malcolm x

Throughout history America has not lived up to the founding ideal of equality for all. There have been many cases in America where people have been persecuted based on their gender, race or religion. Now that is not to say that the same cannot be said about everywhere else in the world, historically persecution against certain groups of people has always existed. However, for a country founded on freedom and equality America has had failures, from slavery, to gender inequality to modern day racism. Malcolm X grew up in a tough place for an African American; he was constantly judged for the color of his skin. He was persecuted throughout his life. He decided that that was not the life he wanted to live so he attempted to change his life to the way he thought was fair.

Malcolm X believed that everyone deserved equality in America. However during his life there was no equality for African Americans, even though America promises every citizen fair treatment. All Malcolm X wanted was to be thought of as an equal human being and not as something less just because of the color of his skin. In his autobiography Malcom X declared “I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda.…I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole” (). In this quote, Malcolm X is talking about the issues of how all African Americans wanted to be treated the way their fellow Americans were being treated. In America, African Americans were denied this justice and equality for quite a long time, even though as citizens of America they are promised to be protected by the constitution and have the right to equality.

In America what does “equality for all” really mean? That equality should be given to those who the government sees as fit, or to the general population. Even though America has become a much more equal country there is still