What Are The Events That Changed Malcolm's Life

The events of Malcolm’s life shaped him into the prominent Pan-Africanist he would become. John Henrik Clarke states: “Every major event in Malcolm’s life brought him into conflict with the society that still thrives on the oppression of his people.” He lost his father at a young age to racial violence. Malcolm’s mother would soon after be committed to a mental institution. He would move to New York City where he fell into a life of crime and drug use. Malcolm was finally sentenced to ten years in prison as a result of these crimes. These events all acted to bring Malcolm into a deeper state of turmoil. They were all related because of they were the direct result of the oppression of his race. However, it was prison that truly changed Malcolm.
Growing up in a poor neighborhood of Trench Town in Jamaica, Bob would live an early life full of poverty. At an early age, he would realize that someone needed to speak up for the injustices of his people. Violent political clashes would result in him making one of his first meaningful songs called “Simmer Down”. In this song, Bob would urge acknowledge the situation of the youths involved in the violence and urged them to stop. Mikal Gilmore states: “For the first time, a voice from the ghetto was speaking to others who lived in the same straits, acknowledging their existence and giving voice to their troubles…” However, it wasn’t until he began practicing Rastafarianism that his lyrics became powerful enough to reach out to people all over the
He can be a lover, or he can be a rebel. In his song “No Woman, No Cry”, he states: “In this bright future you can’t forget your past, so dry your tears I say” In this song he is talking to women about the harsh life living in the ghetto. But he urges her not to cry, that the struggles of today will shape her into a person that will strive for a better future. However, Bob also appeals to those who are fighting for independence and equality. In his song “War”, he states: “That until there is no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes, me say war” This song expressed his stand against oppression of Blacks around the world and it related to those who were being oppressed. Bob did not only reach out to the Blacks, but people of other ethnic backgrounds. He would be popular in Europe, North America, and