You need to think about something you can be. You’re good with your hands—making things. Everybody admires your carpentry shop work. Why don’t you plan on carpentry? People like you as a person—you’d get all kinds of work.” page 36 As an adult, prison is responsible for Mal
Some topics in this essay:
Michigan Malcolm’s,
Marcus Garvey”,
Nation Islam,
Elijah Muhammad,
Muhammad Malcolm’s,
Malcolm Malcolm,
Klux Klan,
Boston Prison,
Negroes Omaha,
African Americans,
malcolm’s family,
page 36,
sex drugs,
drugs money,
sex drugs money,
malcolm’s character,
elijah muhammad,
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Approximate Word count = 789
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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