Racism is a social issue that effected people back
then and it still happens today. In the book, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”
as told to Alex Haley, it shows how racism affected his life in many ways. In the book it shows how black people were ignored,
hurt, and treated unfairly.
In the
autobiography it shows, how Malcolm X and his family had to move around a lot
because it wasn’t safe for him and his family to be in a certain neighborhood.
For example, on page 3 it stated, “Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home…Surrounding
the house, brandishing their shotguns and rifles…the Klansmen finally spurred
their horses and galloped around the house, shattering every window pane with
their gun butts.” This quote shows how it wasn’t safe for his family in some
areas because of the Ku Klux Klan or other violent people. This is just one of
not being treated fairly.
Malcolm
X and his family were also ignored and treated unfairly in the book. On the
bottom of page 5 and the top of page 6 it stated, “My father had shouted and
shot at the two white men who had set the fire and were running away. Our home
was burning down around us… I remember we were outside in the night in our
underwear, crying and yelling our heads off. The white police and firemen came
and stood around watching as the house burned down to the ground.” This shows
that Malcolm X and his family were treated unfairly and how they were ignored.
The firemen could have easily just helped them but, instead they just stood
there and watched.
All
in all, racism affected Malcolm X and his family in ways that could have hurt
him and probably did. Racism effected Malcolm X’s life from when he was born
and to his untimely death.
