10/23/06
The Autobiography
of Malcolm X is one of the most important books that
people will ever read. It showed the real struggle that African Americans went
through during the 1960’s. This book has the ability to influence the reader to
learn more about what went on in the 1960’s. Pages 129-136 connect the way the
Harlem Renaissance hustlers are after each other and on the run.
The
theme of this section is “Trapped.” Malcolm got trapped because he always
carried a gun on him and the police found out, he sold drugs to musicians &
band members, and he started using the drugs he was selling. He also got
trapped because a hustler by the name of West Indian Archie wanted to kill him
because Malcolm owed him some money. Malcolm realized that his fate was not
looking to good, so he went to Boston with his friend Shorty.
Malcolm
was a bad influence on his brother Reginald. He tried to convince his brother
into leaving the marines and go into the hustling business. He should not have
encouraged his brother into pursuing his dreams and doing well in the marines.
This is an identifiable argument in Malcolm X.
Pages
129-136 gave the impression that most black men in Harlem sell drugs. But, this
is an implicit assumption because it is not stated anywhere in the chapter that
most black men in Harlem sell drugs. It seemed that, every black male Malcolm
came into contact with they sold drugs. For example, when he was in the Onyx he
gave his gun to a hustler because he knew the police were about to come check
him. When they confronted him he said he threw his gun in the river. He did not
say it was at his apartment because he had all types of drugs there. This leads
to the conclusion that, most black men in Harlem sold drugs.
Evidence
is an outward proof. Logical evidence is not actually strong because the
premises are not necessarily correct. Logical evidence that was found on pages
129- 136 is, “Malcolm smoked reefers. Hustlers smoked reefers. Therefore,
Malcolm is a hustler.” This must be true because in the book everyone or almost
everyone who hustled smoked drugs. An anecdotal evidence that was found on
pages 129-136 is, “ If you move to Boston, you will not get locked up.” When
Malcolm’s future wasn’t looking to good, he went to Boston with his friend
Shorty.
Smoking
is bad and no one should do it. Malcolm smokes so he is bad. He should be
ashamed of himself. He is supposed to be a role model to younger kids in the
neighborhood. Malcolm did not think about those who were watching what he was
doing, and trying to copy that.
Malcolm
X had an effect on a lot of people lives. Malcolm X is a brilliant
and breath-taking book. Malcolm X fought for equality. He said black people
need to do what ever that needs to be done “by any means necessary” to get to a
point where we are happy with the way our lives are. He had a lot of followers,
but also a lot of people criticizing him. A lot of the decisions Malcolm X made
in his life (ex. selling drugs, pimping, robbing, etc…) are still being done now
in the urban and suburban neighborhoods. Both by white and black people.