Malcolm X: Civil rights campaigner joined the Nation of Islam and was one
of the most charismatic leaders until 1964.
Preached black empowerment and separatism whilst criticising other civil
rights leaders such as MLK.
Toured Africa, the middle east and Europe where he embarked on the Hajj
to Mecca.
Assassinated in 1965.
Malcolm X’s Background:
Son of a Baptist preacher- will have learnt the preaching and
addressing the people skills.
His father was a member of the UNIA and a supporter of Marcus
Garvey- this caused trouble with the KKK who essentially forced
them out of Omaha, Nebraska- he had to move home twice before
his 4th birthday which meant that he was very aware of the racial
divides from the early stages of his life.
The family moved to Lansing, Michigan where Little continued to
make speeches in favour of the UNIA- 1929 the house was attacked
by a KKK breakaway group- the black legion.
1931- Little was father was found dead by a streetcar railway track,
no one was convicted but it was generally believed to be a murder
done by the black legion, his mother never recovered from the
death of her husband and in 1937 was sent to the State Mental
Hospital from the next 26 years- him and his 7 brothers and sisters
ended up at orphanages and with family.
Graduated top of his class, his dreams of becoming a lawyer were
crushed by his teacher who said it was no realistic goal due to his
race.
Malcolm moved to Boston to live with his sister, was a waiter in
Harlem and then became addicted to cocaine and crime- 1946 he
was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment-
converted to the black Muslim faith and was heavily influenced by
the teachings of Elijah Muhammed: ‘the teachings of Mr Muhammed
stressed how history had been whitened, when white men wrote the
history books, the black man simply had been left out. Mr
Muhammed couldn’t have said anything that struck me harder.’
In 1952 he was released from prison and moved to Chicago where
he met Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam sect.
The FBI believed him to be a danger to the American public for his
beliefs- they believed in his potential to do something; he was
heavily watched.
, He changed his name to X- a custom among Muhammed’s followers
who considered their family names to have originated with white
slave holders.
X went on several speaking tours, established several new mosques
and eventually assigned to be the minister of the mosque in New
York’s Harlem area.
Founder and editor of ‘Muhammed Speaks’ Malcolm rejected
integration and racial equality and instead advocated black power.
Credited with increasing membership of the NOI from 500-30,000 by
1963.
1959 a weeklong tv special based on his life called ‘the hate that
produced hate’
Beliefs: Complete and utter justice for the 20 million African Americans
across America- the only means for change are religion, Islam is the way
to instil the separationist views into the African Americans so that they
can have change and freedom. Do not teach hatred towards any human
beings, anyone.
Advocation of a violent revolution- 9th November 1963 made a speech
about revolutions and bloodshed being the answer. ‘You haven’t got a
revolution that doesn’t involve bloodshed. And you’re afraid to bleed. I
said, you’re afraid to bleed.’
Malcolm was suspended from the movement by Elijah Muhammed after
he made a series of extremist speeches- such as the comments regarding
the assassination of JFK being a ‘case of chickens coming home to roost’.
March 1964- Malcolm left the Nation of Islam and established his own
religious organisation-The Organisation of Afro-American Unity. Went on a
pilgrimage to Mecca which led him to reject his former separatist beliefs
and advocated for world brotherhood, urging African Americans to join
with sympathetic white people to bring an end.
Malcolm X was shot dead (14/15 times) at a party meeting in Harlem on
the 21st of February 1965- three black Muslims were later convicted of
the murder.
Beliefs:
Must not ‘beg’ favours from whites like NAACP and SCLC
Focuses on poverty and economic growth because they don’t
believe political equality will/can ever be achieved.
Rejected ‘white’ surnames and often replaced their names with X.
‘by any means necessary’- famous quote for self-defence.
Black Power Movement:
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