Malcolm X Paving the Way for the Rights of African Americans

Of the people whose names are mentioned in history, some men like Thomas Edison are praised for their genius minds, while others such as Adolf Hitler are criticized for leaving a depressing legacy behind. While it is relative easy to notice the type of legacies these two men left, legacies of other men are often vague and they seem to be imbedded in gray shadows. This is how many people view the life of Malcolm X. Malcolm X during his lifetime had influenced many African Americans to step up for their rights against the injustices by the American government. One on hand, he has been criticized for his hard stances that resemble extremism, while on the other hand he has been praised him for his effort in raising the status for African†¦show more content†¦The choice of words indicates using violence as a possible means to fight for your rights. Even the title that he gave to the speech seems violent in that it implies that an African American should either cast a vote to get his rights or use the power of bullets to get his rights. It may seem detrimental to use such symbolism in a speech, because some African Americans can actually resort to violence by getting ‘emotionally excited’. However, in a speech that has the power to change the course of a nation and change the lives of millions of people, it is necessary to use such symbolism because it strengthens the position of the African Americans. If we look closely at the relationship that Malcolm X has with the nation of Islam, we find that he truly supported the cause of Black Nationalism. This was a time when Blacks drank from different fountains, and had different restrooms, and different seating arrangements in public transportation. During this time, Malcolm X felt it was absolutely necessary for Blacks to have their rights by any means necessary. Readers should view his speech as a breakthrough for paving the way to give African Americans the rights that they deserved instead o f viewing it as a speech filled with hatred against Whites. Malcolm X even states in his speech â€Å"Now in speaking like this, it doesnt mean that were anti-white, but it does mean wereShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"Whenever my environment had failed to support or nourish me, I had clutched at books...† ― Richard800 Words   |  4 PagesWright an African American author. This quote means that no matter what was placed in his way or what he lacked that others had he hung on to what he had and did what he could. And the more he read about the world, the more he longed to see it and make a permanent break from the Jim Crow South. I want my life to count for something, he told a friend. Richard Wright wanted to make a difference in the world and a difference he did make. Richard Wright was an important figure in American History becauseRead MoreEssay on I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings1048 Words   |  5 Pagescontribute to the way she grows up and the person she becomes. Desp ite some of her tragic circumstances, she learns a lot growing up, mainly because of the African-American women in her life who teach her all different life lessons. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Marguerite gets to absorb teachings from her mother (Vivian), Mrs. Bertha Flowers, and her grandmother (Momma). These women allow Marguerite to learn and grow as an African-American female, all while paving her own way. MargueriteRead MoreAmerica Has A Great Deal Of Issues With Racism1491 Words   |  6 Pagesterrible mistreatment which black people have had to endure in this country. Since the early years of the country, blacks have been treated horribly. Slaves to white American citizens for many years, they were eventually granted their freedom, only to be met with heavy discrimination for many more years. The African men, women, and children brought to America were not treated as normal people. White people were afraid of them because of how different they looked, thus they treated