Transcript The Civil Rights Movement

Malcolm X and the Nation of
Islam
"chronic
poverty
is a
WATTS,
1968
breeder of chronic chaos."
Non-violence did not
improve life for inner-city
Blacks
 Malcolm X represented a
different choice for
frustrated AfricanAmericans

◦ Malcolm X verbally attacked
white society and criticized
non-violence
“You can't
separate peace
from freedom
because no one
can be at peace
unless he has his
freedom.”

Black Separatism:
Rejection of white society;
focus on Black pride and
self-respect
 Black Muslims (Nation of
Islam): Led by Elijiah
Muhammad
◦ Stressed equality and selfdiscipline

1964: Malcolm X
began to reject
Muslim idea of Black
Separatism
◦ Accepted the
possibility of racial
harmony

1965: Malcolm X
murdered by Muslim
rivals
"I know that societies often have killed the
people who have helped to change those
societies. And if I can die having brought any
light, having exposed any meaningful truth
that will help to destroy the racist cancer
that is malignant in the body of America -then all of the credit is due to Allah.“
-- Malcolm X ("The
Autobiography of
Malcolm X")

Malcolm X’s message was
an early voice in the Black
Power movement
◦ Adopted by SNCC leader,
Stokely Carmichael as
model for late 1960’s civil
rights movement
◦ Inspiration for Black
Panther Party