Blind Conformity: Malcolm X Essay, Research Paper

Blind Conformity: Malcolm X

Tony Franklin

ENC 1101

D.J. Henry

2/3/97

In today’s world it is often difficult to adjust to one type of

lifestyle or another. The constant bombardment of outside opinions hamper our

ability, as humans, to choose and be comfortable with a certain way of living.

Our way of living may consist of a look, a way of thinking, a religion, or any

facet of our personalities that may not conform with whatever is the norm or the

accepted at a given time. When this is the case, we sometimes feel forced to

change, thus we are susceptible to blind conformity. The word conformity comes

from the Latin words con, which means with or together, and forma, which means

to shape or mold. Therefore, blind conformity is actually a molding of

ourselves together with what is said to be normal in society instead of using

our differences to enhance ourselves as humans. Known for having strong

opinions, Malcolm X seems to be an unlikely victim of blind conformity. However,

as shown in his essay, My First Conk, Malcolm X, in fact, was victimized by this

malignant disease. Straightening black hair, though, is just one impulse that

is bought on by blind conformity. Changing one’s self to look or behave like

another because it is more desired by the public is due to a disregarding of one’

s self-claimed morals and values, an over emphasis of the media and outside

opinions, and an insecurity which most of us unfortunately have.

In My First Conk, Malcolm X assured that black people were being

brainwashed to believe that they actually were inferior to white people, thus

they conked their hair. They were, essentially, giving up what they were

fighting for as far as civil rights- the right to be who they were and also be

accepted by society. Therefore, the conking of their hair was a hypocrisy and a

contradiction of all their morals and values. Blind conformity caused them to

disregard their strongest beliefs which should be the most powerful driving

forces in all of our lives. If we can not depend on our own morals and values,

our engines, to dictate our lives, we are simply empty vehicles being pushed

down life’s roads. Especially in today’s society, there is a dire over emphasis

of the media. Television and other types of media display certain lifestyles and

ideas and then the public automatically conforms. Having the media, which is

something so optional, control us is a reprehensible sacrilege. It is

imperative that we learn to either admire or dislike an idea without feeling the

need to immerse ourselves so fully into it. The media was a prime culprit in so

much black people conking their hair in Malcolm X’s day. Seeing mostly white

people as celebrities, and the few blacks who were celebrities trying to look as

if they were white, made black people feel obligated to change. It made them

terribly insecure.

Insecurity chokes any self-esteem that a person has that might otherwise

make them feel less obligated to conform. For example, a teenager who feels he

or she is ugly is much more likely to take drastic measures to change themself,

such as straightening or dyeing their hair, than one who feels he or she is

pretty. Accordingly, it is extremely important for us to be taught from an

early age to be proud of who we are. Who is to say that soft hair is prettier

than coarse hair? Who is to say that skinny is prettier than fat? Who is to say

that white is better than black or black is better than white? Defeating

insecurity is knowing that there is no better one in these situations, but that

they are simply differences.

Blind conformity is such a strong force among humans that they will even

undergo extreme pain to fulfill it. Black people, including Malcolm X, actually

burned holes in their heads in order to conform. Countless people today are

even conforming not to conform by painfully probing metal rods through unlikely

parts of their bodies. What is this force that is driving us to hurt ourselves?

It would be extremely beneficial if we sit back and ask ourselves if it is

really worth it.