Malcolm X help?!?!?!?

Question

wut were some characteristics that made him the leader he was?

wut were some influences and expierences in his life that led him to be the leader he was?

Answer 1

Malcolm Little aka Malcolm X was a charismatic leader of the black muslims, his appeal was based on several factors.  He grew up in a prejudiced racist America and growing up his family was more than once targeted for KKK violence.  In his young days he was a drug using alcoholic who was arrested for burglary and served prison time, during which he converted to Islam.  He rose quickly in the ranks of the black muslims due largely to his articulate speech, fiery rhetoric, and dedication to the cause.  He appealed to disillusioned blacks by stating that one of the pillars of Islam is that all white people are the devil and their place in society is due to white oppression.  He appealed to several extremist groups during his "bullets or ballots" campaign to threaten black constituents expecially in southern states to register to vote or face violence.  Blacks loved him because he practiced what he preached when other black muslim leaders (like Elijah Muhammed himself) were involved in rather unmuslim scandals, and whites feared him because of his proclivity towards inciting racial unrest.  Right wrong or indifferent you have to respect his impact.

Answer 2

erikgrig pretty hit the nail on the head.  Malcolm Little simply told angry black Americans what they wanted to hear:

1.  That ALL of their problems were caused by whites and not by their own own bad life choices.

2.  That ALL whites were evil and only wanted to dominate and abuse blacks.

3.  That blacks should separate themselves from whites and take care of themselves.

4.  That blacks were not to blame for ANY of their problems.

Of course this established a mentality among blacks that every bad thing is the fault of whites.  It makes blacks appear to be like little children, never able to outsmart the much smarter whites in America.  It was a demeaning point of view that has created a generation of victimization among many blacks who still blame their fractured families, their pregnant teenage daughters, their gang-banging drop-out sons all on whites.  Somehow all of these society problems among blacks are the fault of whites.  Of course no blacks ever actually state HOW whites are the cause of all of the social ills--but no blacks ever ask the tough questions they just nod and agree and hate whitey.

Answer 3

He was a charismatic speaker who was brutally honest and wasn't afraid to speak his mind.

He empowered African-Americans to do what is necessary to rise up and improve their situation economically, politically, and socially.

Later he made a pilgrimage to Mecca and change some of his views. He then believed it was possible for brotherhood with all races as long as they weren't forced.