Student Question

What were Malcolm X's religious beliefs and how did they influence his actions?

Quick answer:

Malcolm X's religious beliefs were rooted in Islam, initially through the Nation of Islam, which shaped his early advocacy for Black empowerment and racial separation. He promoted Black superiority and the evil of white people based on Nation teachings. Disillusioned, he later left the Nation, embracing a broader Islamic faith advocating for racial equality and peace. His personal conduct adhered to Islamic principles, including prayer and abstaining from alcohol, culminating in his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Expert Answers

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Malcolm X converted to Islam in early adulthood and this guided the rest of his life, especially his advocacy for People of Color in the United States. Initially, Malcolm was introduced to the Muslim faith through the Nation of Islam—a sect of Islam founded in the United States as a Black Nationalist and reconstructive movement with the goal of undoing racial oppression. Due to Malcolm's early life experiences, the Nation's message of the evil of white people resonated with him. Early on in his religious and sociopolitical career, he spoke, wrote, and published openly the belief in a natural superiority of Black people and the natural evil of white people. To him, and the Nation, Muslim faith (as a part of Black identity) and social advocacy were the means to advance the station of Black Americans.

After more than a decade of involvement with and leadership in the Nation of Islam, Malcolm left the Nation. He had become disillusioned with many of the attitudes and methods favored by other Nation leaders. His own study of Islam guided his departure from the Black Nationalist movement. He came to believe that Islam was the way to peace and equality for all, even people of different races, even for the oppressor and the oppressed.

In more day-to-day life, Malcolm followed the rules of personal conduct which Islam promotes. He prayed often, did not drink alcohol, and before his death, he made the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

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