Malcolm X Essay, Research Paper

1. Many believed that the "oppressed people" needed a leader or savior who could improve their life conditions, and Marcus Garvey would fit that description. Marcus Garvey was a black leader who started a "Back-to-Africa" movement in the United State. Garvey’s main beliefs were that blacks would never receive justice in the countries where most of the people were white. He preached that blacks should go back to Africa, their homeland, and settle there. With Malcolm X’s father strong belief in the ministry of Garveyism, Malcolm took Garvey as true; that the only way to achieve anything would be hard if the white man is ruling the country. Malcolm had to be strong while preparing for the civil rights movement; that strength would be very necessary in accomplishing anything. His father’s ministry opened up the doors of truth of the harm of the white man on the blacks in America. Malcolm said that the black people would benefit in uniting the black race. Marcus Garvey was "convinced that success demanded the building of a strong economic base so that blacks will be self-sufficient" (Internet, Marcus Garvey). Because of Marcus Garvey’s beliefs, many African Americans, found new strength and renewed their vision of success. Therefore, Garvey’s teaching brightened up the chance for Malcolm to achieve change during the civil rights movement; providing a chance that everything would be all right and blacks would be equal to whites. Even though Marcus Garvey’s helped and wanted the best for his fellow black people, he slammed fellow African-American leaders as being white puppets. Many blacks saw Marcus Garvey a lot in Malcolm X in that they both believed that the black race needs to stay just black to have real power, that the white people are the enemies, and that blacks should not mix with whites. Malcolm learned that the road would be tough because of the great power the white man has in America and that where the black man can have power would be where there is no white man in control, such as in Africa.

2. Martin Luther King Jr., shared more in common with Malcolm X, then any other contemporary civil rights leader. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had more in common after Malcolm broke away from Elijah Mohammed. Before Malcolm broke away, he was an angry man who could never see anything positive and the reason why he could not see anything positive was because the whites had no "moral conscience." Malcolm also promoted segregation that is was the only way for blacks to achieve their rightful place in society. Martin Luther King, felt that blacks and whites should be united and there would be peace and happiness; this was the opposite of what Malcolm believed. In "Malcolm X: The Man and His Times," Malcolm says that separatist and nationalist strategy for black survival and that only through violence would conditions change. Malcolm also says that the white society had no moral conscience and promoted the role of the angry black against racist America. After Malcolm left the Nation of Islam, he, like Martin Luther King, believed greatly in unity and change through black pride and respect for oneself then hate and revenge, which he believed before. Malcolm even wanted to join forces with Martin Luther for their beliefs were very similar now. I think that the best thing that Malcolm and Martin Luther both believed in was the belief that blacks would attain freedom if they first get self-respect. They both fought for a difference in black America and to bring hope to blacks in the United States. Even though they had very different ways of promoting their message they both tried to bring power and strength to the black communities so that they can all rise above all the hatred that surrounded them. Malcolm X, compared to other contemporary civil rights leaders, was more aggressive.

3. "True" Islam defers from the teachings of Elijah Mohammad, by Elijah and the "true" Islam stressed different things. Elijah Mohammad stressed that there was more than one God. That these Gods had a beginning and an end, which means they did die and did not live forever. He said that God was a black man and the first one was Wallace D. Fard. So, Elijah Mohammad said that their God was a black man and the white man was the devil. Elijah had a racist view, where he wished to never accept whites as "sincere or capable of helping the blacks in their situation." He believed that Jesus was not miraculously born of a virgin. "True" Islam, believed in one God and that was Allah. He created all and from him they all came from only. The true Muslims believed that every righteous person is a god, but not a main God. "True" Muslims believed that Jesus was born from a virgin and died by being crucified on a cross. Even though they had many differences, the Nation of Islam and Islam were similar. They both called each other Muslims, they teach and worship in mosques, they appeal to the prophet Muhammad, they recite the Muslim creed, and they view the Qur’an as inspired Scripture. However, "true" Islam says that the only thing really in common is the language they both share. These "true" Muslims, believed that the Nation of Islam was misusing the word Islam because they were absolutely in violation of the certain basic principles contained within the Qur’an.

4. Malcolm’s trip to Mecca changes his ministry completely. It is like he opened up some doors that brought him to reality. He saw the error of his ways and moved to goodness. Before leaving to Mecca, Malcolm believed that white and blacks should not be together and that keeping them apart is the best for them both. He believed that the white man was the devil for he was keeping the black man from gaining his rightful power in the world. Malcolm felt that violence was the only way to overcome the problems of the black man out on by the white man in the world. Nevertheless, when Malcolm returned, he learned other that his ways of the past were childish and was going to lead him nowhere. He wished to start his own organization with opposite beliefs then he had before he went to Mecca. Talking to Dr. Mahmoud Youssef Sharwarbi opened his eyes to achieving his goals of freeing the black man from the white man’s powers. With the help of his transformation from his return from Mecca helped him to bring power and strength to the black people in America so that they could rise above all the hatred and injustices that the white man put on them. Malcolm dropped his violent approach and took up a more nonviolent approach. With his new look on life, Malcolm’s message of black respect and black pride touched millions upon millions of blacks. Malcolm’s helpful speeches, which brought the black community together, helped to reach the goal of equality between all races.

Bibliography

Clarke, John Henrik. "Malcolm X: The Man and His Times." African World Press INC. September 1991.

Dyson, Michael Eric. "Reflecting Black: African-American Culture Criticism." 1993.

"Garvey, Marcus." Online. February 23, 2000.

"Garvey, Marcus." World Book Online. 2000.

Laidlaw, Mark. "Televangelist of the Marcus Garvey and his Philosophy on the Black Movement of the Nineteen Twenties." Online. February 23, 2000.

"Marcus Garvey the Preacher." Online. February 23, 2000.

"Nation of Islam." Online. February 23, 2000.

Patterson, Lillie. "Martin Luther King Jr. and the Freedom Movement." Checkman Books. September 1993.

Pement, Eric. "Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam: Part Two." Cornerstone. 1997.