Malcolm X Styles of Leadership

Malcolm X was a prominent leader and activist during the civil rights movement. Malcolm, formally known as Malcolm Little, was in and out of foster care. His father was murder when Malcolm was six years old by white supremacists and when he was thirteen his mother was put in a mental hospital. Both Malcolm’s parents were involved in black empowerment organizations and the family was persecuted as a result of their activism by various white supremacist groups, including the Klu Klux Klan and Black Legion.

In 1946, Malcolm, twenty years old, was imprisoned for larceny and breaking and entering. He was arrested for six years during which he converts to Islam guided by a body known as the Nation of Islam. The Nation of Islam (NOI) taught black determination by repurposing Islam to provide an alternative history where brown people are sovereign. NOI declares that black is the original race and white people are a devil race created in a lab. The Nation of Islam and Malcolm X advocated black supremacy and self-defense against the white devils, in other words, protect oneself from racism. Malcolm demands black people defend themselves since the government does not. Malcolm greatly admired the organization’s leader, Elijah Muhammad and developed a close relationship preaching with him. During this time Malcolm gained a lot of notoriety and followers however he also discovered corruption within the Nation of Islam. He distanced himself and publically reproached Elijah Muhammad.

Malcolm X embraced Sunni Islam and opened the Muslim Mosque and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. As he became a more devout Muslim he became more open-minded towards all races no long stressing isolationism and anger towards society. Malcolm X is often criticized for preaching violence and hate and a proponent of race wars. He actually believed and only practiced peaceful protests but his perceived aggression stems from his radicalism: harsh rhetoric as a result of anger. Malcolm believed the only way to truly combat racism is for black people to unit and fight together. He popularized black self-defense in his speeches, by “whatever means necessary”. Malcolm recognized that black enslavement