Malcolm X Assassination Analysis

During the 20th century, America was a place of great cultural and social turbulence after being so deeply divided for so long. The Autobiography was collaboration between the most visible spokesman for the black power movement, Malcolm X, and journalist Alex Haley that conducted in-depth interviews between 1963 and 1965, before his assassination. This work explores his come-up from being an unruly rebel as an adolescent to an electrifying Nation of Islam minister. Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska during 1925. His father, Reverend Earl Little, was a Baptist minister, and his mother from Grenada, were supporters of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association. The family fled Omaha to live in Lansing, Michigan once white
Malcolm X tried to recruit many others by speaking out on the street and eventually became an assistant minister in 1953 for Elijah. A confrontation between a practicing member fell victim to police brutality and elevates the Nation of Islam to the media. This allows Elijah, Malcolm X, and the NOI to receive plenty of publicity. Later on, it is revealed that Elijah Muhammad is guilty of adultery and this huge scandal leaves Malcolm astonished since he loved his leader. In addition to the scandals, JFK is assassinated abruptly, and Muhammad demands Malcolm X to not say word on the topic. Nonetheless, X did give his opinion claiming that this casualty was a case of “the chickens coming home to roost,” Malcolm was silenced for 90 days, but basically excommunicated from the organization in all. Weeks later after being shunned from the only community he felt a part of, he decided to make a pilgrimage to Mecca; turning out to be an enlightening experience. Malcolm saw people of all races and colors coming together as one would have a radical alteration in his outlook of the “white man.” He even adopts the name El-hajj Malik El-Shabazz once he departs from the Nation of Islam. The last few years of his life upon return were tragic, conversely. Upon his return from visiting Mecca and other nations meeting with world leaders, reporters overwhelm him with questions that suggest a connection between him and race riots erupting across the nation. Moving on, Malcolm holds meetings for his new organization for Afro-American Unity in Harlem. Approaching the end of the book, he confesses to feeling stifled in his endeavors by his reputation and predicts that he won’t be alive to witness the publication of his