Malcom X:
African American leader originally called Malcom Little
“X” stood for the African name he never knew
Prominent figure in the Nation of Islam (NOI - movement that combined elements of Islam with
nationalism)
He articulated the concepts of race pride and Black nationalism in the 1960s
He was a string believer in separatism and nationalism
Imprisoned from 1947 and 1952
Underwent a conversion to Islam
Skill was in speaking and in writing
He was responsible for a rapid growth in membership from around 400 in 1952 to around 40,000 by 1960
He preached violent revolution, urging AA not to reject any means for change
A strict adherent of NOI ideology, Malcolm imposed draconian rules of conduct on their memberships
He organised temples, raised funds, recruited new members and acted as Muhammads principal
spokesman and representative
His ideas went further than of his predecessors, linking socialism with pan-nationalism, anti-colonialism
and radical islam
This and concerns about Elijah Muhammad’s genuine belief in Islamic moral principles
Resulted in a break with the NOI in 1964
Early years:
rebellious youngster
Only black child in his class (therefore spent his adult life denouncing whites as evil and seeking to build
the secure black community he never had as a child)
Stayed in a juvenile home
Involved with petty criminal activities
Known as “detroit red”
Street hustler, drug dealer and part of gangs
In prison 1946-52 he underwent a conversion
o Eventually leading to the NOI
he replaced his surname, “Little,” with an “X,” a custom among Nation of Islam followers who considered
their family names to have originated with white slaveholders.
His views:
preferred to focus on the economic and social conditions that his fellow blacks suffered in inner cities (the
problems that MX believed were not solved by MLK)
Rejected idea of integration as he believed that white people were inherently racist and would never apply
their American democratic values to black people
Saw black people as africans rather than Americans
But moving back would have impracticalities
rejected the non violent methods on CR (he saw them as cowardly and ineffective)
Insinuated that black people had the right and duty to defend themselves and families
Presented himself as the authentic spokesman of the poor oppressed black people
However claimed that he never advocated for initiating violence, but right of self defence
Believed that it is important to protect women (NOI did not see to that in beliefs)
FBI kept surveillance on him from 1960 onwards
In the last year of his life he was expelled from the NOI
whites viewed him as a racist
MX denounced white people as “snakes” and “devils”
Aspects of MX’s message:
1. Strong emphasis on racial pride
2. Stressed the African dimension of the black American identity
3. Contribution of outspoken advocacy of violence
4. Often insisted that violence had to be central to black liberation
African American leader originally called Malcom Little
“X” stood for the African name he never knew
Prominent figure in the Nation of Islam (NOI - movement that combined elements of Islam with
nationalism)
He articulated the concepts of race pride and Black nationalism in the 1960s
He was a string believer in separatism and nationalism
Imprisoned from 1947 and 1952
Underwent a conversion to Islam
Skill was in speaking and in writing
He was responsible for a rapid growth in membership from around 400 in 1952 to around 40,000 by 1960
He preached violent revolution, urging AA not to reject any means for change
A strict adherent of NOI ideology, Malcolm imposed draconian rules of conduct on their memberships
He organised temples, raised funds, recruited new members and acted as Muhammads principal
spokesman and representative
His ideas went further than of his predecessors, linking socialism with pan-nationalism, anti-colonialism
and radical islam
This and concerns about Elijah Muhammad’s genuine belief in Islamic moral principles
Resulted in a break with the NOI in 1964
Early years:
rebellious youngster
Only black child in his class (therefore spent his adult life denouncing whites as evil and seeking to build
the secure black community he never had as a child)
Stayed in a juvenile home
Involved with petty criminal activities
Known as “detroit red”
Street hustler, drug dealer and part of gangs
In prison 1946-52 he underwent a conversion
o Eventually leading to the NOI
he replaced his surname, “Little,” with an “X,” a custom among Nation of Islam followers who considered
their family names to have originated with white slaveholders.
His views:
preferred to focus on the economic and social conditions that his fellow blacks suffered in inner cities (the
problems that MX believed were not solved by MLK)
Rejected idea of integration as he believed that white people were inherently racist and would never apply
their American democratic values to black people
Saw black people as africans rather than Americans
But moving back would have impracticalities
rejected the non violent methods on CR (he saw them as cowardly and ineffective)
Insinuated that black people had the right and duty to defend themselves and families
Presented himself as the authentic spokesman of the poor oppressed black people
However claimed that he never advocated for initiating violence, but right of self defence
Believed that it is important to protect women (NOI did not see to that in beliefs)
FBI kept surveillance on him from 1960 onwards
In the last year of his life he was expelled from the NOI
whites viewed him as a racist
MX denounced white people as “snakes” and “devils”
Aspects of MX’s message:
1. Strong emphasis on racial pride
2. Stressed the African dimension of the black American identity
3. Contribution of outspoken advocacy of violence
4. Often insisted that violence had to be central to black liberation
