Drugs 4

Early in life, Malcolm started experimenting with drugs such as as marijuana, cocaine, and pills.  All of these, had a significant impact on his life.  As a result, he started to live his life high because if he was sober, he would have been afraid of his life.  I feel as though Malcolm was simply using drugs to escape the horrible world around him.  Because of the people in his environment, Malcolm became a hustler and started selling drugs. This connects to my everyday life because high school is laced with all kinds of hustling and drug usage.  As I have continued to mature and grow older, negative peer pressure has been introduced.  People have asked me if I want to do drugs, drink, etc.  I have denied all of these because I simply do not want to end up relying on them to complete my daily activities.  However, I know that doing these things just once won't necessarily ruin my academic, and social career but I have seen it ruin people's lives that I am close with.  http://www.teendrugabuse.us/drugsnschool.html is an excellent example of how drugs can ruin your life.  This article relates to Malcolm because just because just before he went to jail, Malcolm started to get in trouble.  For instance, he was almost killed by West Indian Archie who came after him with a gun for not paying him back.  This all started with Malcolm selling drugs which led into gambling.  The article above, describes the effects of drug use on teens, which ends up ruining their lives.  A few people I know have experimented with drugs, and I have seen first hand the negative affects of it.  Instead of socializing they would rather sit home on a Friday night and smoke.  They often use all the money they get to buy more drugs which only aids in ruining their lives.  They would rather go to school high, then study for an important test.  They would rather risk sneaking out at night to go smoke, than to watch a movie with their friends.  They would rather buy alcohol/drugs in school right in front of teachers than play a sport or participate in a club.  They would rather drink and show their stupidity to their friends, than excell in a particular interest of their choice.  They often get mad at you for planning your day around them because you do not want to get caught along with them or have them hurt themselves with simple tasks that you are able to do with ease.  This creates arguments and the break up of a good group of friends or just anyone you have a connection with.  Some of these people have not "found the light" and stopped using these illegal substances, but just as Malcolm did, they will eventually mature enough to stop using these horrible substances and have a brighter future.

Lending Money 3

In order for Malcolm to pay the expenses for his Hajj to Mecca he had to borrow the money from his sister Ella.  Ella was saving this money up for years to pay for her own Hajj to Mecca.  This was an extreme act of generosity.  Personally I was surprised when she did this because she spent so much time saving up money for this.  This reminded me when my friends mom, who has cancer, was very sick, and my mother made dinner for my family, but after hearing my friend complain about how he hasn't had a home cooked meal in a while, she gave him our dinner.  I distinctly remember that after slaving in the kitchen all day making her "world famous" sweet and sour meatballs with her unique organic rice, she easily gave it up to my friend and his family.  Although this act of kindness that my mother preformed wasn't nearly as dramatic as Ella's it was still important.  I can recall the thought racing through my mind when my mom drove to my friends house with the warm dinner wrapped in tin foil.  I simply did not understand why she would give away her hard work with that much ease.  A little, while after it occurred to me that by giving my friends family the dinner, she was making them much happier than it would have made my family.  She also felt that it was much more important for them to have it because my friends mom has suffered so much pain recently and this act of kindness would reflect my mom's generosity.  These same thought passed through my mind when Ella simply gave up her savings and gave it to Malcolm, her step-brother, so that he could complete the Hajj to Mecca instead of her.  Just as my mom felt, Ella thought that Malcolm would get much more out of the Hajj and that he could do more with the experience because he was already a prominent black Speaker and a Minister.  From these examples I have wanted to do something with things I have done.  I have not been given the opportunity to do anything like my mom or Malcolm but I know the experience will eventually occur and when it does I will empathize with those who have given up their hard work and labor in exchange for others happiness.

Hajj 2

In the Autibiography Malcolm describes his Hajj to Mecca, the holy city for Islam.  It is the Muslim obligation to make the Hajj to Mecca at least once in his life if he is capable of it.  Malcolm, is suffering economically, yet borrows money from his sister Ella to preform the religious action.  This is similar to my obligation in the Jewish religion.  At least once during my life I am required, just as in Islam, if I am healthy to make a trip to Israel.  The Jewish religion gives me a very special opportunity because it offers birthright.  http://www.birthrightisrael.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main is an article describing the birthright to Israel.   Birthright is used to connect Jews to their religion more than they would in their hometown.  For instance, there is nothing like learning the history of your religion first hand.  I feel that just as it was Malcolm's obligation to go to Mecca, I feel that Birthright, is providing me the same opportunity to go to the Holy cities of Israel.  My cousin has recently gone on birthright to Israel, and has said it was the best trip he has ever been on.  This reminds me of Malcolm's response to making the Hajj.  It has opened up both  my cousin and Malcolm's mind to other peoples culture and appearance within the same religion.  By going to Israel, my cousin was able to learn about how Israelis pray, just as Malcolm learned about the extreme posture Muslims in Mecca prayed in. 

