Of course, it is also extremely important culturally that Malcolm's father was a minister who spoke out for Black rights, just as he became a minister and did the same thing.
LEGAGY
It would seem that a man as charismatic and determined would leave behind a legacy of children willing to follow his lead, but that is not really the case. Malcolm X fathered six daughters before his death. His wife raised them Muslim, but also raised them in a middle-class New York state neighborhood with very middle-class values. One daughter attempted to kill Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the movement, who she considers responsible for her father's death. Another works for the City of Yonkers, New York, and another is a motivational speaker and leader of a cultural organization hoping to bridge differences between cultural groups (Blake 114-116). While many serve on boards and as chairpeople of national organizations, none of them has spoken out as vocally or as emotionally as Malcolm X did during his lifetime, and so, his character does not seem to have been handed down to his children nearly as strongly as it existed inside him.
However, Malcolm X's legacy goes far further than his family. His character developed as he matured, and he became a vital aspect of the fight for Civil Rights in America. However, as he matured, he became much more accepting of whites, and all cultures, and developed a new organization in America, Muslim Mosque Incorporated, where he hopes whites and Blacks could worship together in a common belief. This indicates that as he grew older, his character developed charity and hope, and that he became a man of true faith and wisdom. He was a true believer in the traditional Muslim faith, and he hoped to bring that to others, indicating he was a nurturing and caring soul who wanted the best for everyone.
In conclusion, Malcolm X's character is complex and made up of experiences, social elements, and the politics of a time when Black Americans had few options and opportunities in...
He was a devoted man, who believed passionately in the
freedom and
equality of black Americans, even at the cost of his
family and friends. He paid for his beliefs with his life, but he is still one of the most influential Black American
leaders in
history. His character, as with most people, developed as he grew older. When he died, he was a devout Muslim, a family man, and a Blacks rights leader. He proved that he was open to change, could change his own ideals when necessary, and that he was a good man with a belief in his fellow man and a deep need to share his beliefs with others. The social, cultural, and
political aspects of
society helped forge his character and his beliefs, and they led him down the path to face his ultimate destiny. His legacy lives on in the ongoing fight for equality and
respect that Black Americans still strive to find in America today.
References
Alkalimat, Abdul ed. "Malcolm X: A Research Site." BrotherMalcolm.net. 2008. 28 April 2008. http://www.brothermalcolm.net
Baber, Zameer. "From Malcolm X to El Hajj Malik El Shabazz: The Transformation of Malcolm X" TU Kaiserslautern University. 1998. 28 April 2008. http://www.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/%7Emoritz/Archive/malcolmx/zameerbabermalcolmx.txt
Blake, John. Children of the Movement: The Sons and Daughters of
Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, George Wallace, Andrew Young, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, Bob Moses, James Chaney, Elaine Brown, and Others Reveal How the
Civil Rights Movement Tested and Transformed Their Families. Chicago: Lawrence Hill, 2004.
Bush, Rod. "The Civil Rights Movement and the Continuing Struggle for the Redemption of America." Social Justice 30.1 (2003): 42+.
DeLeon, David, ed. Leaders from the 1960s: A Biographical Sourcebook of American Activism. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994.
Editors. "The Official Web Site of Malcolm X" CMGWW.com. 2008. 28 April 2008. http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/about/bio.htm
