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Tracy Blankinship

Prof. Kane

English 115 TTh2

30 August 2019

E1.1

Malcolm X ​was an American human rights activist who was one of the main components

of the American civil rights movement. He was most popular for his contribution to the black

power movement and his controversial opposing view to Martin Luther King Jr.’s approach to

ending racial discrimination. ​From a young age, he was surrounded by hardship and violence,

seemingly being set up for failure. Following his dad’s supposed murder by white nationalists

and his mother's hospitalization he eventually dropped out of school and began to engage in a

life of crime. It wasn’t until the lowest point in his life when he ended up in jail for larceny that

he found his passion for activism. Malcolm X’s life experiences including the struggle with

poverty, discrimination, and loss of a family member all led him to the lowest point in his life.

Malcolm X’s imprisonment resulted in his introduction to the ways of the Nation of Islam

enlightening him, changing his life for the better, empowering him to use his voice a weapon

against racial discrimination.

Prison indirectly helped Malcolm X, being both his lowest point and the origin of his

journey towards a life of faith and activism. If I wasn’t for prision he would have never

discovered the Islamic faith that changed his perspective of life Nor would Malcolm have the

wide success and platform he grew through the Nation of Islam and his public speeches. Finding
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Islam allowed him to find himself and his purpose through faith. Instead of using his hatred and

anger with society for crime he used his dissatisfaction as fuel for his advocacy in the civil rights

movement. One of the most influential in Malcolm’s life who initially changed his life for the

better was “a black inmate, John Elton Bembry an atheist and polymath whose discourses were

listened to by white prisoners and guards as well as black prisoners”(Schaub). His words highly

inspired Malcolm as he states he was the first man he’s seen use only his words to demand

recognition and respect. This sparked Malcon’s interest in seeking higher self-education through

Latin and English courses under the guidelines of John Bembry as well as studying the

dictionary to improve his vocabulary. As he was in prision he was also introduced to the Nation

of Islam, an ​African American political and religious movement​ through regular visits and letters

from his brother Reginald. His brother was a recent c​onvert of the Muslim religion as well as a

member of the Nation of Islam who convinced Malcolm to join as well. While becoming familiar

with the ways of Islam, Malcolm discovered an important notion that changed him for the better

and insuring him to stay violent free, alcohol-free, and pork-free. Leaving his life of crime

behind him as he steps forward into a new way of life. ​Under the teachings of The Nation of

Islam he came to a understanding that his “earlier life of crime, addiction, and sexual license as a

form of enslavement--a continuation of the white conspiracy to weaken and oppress blacks” this

resulted in him to transform from a man driven by temptations to a man with “astonishing

powers of self-control and concentrated effort”(Schaub). He gave up temptations and lives a

more pure life allowing him to remain away from his prior life of crime. Once his prison

sentence was up he participated in debates and gave speeches starting at college campuses and

building his way up on the spectrum growing a following. Without any other, these events
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happening he would still be lost on where to take his life. Without a passion or purpose in life, he

would be left to a life of crime never fully unleashing his full potential.

If it wasn’t for finding faith in the Islamic belief he would have the same historically

impact. His life story would have gone down another path. If Malcolm X was never enlightened

he would have ended up back in a life of crime. Malcolm X Used his knowledge and passion for

an end of discrimination against blacks to empower others through the black power movement.

He had a great impact on the way African Americans viewed their status in America. Although

he was controversial with his views since he went towards a more radical way of activism.