Racial Profiling 1

When Malcolm makes the Hajj to Mecca he is held outside the city because he is an "American" Muslim.  In Mecca, the holy city for Muslims, you must be an original Muslim from somewhere in the Middle East I presume because of this description.  American Muslims are those who have converted to Islam in America.  Moreover, I personally felt that it was unfair for Malcolm to have to wait in an airport.  When I thought of this kind of treatment, it reminded me of frequent times on the news where airport security has stereotyped Arabs.  I just cannot understand this treatment.  Although a person may look like a certain radical group, they may not be a radicalist. For instance, http://www.slate.com/?id=116347 describes racial profiling in airports in America. After reading this article I totally agreed with the author.  In my mind I cannot comprehend how an airport security agent can simply perform an extra search of an Arab just because of his appearance.  I have no right to call people out because I am not trained for the job, but just as the article said, barely any of the Arabs that are strip-searched, etc. are terrorists.  After 9/11 I believe that America has gone over board.  Airport security has gotten so strict that I need to leave my house almost three hours before I am supposed to board my flight simply because it takes so long for you to go through security.  Nonetheless, I would rather be safe than sorry, but I simply believe that exculpating Arab-looking people to be terrorists is simply atrocious. 

Malcolm X # 3

As I have continued to read I have become increasingly aware of the life of Malcolm. I realized that he has had a very tough life. I feel as though every person that he comes in contact with and forms a relationship with, they abandon him. I have a feeling that this will soon cause him to be the cause of the destruction of his life. In addition, for such a prominent figure for African Americans he had a major involvement with the police and illegal doings such as selling drugs and stealing. Moreover, I find it strange that Malcolm's relatives and family members have still contacted him and don't talk about his condition (at least in the autobiography). In the book so far I have enjoyed the nice description of the places he has lived and the places he has traveled too. I have been to some of the areas he has described and I feel my recollection of it matches his description.

Malcolm X Number 2

As I have continuously read this book, I am wondering why the author, Alex Haley, goes on tangents constantly and drifts away from the story he is in the middle of describing.  This tends to be some what confusing, but I am still able to understand it.  Another thing I noticed was that Malcolm seems to be more comfortable with his step-sister, Ella.  I found it very interesting that After visiting Ella for a short while, his whole opinion about racism changed.  Although I can understand he felt with the enormous amount of African Americans in Boston I wonder how his opinion changed so quickly. A strong quote that stood out to me was when Malcolm says, "It was then that I began to change--inside.  I drew away from white people.  I came to class, and I answered when called upon.  IT became a physical strain simply to sit in Mr. Ostrowski's class.  Where "nigger" had slipped off my back before, wherever I heard it now, I stopped and looked at whoever said it.  And they looked surprised that I did" (Haley 38).  This quote truly showed how so few people noticed that they were using racial slurs in everyday life.  Another issue I found interesting was when Malcolm stated that when he visited his mother in the mental institute that she didn't even recognize him.  I had no idea that a mental issue was able to take over your memory.

Malcolm X

After reading two chapters of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, I have realized that growing up in the south during the 1930's was very rough for an African American such as Malcolm.  As I have continued to read I have learned of the tremendous amounts of tragedy Malcolm has to face while growing up.  As his father was killed, and his family is on welfare, Malcolm never seems to say that he wish this wasn't happening to him.  I feel this shows a lot about his character.  Malcolm seems relentless and to be an optimist.  In addition, because of the lack of money his family has, Malcolm relies on stealing and begging for food.  This truly describes the racism of the time period.  One event in the book that I was confused about was that I believed that one of his siblings was over the age of 18, so why wouldn't he/she be able to be the guardian for him and his family.  Another question I had was why they had to split his family up after his mother went to the mental institution?