Malcolm X and Leadership

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that in order to understand Malcolm X as a leader, one must first understand him as a street thug, because his street life was essential in shaping him as a leader. The writer points out that Malcolm, himself, acknowledged how essential his past was in helping him become a great leader. Therefore, to understand Malcolm X as a leader, one must look at his history, and a substantial part of that history involved Malcolm's life on the street. The writer discussses that Malcolm's street life helped him develop practical leadership skills, honed his charisma, and helped him break away from his Baptist upbringing.

From the Paper:

"These first criminal acts, though Malcolm was the victim and not the perpetrator, served as an important introduction to a life of crime. First, they taught Malcolm the importance of having a capacity for violence. Part of Malcolm's leadership ability was the fact that he was not preaching passive acceptance of white violence. Instead, his message was that blacks should be prepared to meet violence with violence, which was a message that appealed to people, like Malcolm, who had first-hand experience with how devastating white violence could be to a black family. Finally, though Malcolm's mother may have suffered from mental illness even if her husband had not been murdered, his death meant that her children were parceled out to relatives and foster homes once she was institutionalized for her mental problems. This lack of a true family environment certainly contributed to Malcolm's delinquent behavior."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Haley, Alex and Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. NewYork: Ballantine Books, 1989.

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