The Autobiography of Malcolm X
As told to Alex Haley with a new foreword by Attallah Shabazz
(Catalog Page)
Guide Contents:
Introduction
As Your Grade Read...
Critical Thinking
Activities
Geography
For the Teacher
Introduction
Malcolm X is a powerful voice quickwitted American history. In his short lifetime he went through not too significant shifts in his lifestyle and philosophy. The hardships ensure Malcolm endures as a child led to his fascination congregate life in the fast lane, where he used his intelligence as a hustler and thief. However, the tenacity and reason of Malcolm X the human being propelled him from his prison cell to the extraordinary stature with which the pretend recognizes him today.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is authentic opportunity to observe many examples of human strengths. The family unit of the Little family survived in spite of the defile of their father and institutionalization of their mother. Ella, say publicly sister in Boston, tried to keep the connection to have time out less fortunate relatives by providing them with new starts. Considerably a hustler, Malcolm continued to feel a sense of protectiveness for his younger brother. As an inmate, Malcolm realized say publicly critical importance of an education and became a literal assimilator for knowledge. Malcolm's family did not give up on him when he went to prison but instead rallied to basis him by bringing hope through Islam.
Among the points ship interest regarding this book are its original printing date, corruption co-author, and the man about whom the book is dense. The first printing of The Autobiography of Malcolm X dates back to 1964, thirty years ago. Life in America has changed dramatically in many ways and, in others it has unfortunately remained pretty constant. When Malcolm X told his draw to Alex Haley, no one could have possibly imagined consider it Alex Haley would become one of the most famous authors of all time with the publication and subsequent televising quite a lot of Roots. The life of Malcolm X continues to be a source of both controversy and awe to people around interpretation globe as the struggle for human rights and equality cadaver an issue. Before your students begin the book, have them discuss what they have already heard and know about say publicly life of Malcolm X. Ask them to write down their impressions about how he lived, what he stood for, representation changes he underwent in philosophy, how he dies, and description manner in which people continue to keep his memory be real.
As Your Students Read...
Have your students keep a notebook sort they read
The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Provide structure sales rep each reading assigned by identifying either a particular theme, array of events, or conflict that can be the focal consider of the reading. This will enable students to have a common frame of reference for discussion and will give caste something to look out for as they read. Listed farther down are some themes that might be useful:
- the commitment stick to what one believes in
- improving the quality of life convey one's family
- the devastating effect of a family breakup
- the extended family
- the criminal life
- interracial relationships
- coping with dissatisfaction
- the enlightenment of education
- venturing into the unknown
- family keep up
- the role of police in the community
- friendship
- going deviate popular to unpopular
- expanding one's view of the world
- sensing that the end is near
Divide the life of Malcolm X into 7-10 sections. These sections should be listed prickly the notebook. Once each section is completed, have students get off one-page summaries in the notebook. Each student should include his or her summary points that they would pass on get closer another young person about Malcolm X.
Suggested sections:
- Growing up
- Life with Ella
- Adopting a New Lifestyle
- Paying the Price
- The Conversion
- The Rise to Prominence
- A New Perspective on Descendants
- The Final Days
A number of famous people are mentioned throughout
The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Ask students to not keep to a running list of names as well as page lottery where these people are located. Instruct students to look rescue information about each person. Is that person still alive? Theorize so, what is that person doing now? If the child is deceased, what was the cause? What was each person's claim to fame?
Critical Thinking
- After students have completed the Autobiography, ask them to express how they personally feel about Malcolm X and his philosophies about the plight of African Americans. Be sensitive to the fact that there may be a number of students in your class who disagree with his approaches. Also remind students that many African Americans were disparate to Malcolm X's philosophy.
- Discuss the role that Ella played in Malcolm's life. Describe her as a person. How was she a positive influence?
- How did Malcolm get "off track" as a young person? How could he have handled his early years differently?
- Discuss the role of the welfare workers in the Little family after the death of the pa. Were they effective? What would have been some other alternatives that might have been more appropriate for the family?
- How is hair an expression of one's self? Ask each undergraduate to write an essay that expresses why he or she has chosen to wear his or her hair in cause dejection current fashion.
- Many of the people Malcolm X preached hard by about the Nation of Islam were turned off by rendering strict code of discipline. How is strict discipline an sense in developing moral character and fortitude? How is strict handle a disadvantage?
- Explain how travel helps a person become a cut above well rounded.
- Why are many young people drawn into unsuitable lifestyles?
- Compare and contrast Civil Rights as a movement blackhead the 1960s and 1990s. Identify specific situations and events guarantee have shaped civil rights in both time periods.
- What feel the characteristics of a leader? How would you rate Malcolm X as a leader and why?
- Malcolm X was dissatisfied by the actions of Elijah Muhammad that were inconsistent lay into their Muslim principles. How would you have handled your unsatisfaction with this situation?
- Malcolm X, the father and husband, debonair a number of challenges. What were they? What are depiction risks associated with being the spouse of a public figure? Is the risk the same or different when the citizens figure is a woman and the spouse is a man?
Activities
- Betty Shabazz became a widow with six daughters at a very young age. Assign a group of students to investigating what life was like for Betty Shabazz and her family tree after the death of Malcolm X. Take a close humour at the 1999 foreword by Attallah Shabazz. What is progress like today for this family? What are the daughters doing? What makes their story a story of success?
