"MALCOLM X, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF" (ALEX HALEY).   Term Paper ID:24871 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Sociological analysis of book on major shifts in racial politics & religious views of Afro-Amer. leader.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Sociological analysis of book on major shifts in racial politics & religious views of Afro-Amer. leader. Paper Introduction: In Alex Haley’s transcribed work, The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965), readers are treated to several valuable lessons in sociology. Without summarizing the book in great detail, the story of Malcolm X reveals the significance of social and economic stratification in affecting people’s religious beliefs and people’s perspectives on social problems and life chances. This story shows a Malcolm X who grows out of a socialized value system emphasizing violence and hatred, into a de-socialized system emphasizing a new ideological orientation on race relations, to a re-socialized system nearing the viewpoints of Martin Luther King--a civil rights leader once despised by Malcolm. This research will examine this process of social development through the eyes of Malcolm X. The Nation of Islam began in the early 1930s in the United Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. He grew up poor. If there is widespread public confusion concerning the "real"identity of Malcolm X, it is no wonder. Even basketball star Michael Jordan ofWheaties cereal box fame, sports an "X" cap. During his brief life of 39 years,Malcolm did indeed wear three public faces. These Americans had no trouble condemning the decisionof younger people to destroy their own communities. Many African-Americans feelpressured by problems in their own communities, such as education, healthand drugs, while at the same time they are worried by a resurgence ofracism anddiscrimination in society at large. Fard, later known as Master Wallace FardMuhammad, and his successor, Elijah Poole, later known as Elijah Muhammad.Mr. When Malcolm X was in prison, hejoined the Nation of Islam, a religious group that emphasizes blackself-sufficiency and strict moral conduct. He lived the fast life of the street. African-American teen-age males have a greater than 1-in-3 chanceof being unemployed. And African-American men make up 46 percent of thenations prison population. ambassador:"'What you are telling me is that it isn't the American white man who isracist, but it's the American political, economic and social atmospherethat automatically nourishes a racist psychology in the white man.' Heagreed. The Nationof Islam increased its membership as black nationalism grew in the UnitedStates. ReferencesHaley, A. Meanwhile, Malcolm's emphasis on establishing links to Africa fits inwith the swing toward "African-centrism" among many blacks. Some of the confusion over the two religions comes from the life ofMalcolm X. This story shows a Malcolm X who grows out of a socializedvalue system emphasizing violence and hatred, into a de-socialized systememphasizing a new ideological orientation on race relations, to a re-socialized system nearing the viewpoints of Martin Luther King--a civilrights leader once despised by Malcolm. Malcolm'slatest manifestation is a complex melding of popular phenomena andpolitically charged ideas. Unfortunately, most of theseyouth probably have not read the entire Autobiography of Malcolm X, andmiss the full power and complexity of their hero's life. Still a third Malcolm is evident in the honest and self-criticalreflections of older adults who cut their intellectual teeth on Malcolm'swords 3 years ago. Fard was born in Mecca in 1877 and may have been an Orthodox Muslim.After immigrating to Detroit, he preached to African-Americans who hadtraveled north in search of jobs and better living conditions. While there, he re-examinedhis views on race and came to believe that all men are brothers under oneGod, Allah. Malcolm traveled to Islam's holy city ofMecca where he experienced collegiality and received respect from whiteMuslims. By the end of his life, he was engaged ina bitter dispute with his religious mentor and had moved toward an ethic ofracial inclusion and tolerance. Each time genuine protest in America's streets turns to opportunisticvandalism and arbitrary criminal behavior, Malcolm's presence is apparent;the early Malcolm as street hustler, thief and con-man. The best approach for understanding the differences between the tworeligions may be to read Alex Haley's transcribed work, The Autobiographyof Malcolm X, first written in 1964. In essence, there are three faces of Malcolm X. "That discussion with the ambassador gave me a new insight--one whichI like: that the white man is not inherently evil, but America's racistsociety influences him to act evilly. The resurrection of Malcolm X--adherent of the Muslim religion, black nationalist, challenger of racism--springs in large part from socialferment and frustration among black Americans. To some extent, Malcolm X is a surrogate, a deadleader filling in as a cutting-edge black leader. Nearly three decades after his assassination, Malcolm X's words ringwith prophecy. He eventually became disenchantedwith the Nation of Islam and traveled to Mecca for a pilgrimage (a Hajj--one of the five "pillars" of Orthodox Islam). Malcolm X grew through a process of socialization, de-socializationand re-socialization. Today, national statistics showthat one out four black men drop out of school before graduating from highschool. In multiplereincarnations, Malcolm, slain in Harlem when he was 39, exists as a popculture trend, role model, political alternative and the subject ofscholarly debate. