Notable Accomplishments of Malcolm X
Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an African-American Islamic leader in the U.S.A, who was very instrumental in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 196
Notable Accomplishments of Malcolm X
Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an African-American Islamic leader in the U.S.A, who was very instrumental in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He preferred to use what could be seen today as radical approaches in his fight for fair treatment for the black community. Regardless, his name was indelibly written in our nation’s history due to the sheer amount of influence he had on it. The following are 8 notable achievements of Malcolm X:
The Nation of Islam (NOI)
Malcolm X got imprisoned in 1946 for engaging in an armed robbery. When he was paroled in 1952, Malcolm became an active member of a Black Muslim group known as the NOI (Nation of Islam).
The NOI, which was headed by Elijah Muhammad, used Islam to foster Black Nationalism. In accordance with the rules of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X dropped his surname “Little” after he joined the NOI. The members had a custom of replacing their surnames with an “X”. NOI members argued that their original surnames had their roots from white slave masters.
In our second notable accomplishments of Malcolm X, we shall explore his contributions made to the black community as a religious minister. The Nation of Islam transformed Malcolm X into a powerful leader. He was the founder of the newspaper for NOI, titled Muhammad Speaks. Malcolm instructed NOI members to sell the group’s newspaper in order to raise funds. The newspaper was also used as powerful tool to recruit new members.
Malcolm X’s presence in the Nation of Islam ushered in multitudes of new members, numbering over 500,000 people. He soon won the admiration of Elijah Muhammad and became a minister in charge of a temple in Boston, Massachusetts. In recognition of his leadership abilities, Malcolm X was later put in charge of Temple Number 7, the greatest and most prestigious NOI temple at the time.
Greater responsibility was added to Malcolm when Elijah Mohammed appointed him the national representative of the NOI. As an eloquent public speaker, X became a strong critic of the U.S government. Using what could be described as a tone of anger and frustration, Malcolm addressed big streets and renowned educational institutions, including the University of Oxford and Harvard University. He lamented the poor economic and political conditions of black lives in the U.S.A
Proposals and NOI Teachings
While at the NOI Malcolm X preached in accordance with the somewhat extremist ideologies of the the group. He proposed that blacks should think about going back to resettle in Africa. He also opined that a full country should be separately created for only blacks in the U.S.
Malcolm X preached against racial integration. The NOI went further to forbid its members from taking part in politics. The quest for voting for rights did not matter to them. They preferred to sit on the fence and criticize the whites. Due to the controversial teachings of the NOI, many civil rights groups did not endorse their radical attitude. On the other hand, Malcolm X’s powerful speeches convinced a lot of black people that they could no longer continue waiting for unpromising days of equality and fairness. He successfully convinced the famed boxer, Muhammad Ali, to become a member of NOI.
Coining of “African-American”
In contrast with the methodologies of a fellow black civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X initially didn’t welcome the idea of nonviolence and racial integration. According to him, there was more to be done about civil 