Short term impact of Malcolm X

        This is shown with his affection towards the North “he preached a militant message which changed the lives of thousands of poor and oppressed blacks”, this was an issue that King addressed in the South but did not focus on in the North. Malcolm X stated that “he does not believe in passive resistance” he tells how “every Negro ought to have a weapon in his house, any Negro who is attacked should fight back; if necessary he should be prepared to die like a man” this, in one sense agreed with a message Martin Luther King “if a man hasn’t found something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live”. On the other hand, messages Malcolm preached “alive, he made the leaders of the uncomfortable and he was a genuine danger to the cause of radical comity”, yet once dead “Malcolm’s ideas regarding the need for racial pride, pan-African unity, and black control of black community institutions became increasingly popular among blacks”

        Malcolm’s beliefs were not too different to that of other black leaders, yet his approach was so different. This caused divisions amongst white people thus losing support others had gained, “whites usually viewed him as a racist” and other groups wouldn’t work with him for the same reasons. He wanted black supremacy and felt that “the American black man should be focussing every effort towards building his own businesses, and decent homes for himself”. Peter Goldman states “King had to win victories in the real world. Malcolm’s were the kind you had to create yourself”. He accused King of essentially ‘sucking up’ to the white man, but it is argued that King better understood the society of the time, progressing the movement more than Malcolm ever could; alive at least.

        Consequently, it can be said that Malcolm X had a limited impact; therefore there was no real reason for anyone to carry on his work, thus never really reaching his true potential “the recognition reached him only posthumously. Malcolm was perceived in his lifetime as a demonic presence at the edges of out field of sight-an angel of our darkness contending with the angels of light for possession of the black soul”. Goldman goes on to say that “it was King who occupied centre stage”. It was because of Malcolm’s radical ways and less conventional methods which caused tension amongst the white population, where as King would take a more reserved approach. This is highlighted by Manning Marable as Malcolm states “every white man in America, when he looks into a black mans eyes, should fall to his knees and say ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry-my kind has committed history’s greatest crime against your kind; will you give me the chance to atone?’” On the other hand King adopted ‘turn-the-other-cheek’ policy.

        The Organisation of Afro-American Unity Malcolm created had limited impact on the movement. They attempted “like Dubois before him... to submit a list of human rights violations and acts of genocide against U.S. blacks to the United Nations”. In addition he later brought about the idea of ‘rifle clubs’ to defend blacks against brutality and as Fairclough argues “Malcolm insisted that violence had to be central to black liberation” furthermore, ‘he did not believe in passive resistance’ and “every Negro ought to have a weapon in his house… any Negro who is attacked should fight back” again highlighting the fear that many whites felt. However, the organisation failed to create any real change and failed to continue after his death. Furthermore, the methods that he had adopted “seemed negative, irresponsible and unhelpful”, “it’s over tactics of violence vs. non-violence- or, as Malcolm puts it, self-defence vs. masochism- that he and other Civil-rights leaders disagree”

        On the other hand, Malcolm did manage to diversify the movement allowing others to follow something different than the ideas put forward by the likes of Martin Luther King. He however, believed that unity would be the key to success “it is not that there is no desire for unity, or that it is impossible… it’s because most of the organizations are dependent on white money and they are afraid to lose it”. A similar stance was taken when King was awarded the peace prize “I don’t want a white man giving me medals… especially if he gets a peace reward before the war is over”. He consistently criticized other leaders but felt that without them the movement would fail yet he felt that he would “have to go to the people first and let the leaders fall in behind them.” Without, Malcolm’s courageous stance and alternate approach then the movement may not have progressed as it did and other leaders such as Stokely Carmichael may not have benefited as much. Others would argue, that his goals were unrealistic and unachievable, “twenty-million ex slaves must be permanently separated from our former slavemaster and be placed on some land that we can call our own”. As he grew older Malcolm calmed gaining experience resulting in a more conservative approach at times and as he came to the end of his life he stated “he put forward the extremist position in order to make Kings demands more acceptable to the white population.”

        On the contrary his work with young black men is often held in high regard, “he became a black icon and role model for black youth.” Malcolm spoke in New York to teenagers from Mississippi, he was an inspiration to the students “One of the first things I think young people, especially nowadays, should learn is how to see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself. Then you can come to an intelligent decision for yourself… This generation, especially of our people, has a burden, more so than any other time in history. The most important thing that we can learn to do today is think for ourselves.” He had also spoken to “well over 50 colleges and universities” in his lifetime. Particularly in Harlem he had a great influence on the young children raising black pride amongst the youth, but split opinion amongst many being called a ‘genius’ and a ‘loser’.

        The impact Malcolm X had on the Civil Rights movement causes great divide amongst many historians. His radical and almost terrorist like approach led to hatred from countless whites, and can be summed up as a revolutionary racist. The impact he had on the movement, particularly while alive, was very limited never really reaching his full potential; also his idea of separation without accommodation never really took off or gained much momentum. The likes of Martin Luther King are argued by numerous historians to have had more of an impact than Malcolm X. On the other hand, “Malcolm, dead, often seemed more influential than King, alive”After his death “his autobiography was published and published speeches were widely read; even millions of white radicals grew to respect and honour Malcolm’s legacy.”Marable cited by Wilkins said about Malcolm “Master spell-binder that he was, Malcolm X in death cast a spell far more far-flung and more disturbing than any he cast in life”Stokely Carmichael called for people to listen to what Malcolm had achieved in his life “we didn’t like it when he was around. Just like it took time for brother Malcolm to wake some of us up, its gonna take time for those of us who are awake now to wake the others up”Malcolm became an inspiration for ghetto blacks drawing attention to the terrible conditions they were subject to; “He made Black Nationalism in its various forms appealing to the angry generation of black youth”becoming a role model and an icon. Furthermore, Sanders argues that possibly most importantly “most important of all, Malcolm inspired the new generation of black leaders”leaders such as Carmichael and McKissik. Nadle attempts to explain the complexity of Malcolm X and how there were two different sides that could be identified “Malcolm X has three faces. One is turned towards Africa, one toward Harlem, and one toward Washington… He’s a charismatic leader. Then a cartoon figure waving a rifle” this emphasises the complexity of the individual. Due to the mixed opinions it would be fair to say that the impact he had was limited and his death was the thing that propelled a legacy.

         

        

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