Autobiography of Malcom X Assignment Sheet

Due Date: May 19^th BEFORE 11:59pm

Directions: Please read the Autobiography of Malcolm X as Told to Alex Haley and answer the 50 reading questions for Section 1 and write an essay for Section 2. Please type your answers in 12 point font, Time Roman, and save your answers as a word document. You will submit your answers to the reading questions and book review essay on Canvas

Section 1: Reading Questions

Directions: Please answer the following reading questions in complete sentences. Your submission of the reading questions must be organized as listed below with clear chapter headings and answers in numerical order.

Chapter 1

1. Why did Malcolm’s father preach Garveyism?
2. Who were the highly respected, the elites, and money makers of the black communities of Lansing, Michigan?
3. What was the cause of Earl Little’s death according to the insurance company?
4. Who/What did Malcolm blame for destroying his family?

Chapter 2

1. What parallels did Malcolm make between the Swerlins and the “liberals” whites?
2. What were Malcolm’s favorite subjects in middle school?
3. What did Mr. Ostrowski tell Malcolm what he ought to be and why?

Chapter 3

1. How did the “Hill” negroes try to make themselves better?
2. What was the difference between whites and blacks when it came to dancing?
3. What did his first conk represent for Malcolm for hindsight?

Chapter 4

1. What was Malcolm’s one secret humiliation?
2. In Roxbury, what represented a status of symbol for the average black man?
3. Who did Malcolm blame for the degradation of Laura?

Chapter 5

1. What type of alcohol did the bartender pour for Malcolm when he walk through the door?
2. What name did Malcolm use for his autograph at the Lincoln gymnasium dance?

Chapter 6

1. What was the hustling society’s first rule?
2. Who were responsible for the morning rush at the 800 block of St. Nicholas Ave?
3. What three things scared Detroit Red the most?
4. What did Malcolm whisper in the psychiatrist ear causing him to drop his pen?

Chapter 7

1. What was the quickest road to prison for an experienced hustler?
2. Which group of people had the world’s lowest morals?

Chapter 8

1. Who came to get Detroit Red out of Harlem?

Chapter 9

1. What did Detroit Red do to show that he was not afraid to die?
2. What was inevitable for every criminal?

Chapter 10

1. What crime did Detroit Red get convicted for?
2. What was the one memory that a prisoner will never forget?
3. On what island were white people created?

Chapter 11

1. What was the hardest test Malcolm ever faced in his life?
2. What was Malcolm’s alma mater?
3. Why were the teachings of Elijah Muhammad so popular in prison?

Chapter 12

1. What three things did Malcolm X buy after his release from jail?
2. What word does Malcolm use to refer to the the process of recruiting new members to the NOI?
3. What metaphor did Malcolm X use to describe the teachings of Elijah Muhammad?

Chapter 13

1. What ultimatum did Sister Betty receive from her parents?
2. How did Malcolm X propose to his wife?
3. What happened to Brother Hinton?

Chapter 14

1. What was Malcolm X’s opinion of the Brown v Board of Education decision?
2. What was the difference between segregation and separation?
3. What was the greatest miracle Christianity had achieved in America?

Chapter 15

1. Who were the world’s worst hypocrites?
2. What did the black masses want?
3. What did white racists call a black Ph.D.?

Chapter 16

1. How much did the Louisiana Citizens Council offer as a reward for Malcolm’s death?
2. Who was the most dangerous man in America?
3. Who lend money to Malcolm for his pilgrimage?

Chapter 17

1. What was the one commonality that allow men of all colors to unite?

Chapter 18

1. What was the most critical problem among black leaders in America?
2. Who did the press blame for the urban riots?

Chapter 19

1. What was the greatest reason for the failure of Christianity?
2. Why can’t whites and blacks work together?

Section 2: Book Review Essay

Please write book review of the Autobiography of Malcolm X with at least 1000 words (4 pages) in the following structure.

1. Introduction: The title, author, and any relevant data you may have discovered about the writing and reception of the book. Describe the main characteristics of the work. From whose viewpoint was it written? Is it a narrative or written to persuade? Does it represent a particular interest or approach? Is there anything else that a reader should know before starting this book? (You don’t have to answer each of these questions in your paper, but thinking about them helps you get started.)
2. Short Summary: The summary shows that you have read and grasped how Malcom X’s early experiences in shaped/influenced his approach as a civil rights activist. This section should not be more than 1/3 of your essay (meaning no more than 400 words). A constructive summary is usually interpretive in a limited way. Do not quote from the books in anyway. You may paraphrase by using key terms from the book but YOU MAY NOT QUOTE from the book. I don’t need to read what Malcolm X said or what Alex Haley wrote because I have already read his book. I need to read your writing and the originality of your analysis.
3. Analysis: Analyze the most important meaning and qualities of their works. This section should be the most important part of your paper for you should think about how the book contributes to your understanding of the Civil Rights movement and race relations in American history. Compare and contrast information from the Autobiography of Malcolm X to that of Foner’s coverage of the Civil Rights movement and what I have covered on the topic of African-America’s quest for civil rights prior to 1960s. How was Malcolm X’s perspectives and views of race relations in America both similar and different than those within the African-American community prior to and during the Civil Rights movement?
4. Opinion and Reaction: Conclude with an explanation of your opinion about the book. With considerations to what you have learned from your readings and in class, what does the Autobiography of Malcolm X teach us about the Civil Rights movement? Last but not least, do you think that issues of race and equality are central issues in the U.S. today?

Submission

please submit your work as a Microsoft document file (.DOC)/ or PDF file. Please log on to Canvas and submit your answers to reading questions and book review essay by May 19th.