THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X

1. What specific aspects of the Nation of Islam, and of Elijah Muhammad, led to Malcolm’s split with them? 2. Compare Malcolm’s racial attitudes after his split with the Nation of Islam with that of the Black Muslims. 3. Based on Malcolm’s description of his own experiences, discuss the hustler’s […]

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Introduction Those parts of the Autobiography which are not strictly autobiographical, which were not narrated by Malcolm himself, should still be considered integral parts of this book. They give personal views of Malcolm by people who knew him, thus complementing the picture of him which we are given in his […]

Read more Critical Essay Three Assessments of Malcolm X

Sophia, a “Negro-crazy” white woman, was Malcolm’s girl friend for several years. Because of Sophia, Malcolm jilted Laura — because Sophia was a status symbol in the ghetto world. Their affair continued for several years and ended only when they were arrested for burglary. The reader is never told what […]

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Laura, the girl whom Malcolm dated briefly in Boston, was a respectable, educated, studious “Hill” girl. Malcolm was attracted to her primarily because she was not as snobbish as the other middle-class blacks in Ella’s neighborhood. She was quiet, shy, and sensitive, but loved dancing. And Malcolm notes that in […]

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Sammy’s role in Harlem is similar to Shorty’s in Boston. He is largely responsible for Malcolm’s success as a hustler, and he and Shorty combine forces to rescue their friend when his life is in danger. Sammy is a pimp and a professional criminal, yet he is depicted as an […]

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Shorty was Malcolm’s closest friend in Boston. He was a stocky, heavy-set man, some ten years older than Malcolm (though Malcolm never told him this). His ambition was to be a musician, but when Malcolm met him, he was racking balls in a poolroom. Later, after he rescued Malcolm from […]

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Malcolm’s wife, Betty, is never characterized in detail. She remains a shadowy figure, of whom Malcolm does not speak at any great length. She is described by others as “a black Jacqueline Kennedy” — a naturally sophisticated woman, poised and self-confident. But we can tell, from Malcolm’s suspicious attitudes toward […]

Read more Character Analysis Betty X (Betty Shabazz)

Malcolm’s younger brother Reginald was the family member with whom he had the closest personal relationship, with the possible exception of Ella. During childhood, Malcolm was Reginald’s hero and protector; later in life, it was Reginald who first persuaded Malcolm to join the Black Muslims. Reginald is depicted as sensitive […]

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Malcolm’s half-sister Ella is a big, strong, domineering black woman. From his first meeting with her at the detention home, Malcolm was impressed with her. She was married three times, and Malcolm says she literally “wore out” her husbands with her domineering ways. Like Malcolm, she joined the Black Muslims, […]

Read more Character Analysis Ella (Ella Mae Little Collins)

Malcolm’s mother is depicted as a proud woman who was finally broken by white welfare people. She was a light-skinned woman and was ashamed of her white blood. She thought of her white grandfather, probably correctly, as a rapist, and, more than her militant husband, she taught her children to […]

Read more Character Analysis Louise Little