Short term impact of Malcolm X

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What short term impact did Malcolm X have on the Black Civil Right Movement 1965-1968?

        Malcolm X a ‘symbol of hope’ or ‘father divine’. Historians have argued over the impact he had on the progression of Civil Rights, the methods he used and the overall persona of the man; Verney states “Malcolm X’s achievements were of a more abstract and philosophical nature” however, Walter Myers would argue that he was much more forward in his thinking “Malcolm spoke for the voiceless, for the people from whom not even some black leaders wanted to hear”. Clearly he had a much tougher upbringing than the likes of Martin Luther King, maybe this was why he stood for a much more radical approach. However, the likes of Stokely Carmichael would argue that his impact was just as great as other Black Civil Rights leaders, describing Malcolm as a “hero...-our heroes”, just emphasising how highly thought of he was.

        “Malcolm could fairly be judged a failure by the conventional measures of leadership” and essentially Carmichael would agree to an extent “I wish that nigger would shut up talking about all this hate, killing and violence” on the other hand supporters argued that “Malcolm is a genius” and “he is the most brilliant speaker I have ever heard”. There were so many sides to Malcolm X and from a young age could be described as lost with no purpose, after he was told that a career as a lawyer was “no realistic goal for a nigger,". As times advanced and after his ten year imprisonment he adopted the Muslim religion, joining the Nation of Islam led by Elijah Muhammad who believed that “white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves and achieving political, economic and social success”. His leadership skills developed as he was appointed minister and national spokesperson of the NOI and was largely credited with bringing greater membership to the organisation. Myers sums up the impact the NOI had on Malcolm, “The Nation of Islam had returned to him the wings that had been taken from him because of his colour, and Malcolm, the fourth Malcolm, found himself able to fly” However, he was later kicked out as he had differing views but did not manage to create a leadership status finding himself “isolated from the front-line struggle” . Under the NOI Malcolm wanted to visit Selma, he still carried out this wish visiting “Selma whilst King was in jail” this support for Kings non-violent methods marked a turn in his thinking.

        King stated that before Malcolm’s death “he was really coming around to moving away from racism”. At Selma, Malcolm challenged King but it is stated that he did this as “he thought it would make it easier for me in the long run”. Through his speech he helped others creating acceptance amongst white Americans, “one of the white Students had mentioned how influential the autobiography is”. He was described by Goldman “artist of the spoken word” he had such powerful oration skills, elevating black pride. Before he left the NOI he aided Elijah Mohammad in opening businesses giving work to black people, he further influenced SNCC and CORE “Black  radicals in SNCC had come to repudiate” the dream of freedom. Many radical SNCC members stated that “Malcolm, more than any single personality was able to articulate the aspirations, bitterness, and frustration of the Negro people”.  Manning Marable argues that “it is difficult for historians to capture the vibrant essence of Malcolm X, his earthly and human character, his position as a revolutionary teacher for a generation of young militants, his total love for the dispossessed”.

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        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 ...

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