Racial Injustice In America

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Racial Injustice Raiding Throughout America Similar to many other conversion stories, one must conquer hardships in order to be successful. Martin Luther King Jr., William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X exemplify a few of the many African American human rights activists of the 1900s; however Malcolm X possesses one unique asset which sets him apart from the rest. Being a man from lower depths, he possesses the authority of one who both challenges and conquers those depths. Through his personal testimony titled “ The Autobiography Malcolm X”, told by Alexander Haley, Malcolm shares with the audience his strenuous journey to metamorphosing from a ghetto driven hustler to a religious martyr. His didactic writing…show more content…
Through Malcolm X’s journey from a wretched hustler, to a strong leader of the Black Muslims, to a cultural hero, he evokes and emotional appeal on his audience, both blacks and whites, and educates them on racial injustices in hopes of helping to destroy the deadly disease destroying the heart of America. In the beginning of Malcolm X’s autobiography, he concentrates on educating his black audience by relating to them through his hustler days. For instance, when Malcolm and his gang plan their first of many robberies, he puts a gun to his head, pulls the trigger, and states, “ I’m doing this, showing you that I am not afraid to die”(Haley146). Although we later find out through Alexander Haley’s epilogue that Malcolm actually palms the bullet, the audience sees what a wretched soul Malcolm is before undergoing his metamorphosis. He yearns for his black audience to see that change is feasible no matter how big or small that change may be. Even though these transformations reveal difficulties due to racial justices, Malcolm espouses hope and sets them on the right path in order to rejuvenate their lives. Barrett John Mandel argues that, “Malcolm’s creative rendering of the facts is that he wished to have a…show more content…
For instance, when Malcolm returns from Mecca and undergoes his last transformation he sates, “ I am for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I am a human being first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole”(373). As Malcolm loses his Black Muslim mystique, his understanding of America’s race problem matures. He resists the anti-white rhetoric, and instead views their separatist tendencies as a threat to original cause. He wants both his black and white audience to see that he is only against those who challenge racial justice. Warren argues through his literary criticism that, “ He was ready to work with other Negro organizations, even those he most derided, to try to find common ground and solutions at a practical level”(Warren

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