Oppression In Malcolm X

Words: 740
Pages: 3
Open Document
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley is a powerful book that exposes the reader to the atrocities of racism committed in twentieth century America. One central idea that this novel revolves around is systemic oppression, which serves as a contribution to the readers’ understanding of the extent to which prejudice stretched during this time period. Three key events that relate back to this main idea are Mr. Ostrowski’s career suggestions, Malcolm’s hustling job, and the time Malcolm spends in jail. One of the first main events in the book that develops the central idea of systemic oppression is the time when Malcolm’s primary school teacher, Mr. Ostrowski, puts down Malcolm’s dream of becoming a lawyer just because of his race. When …show more content…
The main reason he is eventually caught is due to all the legal attention he is drawing to himself from his hustling job, which keep private detectives and policemen on his trail. However, the fact of the matter is, Malcolm was driven into his illegal job in the first place because of the racist structure of America’s social class system. This occurrence gives a very vivid illustration of systemic oppression, since Malcolm’s fate was essentially inevitable. The way that the class system is set up in his time essentially forces him to rely on illegal methods to make a living, which in turn leads to his eventual arrest. In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the central idea of systemic oppression is developed and built upon by three main events: Mr. Ostrowski’s comments on Malcolm’s dreams, the time Malcolm obtains a hustler job, and Malcolm’s eventual arrest. Although Malcolm manages to turn his life around after these events, others weren’t so lucky. This novel uses the concept of systemic oppression to clearly illustrate the division between white and black America during the twentieth century, and the way that it surfaced within the life of Malcolm X as he struggled to find his place in the
Show More

Related Documents: Oppression In Malcolm X

Discuss The Relationship Between Reading Education And Oppression

The Relationship between Reading, Education and Oppression ENG 131English Compostion1 By Antoinette Rice For Professor Dave Date September 25, 2014 Is having an education and knowing how to read important to you? It was very important to the slaves back then during slavery. Slaves did not have the privilege to learn how to read or get an education, they were forbidden to learn period. During that time of not being able to learn, oppression settled in on African Americans heavily because having…

Words 1116 - Pages 5

Malcolm X Rhetorical Analysis

highest form of moral courage is when it is used to fight through peace. A perfect example of this type of moral courage is Martin Luther King, Jr., with his peaceful marches and speeches. One person who exhibited moral courage but not in this form is Malcolm X, with his "by any means necessary" mantra. King's ideology shows the proper way to achieve social justice…

Words 921 - Pages 4

Malcolm X: A Tragic Hero

figures as Malcolm gained popularity. The Nation of Islam began to worry that Malcolm possessed too much power and was only concerned with himself and was not supporting the interests of the Nation of Islam. Throughout the years, Malcolm came to the realization that Elijah Muhammad committed adultery and their relationship slowly broke apart. Following the death of President John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X was questioned in a press conference on his feelings following the tragedy. Malcolm showed no remorse…

Words 1436 - Pages 6

Examples Of Racial Injustice In Learning To Read By Malcolm X

injustices. How one perceives these injustices can determine how they overcome and combat them. In “Learning to Read” a young Malcolm X writes about teaching himself to read and write while in prison. While Malcolm is reading he finds many books about the history of racial injustices throughout the world and finds the common oppressor to primarily the white man. Malcolm X uses his new found knowledge and discoveries to begin documenting the texts and the importance of ending racial injustices by…

Words 765 - Pages 4

How Did Martin Luther King Influence The Civil Rights Movement

to the 60s. First Leader's name was Martin Luther King jr; who through his religion spoke of peaceful protest and uniting all races alike. While the second leader was Malcolm X who believe that's the only way to achieve something was through violence and segregation from whites. This would also be influenced by his religion. Malcolm X was a member the Nation of Islam Following the teaching of Elishah Muhammad.…

Words 477 - Pages 2

Comparing Martin Luther King's And Malcolm X

Martin Luther King’s and Malcolm X’s basic approaches to resisting oppression. On what key principles do they disagree? Whose argument do you find more compelling and why? Make sure you make close use of their texts to back up your answer. Response: One of the differences between MLK’s and Malcolm X’s approach is their perspectives on the use of violence. Martin Luther King practiced peaceful protest because he did not see violence as a necessary tool; however, Malcolm X believed that violence…

Words 1490 - Pages 6

Comparing Douglass And The Columbian Orator

Argument: Malcolm X discusses his personal path towards education and how it lead him to be a political activist. “I never will forget how shocked I was when I began reading about slavery’s total horror. It made such an impact upon me that it later became one of my favorite subjects when I became a minister” (102). Learning about slavery through books shaped Malcolm X’s views and involvement as a minister. Argument (overall): Reading, writing and being well educated can grant a person freedom…

Words 720 - Pages 3

Rhetorical Analysis Of Learning To Read By Malcolm X

In the excerpt, Learning to Read, from the Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X writes how he learned to read while serving time in prison to how this tool helped him have the political influence. Malcolm X describes his amount of influence in his peers and how that became about, starting with his educational experience in prison, stating how many people thought that he had a higher education than he actually did. He started with a dictionary, so he could begin to “study [and] learn some words”…

Words 143 - Pages 1

The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

“The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Alex Haley Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He is best known as a national and international civil rights pioneer of the 1960s. As an activist, he spent his years advocating the human rights of African-Americans. The mid-1900s was a time of great racial upheaval against African-Americans, which took the form of social, political and economic oppression, etc. Malcolm X strived to end their suffering with an aggressive approach of activism…

Words 389 - Pages 2

Black Supremacy and Malcolm Essay

The Autobiography of Malcolm X The autobiography of Malcolm X tells the life story of Malcolm X, a black male that grew up a troubled teen turned criminal to become a renowned and controversial speaker. Born Malcolm Little in Lansing, Michigan he transformed from a misbehaving boy in school to a man who gave hope to black people . The book starts with Malcolm telling about his childhood. Malcolm’s childhood was grim and thus set the tone of the entire book. He introduces readers to his father who was an anti­white…

Words 1525 - Pages 7