What Is Malcolm X's Identity

Throughout American history, blacks have struggled through a search for identity. Being neglected and abused, they sought a sense of acceptance in society. Malcolm X’s passion as a civil right’s activist vocalized the African Americans’ struggles and provided them with a newfound identity. According to psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, one’s identity, an instinctive sentiment of judgments and beliefs, is only subject to change in severely traumatic instances. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, along with a multitude of interviews and speeches, reveal 4 distinct different identities of Malcolm’s throughout his life: Malcolm Little, Big Red, Malcolm X, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.
Born Malcolm Little, son of a black rights preacher, the child was exposed
The few opportunities offered in the ghettos, infested with poverty, constant crime, insufficient health care, and drug addiction, further standardized society’s racism. Big Red’s only outlet of success was through criminal activities. He took pride in being a self-made issuer of marijuana, alcohol, and prostitutes. Big Red flaunted his success by exhibiting himself as a “Harlem archetype”, dressing in bright zoot suits, long gold chains, and unkinking his naturally curly-qued hair. Big Red manifested his anger toward racial standards in a desperate quest for respect. He so strongly pursued validation that he left the love of his life for a white woman, for enticing a white woman rendered him equal to a white man. Though Big Red’s rebellion defied racial standards, it eventually led to his
In his newfound devotion to education and self-reflection, Malcolm came to embrace new ways to cope with society's racial code. In a religious revelation, Malcolm eventually converted to the Nation of Islam, which preached black superiority and supported segregation and black self-reliance. Malcolm joined the prison debating society where he learned to utilize the extensive power of words. One practice of the Nation of Islam, symbolizing independence and revival, was the resignation of one’s “slave name”. Retiring from his white-given title Malcolm Little, he was renamed Malcolm X. This clearly illustrated yet another change in identity. He now lived by a gospel of respect, hard work, and cleanliness. Once released from prison, Malcolm served as an advocate to the Nation of Islam, thrilling the media with his powerful rhetoric. The Nation of Islam taught pacifism, encouraging blacks to embrace their enemies rather than retaliating. While Malcolm agreed with this, his strong accordance with the media and glorified public image conflicted with the organization's teachings. These disagreements, along with eventual corruption in the organization’s idolized leaders, caused Malcolm to leave the Nation of