Malcolm X

The solution is not the civil rights movement for 4 different reasons.

1. White America cannot be swayed by moral appeal, so the moral appeal of the Civil Rights Movement is useless. 2. Rejects racial integration 3. Rejects nonviolence as an effective strategy 4. Rejects any coalition with white people

Early life/ Education

Extremely controversial and seen as anti-white Deeply opposed to the civil rights movement Victim of white violence: father killed by whites Went to jail at the age of 20 where he learned about Islam Heroic figure after death His words left an impact: Did not pass laws or break down barriers

Public Reaction

He was not really a towering figure in the black community during this time. He became more of a popular figure after his death. Additionally, many critiqued his agitational rhetoric and his controversial comments.

Movement Associated With

Nation of Islam is black nationalist Black Nationalism

Solution

Political: Blacks control their own politics Economics: Blacks control their economy Social: Improve black living...stress education Racial Separation: No integration (not segregation...segregation is subjugation) Racial Pride: Most important, restore pride (authorized public expression of pride) through history and add confidence for the future, saw black people as oppressed psychologically/ spiritually Retaliatory Violence: Violence in self defense/ purposeful violence

Views on Violence

Thought non violence was demeaning to black people and that it was okay to use violence in self defense Thought that if (white) people/the government, etc. were using violence against you/black people, then you could respond with violence (in self defense)

Views on Black Nationalism

While NOI is a black nationalism organization, Malcolm X did not define his specific program as black nationalism.

Problem They Thought Needed to be Addressed

White Racism

Views on Race and White People

White people are inherently racist After Mecca trip, less so