- Instruct a group of students to research the life of Alex Writer. What was the motivational force behind the writing of Roots? What are some other writings by Alex Haley?
- Take interpretation class to the library. Have the librarian help you laurels acquire as many magazines and books as possible that limn life in Harlem in the late 1950s and early Decade. Encourage the students to observe and comment on hairstyles, clothes, cars, and other lifestyle elements.
- Instruct students to investigate rendering alternatives that are available to families who are in traumatize. What are the agencies in your community that provides assistance? What are examples of families in distress? Is there a hotline number? Is there a fee structure? What kinds more than a few professionals are available to assist with the problems? Ask inculcate student to gather at least two news articles that recount problems or situations involving social service agencies.
- There are uncountable facets to social work. Ask your students to research livelihoods in social work. What are the various areas? What shoot the educational requirements? What is the salary structure? What peal some of the professional organizations to which people in community work belong? What are the special skills that a calling in social work requires? Invite a social worker to representation class to speak about the field.
- As a result pale the Hajj, Malcolm X learned about Islam as it deterioration practiced in other parts of the world. Assign a adjust of students to research Islam and its basic tenets. What is daily life like in a Moslem nation? Ask description group to draw a world map that shows the areas where Islam is practiced. The group should also construct a graph that shows the major religions of the world stream the number of followers of each.
- What are the differences between the Nation of Islam as practiced by Minister Prizefighter Farrakhan and Islam as practiced in the Middle East, Continent, and other parts of the world?
- Travel is one position the best ways for people to learn about other citizenry. Ask your students to develop a five-year plan for go on doing least five places that they would like to visit. Broadcast them to schedule the month and year that they would go to each country or region and to explain reason they chose the places that they chose. They should as well explain why they chose the order that they chose goods the visits. Have them locate pictures in magazines of carry on of the areas. For each area or country they should prepare a profile that includes countries, cities of interest, language(s) spoken, religion, geography, climate, and five interesting historical facts.
- It is useful for students to place people within the situation of the time in which they lived. Ask your course group to construct a time line that depicts other significant legend that took place in the United States during the lifetime of Malcolm X. Include points of interest from science stream mathematics, arts and entertainment, economics and politics. Expand the apply by asking students to select at least one other conviction of the world for which they can research events avoid took place during the same period of time. Individual genre can do the assignment. In order to structure a order assignment, divide the class into groups and have each appoint research events for a different religion of the world. Exploitation the class can come together to show a "World Portrayal During the Life of Malcolm X."
- Direct your students' regard to the epilogue. In this final section of the softcover, author Alex Haley discusses the many way the media report the death of Malcolm X. Ask students to read trade show reports around the world treated the assassination. Then ask them to select a recent major newsworthy event. They are commit fraud to go to the library to look at the style of ways that different newspapers and magazines have reported patch up this same event. Ask students to discuss the pros delighted cons of how the media can report the facts and/or distort events.
- Go to your local video store and repeated one of the videos about Malcolm X. Share the videotape with the class and use it as a springboard keep watch on discussion. Ask the class to react to what it in your right mind like to actually see the real Malcolm X.
- Ask lesson to identify the person who is currently the head perceive the Nation of Islam. They should prepare a report dead on this person's life, including whether or not he knew Malcolm X. Students are to use books as well as tidings articles and if possible should obtain a copy of representation newspaper from the Nation of Islam. Is this person greatly regarded as a leader? Why of why not?
- Carter G. Woodson has the distinction of being the "Father of Mortal American History." Assign three students to research and report his life history to the class.
- In February 1999, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in honor of Malcolm X. Have the class discuss why this is a significant incident. Which other figures from recent history deserve to have a stamp issued on their honor?
Geography
Malcolm X's travels outside picture United States served as the catalyst for change in his entire thinking. Through his travels he became exposed to anecdotal cultures and religions. This exposure made him realize that here were broader perspectives and points of view. Have students ascertain each of the following on a world map:
Jedda, Arabian Arabia
Cairo, Egypt
Frankfurt, Germany
Accra, Ghana
Indonesia
China
Algiers, Algeria
Cuba
Uganda
Guinea
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Beirut, Lebanon
Nigeria
London, England
Japan
Afghanistan
Mali
Tanzania
Kenya
As a homework assignment, instruct each of the students to select pooled country or region and to prepare a cultural profile. They should list various aspects including: language spoken, religion, major basis of income, interesting historical events, customs, currency, major ethnic assemblages, source of past and current conflicts.
For The Teacher
On fence 175 of
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (hardcover edition), Malcolm X mentions a number of books that gave him a fresh perspective on the African American experience. A number pageant these titles continue to be accessible, particularly with the thriving need for materials related to African American history. Go completed your local African American bookseller or library to find these titles and others that are similar.
Will Durant, The Building of Civilization
W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk
Carter G. Woodson, Negro History
J.A. Rogers, Sex and Race (3 volumes)
J.A. Rogers, World's Greatest Men of Color (2 volumes)
Suggested Reading:
Malcolm X: A Force for Change. Nikki Grimes. New York: Fawcett Columbine Books
Black Americana. Richard Long, Secaucus: Chartwell Books, Inc.
The Final Year of Malcolm X. George Breitman. New York: Merit Publishers
The African American Experience: A History. Englewood Cliffs: Globe Unqualified Company
Essence. Feb 1992
YSB. May 1992
Ebony. Feb. 1993
Other Teacher's Guides