Why do a lot of black americans honor Malcolm X?

Question

I personally do not understand. From what i have heard about him, until the very last days of his life, he was very prejudiced against the whites and was all about black separatism and black militantcy. Why do a lot of black americans honor him a civil rights leader? Acting on his ideas would have done less for the civil rights of Black folks than anything. I think Martin luther King was better.

To kancy P:

Excuse me? Who are you calling a " wanna be white?" What are you? the race police? I assume you are some black person who thinks I am an oreo. *****, please! You make me sick!

Boony:
I cannot ask my grandparents. They won't know anything. Although, I myself am what you would consider a black-american, my family came to the U.S as immigrants, so I don't have the same history and background as most black americans. So, i am asking this.

Bonny:
I cannot ask my grandparents. They won't know anything. Although, I myself am what you would consider a black-american, my family came to the U.S as immigrants, so I don't have the same history and background as most black americans. So, i am asking this.

Answer 1

He was like that---AT FIRST. If you studied Malcolm X(or watched the movie), you'll know that he had a change of heart after visiting Africa. MLK and Brother Malcolm were a lot alike. The only difference is that MLK basically said "no matter what you do to me, I'm going to react in a non-violent way" and Malcolm X was saying "since I can't trust my government to protect me and mine, I'm going to take matters into my own hands, by any means necessary"(I'm paraphrasing here).

Answer 2

I think you will find a lot of answers if you read "To Kill a Black Man" by Louis E. Lomax. He does an excellent comparison about Martin and Malcolm and has some really enlightening stuff about how similar the two men actually were. He was friends with both, and he has a unique perspective.

Malcolm was a Pan Africanist who believed that the Black Community should rely on each other and strengthen itself from within. Martin believed that we should appeal to the masses and learn to live together.

If we would have acted on Malcolm's ideas we would have stronger neighborhoods, better education in the Black communty, and a stronger economic base in the Black community. This is the reason that many Black Americans honor him as a civil rights leader. Malcolm promoted self reliance.

Answer 3

You have to understand the time period in which he was living. Racism, lynchings, etc in the 50s and 60s. Although Martin Luther King preached non-violence, America was built on 'violent revolution'.

Ever heard of the 4th of July? We celebrate independence from the British through violent means (war). We sing about 'bombs bursting in air' in the national anthem. How is this any different from Americans being oppressed by the British and Black Americans being oppressed by White America through the 1960s.

Should the Minutemen have put down their guns and marched hoping the British would just leave during the Revolutionary war? I admire MLK, but when people frown on certain groups in the 1960s that reacted violently towards a society which oppressed black folks across the board, it bothers me.

Answer 4

Malcolm came along at a time when the civil rights were in a state of anarchy. He believed that non-violence taught by many southern blacks were the wrong idea. He believed that if a black man can't vote, why should he go to war in a segragated army. His belief were more politic than social. Other races tolerated MLK because of his non-violent views. However Malcolm was more feared because he didnt take anything from nobody.

Answer 5

Malcolm X was actually the first person say something to the effect of "black is beautiful". He may have had a somewhat violent view of uplifting blacks but he did succeed in opening a lot of black people's mind. If you didn't like King, you loved X...and that's what matters. All he wanted was for blacks to have better lives and he is one of the few leaders who white people actually took somewhat seriously.

Answer 6

There were a number of African Americans who stood up to be greaters in that time. A number of them were assasinated. Although Malcolm X was prejudiced and advocated violence, he was responding to the atmosphere from the side of the whites in and eye-for-eye fashion. Martin Luther King was working for gradual change, Malcolm X wanted revolution - both were trying to improve what were still very restricted, dangerous and disgraceful conditions for African Americans at the time. They may not agree with his tactics, but he was strong and he had the government's attention and he was working for changes that had to be made. It was a dangerous ahd brave thing to do.

Answer 7

I think you should read the "Autobiography of Malcolm X". It's a very eye-opening story about his life and it leads the reader to fully understand his mindset and where he's coming from.

Malcolm's so-called militancy is an aspect of his beliefs that has been blown out of proportion and distorted for many years. Malcolm X didn't preach hate against whites. He preached for blacks to love themselves. He also didn't advocate violence; he merely thought that blacks should arm themselves instead of sit idly by while the likes of the Ku Klux Klan mercilessly murdered blacks without provocation. Him encouraging blacks to randomly kill whites was *not* something he supported and the term 'militant' doesn't really fit well with his ideas.
He simply wanted blacks to be self-sufficient within our communities - opening and patronizing black-owned businesses, supporting the education of black youth, registering to vote and exercising that right, etc.

Answer 8

Maybe you should read about him first for yourself and make up your own opinion instead of listening to everyone else?
Try to read both the positive and negative about him and form your own BALANCED opinion.

I don't agree with absolutely EVERYTHING he said when he was still alive but in my view, many things he did say made a lot of sense. Especially in the time that he was living in, you can't blame him for having some of those beliefs as times were very hard back then. Things have since changed now and consequently some of his opinions have become irrelevant in this day and age but some things still stand. I encourage you to read about him and make up your mind afterwards.

Answer 9

One of the main reasons why he was more militant is because he saw that nothing was really changing through acting peacefully. Do more research on Malcolm X and read his biography, then you'll be able to better understand his thoughts and actions regarding civil rights. It is quite difficult for me to explain that, but he led a fascinating and life it's absolutely worth learning more about.

Answer 10

Read his autobiography.

I too thought he was simply and anti-Semite, bigot, white race hating Muslim but he was more and he admitted the blindness of his original beliefs.

He was a strong leader who spoke of blacks taking responsibility for themselves and being accountable to themselves.

He wanted justice for all Americans and felt that America could not be whole until it acknowledged it racial problems.