¶ … Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, published shortly after his assassination in February 1965, is a collaborative effort by Malcolm X and Alex Haley. Containing as it does the entire life history of Malcolm X, the book is a virtual kaleidoscope of the man's various philosophies, be it on African-American unity and integration; racism; religion; non-violence; or human rights. But the singular fact that stands out while reading the book is the many transformations that Malcolm X went through during his lifetime. The drastic shifts in circumstances, ideologies and life paths chosen make it extremely difficult to identify any one consistent philosophy that characterizes the man. Yet, it is precisely for that very reason that there is an identifiable underlying philosophy that shines through almost his entire life span. And that is, Malcolm X was a man who believed in the virtue of self-realization and self-actualization. This inherent personal philosophy is evident in the acute self-awareness of the same that he displays when he tells Haley "Anything I do today I regard as urgent. No man is given but so much time to accomplish whatever is his life's work." (Haley, p.378)
Personally, I am in complete agreement with Malcolm X that only self-realization and self-actualization can help an individual optimize the time available in a given lifetime. More important, it is only the awareness of the importance of such a philosophy that will enable the fostering of the necessary courage to overcome perceived psychological, cultural and economic barriers that come in the way of an individual's self-development process. Admittedly, the philosophy of self-awareness, realization, and actualization is an age-old one espoused by philosophers as long ago as Socrates. But the fact remains that there are very few individuals who have...
Malcolm X, the most influential Black Muslim leader, was a man whose views and personality underwent so many changes that the final version of him bore little or no resemblance to the original one. In the book, 'Autobiography of Malcolm X', Alex Haley has highlighted all the changes that his political and social ideologies encountered and this helps us understand the complex multi-faceted personality of the man who had a
Autobiography X Malcolm X's autobiography provides poignant insight into the life of the man, but also offers insight into the historical and cultural context in which he wrote. Malcolm X delves into issues of race, class, gender, and power in the book, showing how these issues are interrelated in his personal life as well as in American society. As such, Malcolm X is very much a quintessential American, whose identity is
Even Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. noted that the Emancipation Proclamation promised more than it delivered. Both men knew that America had a long way to go before true freedom for African-Americans could be realized. Malcolm X dealt drugs and hung out with the underground African-American artists and musicians during the Harlem Renaissance, one of the greatest periods in African-American cultural history. This section of Malcolm X's Autobiography is one
Sparknotes.com/lit/malcolmx/section1.html) states a fragment from his autobiography, referring to the status of his father. Religion was and is a powerful means for the motivation of the masses. Once you have got their approval and their enthusiastic support, you have the opportunity of becoming an important figure in the social and thus, political arena. The Nation of Islam was in a certain way, a movement based on beliefs and values which encouraged
..That's why black prisoners become Muslims so fast when Elijah Muhammed's teachings filter into their cages by way of other Muslim convicts. 'The white man is the devil' is a perfect echo of that black convict's lifelong experience." Prison solidified Malcolm X's -- and in his view, all African-Americans' -- position in society, and his faith clarified the predicament and gave an avenue both of understanding and of redress. Everyone's childhood, family,
Though one can only speculate about what would have happened to Malcolm Little if he had never been arrested, it seems fair to suggest that he would have died in a violent manner, given that he lived in a violent manner. It seems unlikely that he would have devoted time to pursue his education. On the contrary, he may have continued his life of criminality. However, once he was
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now