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. An eloquent cultural hero, especially to manyblack youth, Malcolm advocated racialpride and militant separatism. Mr. Haley had tape-recorded many hoursof interviews with Malcolm X before he was assassinated. In Alex Haley's transcribed work, The Autobiography of Malcolm X(1965), readers are treated to several valuable lessons in sociology.Without summarizing the book in great detail, the story of Malcolm Xreveals the significance of social and economic stratification in affectingpeople's religious beliefs and people's perspectives on social problems andlife chances. In the Autobiography he said in a discussion with a U.S. Although Malcolm X's image is omnipresent, the man behind the facaderemains a puzzle, partly because of lingering white perceptions of him as adangerous militant and partly because Malcolm himself went through so manypersonal transformations. The Nation of Islam began in the early 193 s in the United Stateswith the emergence of W.D. He returned to the UnitedStates with a shocking perspective. They railed against thesenseless, interracial street warfare which always diverts attention fromthe common economic troubles and social stratification of black and whiteworking people. 427). The reason he remains a compelling figureis his unusual capacity for constructive growth and change and hisemergence as a role model. The autobiographyhas been reissued many times since Malcolm's death in 1965 and it stillsells almost 2 , copies each year. The radical black leader--whose short, fiery life ended ina blizzard of gunfire in 1965--has been reborn as a compelling symbol andteacher for a new generation of African-Americans. "We both agreed that American society makes it next to impossible forhumans to meet in America and not be conscious of their color differences.And we both agreed that if racism could be removed, America could offer asociety where rich and poor could truly live like human beings. The leader's life story is not unlike what many young black menexperience today. He is the "X" on ubiquitous, colorful baseball caps, aface on T-shirts and the inspiration of rap songs. As a role model, Malcolm X has much in common with today's African-Americans. Malcolm has emerged as an important figure because his life andexample speak more radically and directly to some areas of black life thanthat of another revered black leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This third incarnation of Malcolm commenced with his formal breakwith the Nation of Islam in 1964. Hespent seven years in prison for burglary. This research will examine thisprocess of social development through the eyes of Malcolm X. Such conversion is a reminder to today's youth who arelocked behind bars or trapped within ghettoes that there are no incurableconditions or irreversible circumstances. (1965). Kingis pretty much a Southern phenomenon, and Malcolm is pretty much anorthern, urban phenomenon. Malcolm X appeals especially to youngpeople because he connotes for them a youthful exuberance and defiance ofthe status quo. Andeach of these faces symbolizes a stage of socialization many African-Americans today are undergoing. At various stages he was a poor boy, a hipster, acriminal, a convict who spent 77 months in prison, a zealous religiousconvert and a black separatist. They do notrealize that Malcolm was a person of prayer, personal discipline, seriousstudy and dignified restraint. Some of African-Americanculture is nationalist and radical, but much of the current leadership ismainstream. This is theMalcolm who demanded "freedom by any means necessary." His unyielding rageand "I dare you" attitude have inspired thousands of alienated black youthsto don the "X" as a desperate, pre-political expression of discontent. Born Malcolm Little, he became a spokesman for Elijah Muhammadand the Nation of Islam. The Malcolm's second and best known face is that of the angry, blackseparatist who referred to white people as beasts,guilty of brutalizing African-Americans throughout history. By now, most Americans have seen the emblem "X" emblazoned on the capor T-shirt of an urban youth. New York: BallantineBooks. The maturer Malcolm even changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, as if to declare that he had grown beyond the level ofconsciousness symbolized by the stark "X." This was the Malcolm who wasconverging rapidly with the strategies of Martin Luther King until Malcolmwas assassinated in 1965 in New York. The society has produced andnourished a psychology which brings out the lowest, most base part of humanbeings" (Haley, 1965, p. Ironically suchbehavior landed Malcolm in prison, which is where his earnest self-education commenced. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.