|
His History
Malcolm X divides the life of the African-American activist into three sections. The first section
deals with the troubled childhood of Malcolm Little, whose father, a preacher, was murdered by the
Black Legion and whose mother was institutionalized for insanity. Malcolm grows up and gets a job as a Pullman porter, calling himself
Detroit Red. Getting involved with a Harlem Gangster named West Indian Archie with whom he has a falling out,
Malcolm flees to Boston and decides to become a burglar. He
and his best friend, Shorty are arrested by the Police and Malcolm is sentenced to a ten-year prison term. The second section
follows Malcolm’s life in prison, where a fellow inmate, Baines, introduces him to the teachings of the nation of Islam.
The third sectio0n follows Malcolm’s religious conversion as a disciple of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. During this
fervent immersion into the Nation of Islam, he becomes an incendiary speaker for the movement and marries Betty Shabazz. Malcolm
X preaches a doctrine of separation from white society. However, a pilgrimage to Mecca
softens his beliefs, teaching him that Muslims come from all races, even whites, and he endeavors to break free of the strict
dogma of the Nation of Islam, with tragic results. He is assassinated on February 21st, 1965 in New-York city.
|
