As Minister of Communication for the Nation of Islam, he encouraged African American men, many of whom had been passive on the issue of race, to confront racism and discrimination head-on, even if it meant the loss of life like revolutionaries in other countries. He believed all men had the right to fight for Civil Rights and to protect their communities.
Malcolm also pressured black men to strike out on their own in business, politics, and other endeavors, like at the turn of the 20th Century, when black-owned institutions flourished despite harsh opposition from the dominant society.
Malcolm X challenged African American women in this country as well. He advised women of color not to indulge in excess as mothers or daughters and that it is not a sign of weakness to submit to one's husband or family to build a better community. He even welcomed a woman's right to work outside the home or to become nurses, doctors, and leaders in business and government. He believed everyone played vital in uplifting Islam and black America.
Malcolm X rallied African Americans by first making a 180-degree change in his life, like Lincoln, on the issue of Slavery. He went from being a petty thief, drug user, and inmate to a renowned leader dedicated to racial and economic justice. After a crucial split with the Nation of Islam in 1965 and a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca, he formed an organization that embraced people of different races and cultures.
Shortly after striking out on his own, Malcolm X's life was tragically cut short, but not before he convinced women and men everywhere to stand up by taking stock of their surroundings.
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