Famous Person

Worldwide, numerous persons have made tremendous steps in transforming the world toward a socio-economic and political prosperity for their people. This transcends to the creation of ideas, ideologies and pragmatic thoughts that work with other models to make the world a better place. On that account, famous people have emerged from varying fronts such as economics, politics, social sciences, and in the law profession among others. In the political field, leaders and ideologues sprung up who battled authoritarian regimes while agitating for equality, liberty, and increased democratization for the masses. A famous example is Malcolm X, a civil rights leader who dominated the political scene in 1960s.

Malcolm X is renowned for his militant ideals and rage against racial prejudice that characterized the 1960s at the peak of Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm gained considerable notoriety when he admonished African Americans for allowing subjugation by their white counterparts. His teachings also revolved around the notion that blacks were superior to the white people. He, therefore, predicted that the white race would eventually crumble because race relations were increasingly improving in different states across the U.S. Traveling in varied parts of the country, Malcolm’s fame equally spread because of his firm stand that all human beings were created equal. This advocacy spread to the concerted calls for the total abolition of segregation of public places such as schools and streets that widened the rift between blacks and whites (Haley et al, 2006). In other words, Malcolm X while openly condemning the use of violence against his black people; he still incited African Americans to use violence in revenge.

Another interesting phenomenon that elevated Malcolm X to the pinnacle of leadership and eventual fame was his full embracement of the Nation of Islam (NO1). According to Malcolm X, religion had a fundamental link in the lives of blacks not only in America, but also in Africa where he longed for a return. Nation of Islam also campaigned for the provision of basic amenities and social rights to the black people with Malcolm particularly singling out the right to vote and participate in the national elections of the country. This included the urgency to repeal the Civil Rights Act that would permit all races irrespective of their creed and culture to engage in both the socio-economic and political process of improving the country (Terrill, 2004). Alternatively, while the whites believed Malcolm X was rabid racist whose militancy would only enflame the nation into more hatred, a favorable number of African Americans supported his agitation and followed him. Malcolm also became famous because he received acceptance from the larger parts of Africa where he traveled and supported the armed struggle of dislodging the colonialists against plundering the continent’s resources.

It thus is vital to understand that the parameters that make people famous differ from culture to culture and even country. Ideals and thought systems also play an instrumental role in revolutionizing the mind such as it did Malcolm X in his consistent agitation to support the Civil Rights Movement and uplift lives. Contrastingly, while calls for violence would sometimes infuriate the white conservatives who felt a threat on their interests, Malcolm’s appeal remains a testament of struggle and reform. It also supports the model of democracy that has its roots on equality, liberty, and freedom for all races around the world.

References

Haley, A. et al (2006). The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York, NY: Grove Press.

Terrill, R. (2004). Malcolm X: Inventing Radical Judgment. Mason, OH: SAGE.