Reading Activities compiled by Abram Cordell |During Reading | After Reading | Before Connection #1 Civil Rights Timeline http://www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html This timeline, by Borgna Brunner and Elissa Haney, will be used to place Malcolm X’s Autobiography in historical perspective, adding a sense of history to our study of the work. Once the students understand what preceded Malcolm X they will be able to understand the faith he had in what he believed. Before Connection #2 What is the Nation of Islam? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Islam http://www.noi.org/ These two websites tell more about the Nation of Islam, a religious group that played a key role in the reformation of Malcolm X. The Nation of Islam is a major Black Muslim organization that benefited greatly from the work of Malcolm X. By understanding how the beliefs helped reform his life we can learn how he applied them into the lives of others. Before Connection #3 Elijah Muhammad http://www.noi.org/elijah_muhammad_history.htm Elijah Muhammad was the acting president of the Nation of Islam when Malcolm X was involved with the organization and played a key role in the conversion and eventual exclusion of Malcolm X from the Nation. Before Connection #4 Martin Luther King, Jr. http://vodreal.stanford.edu/mlkpp/dream/3b01.ram http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/popular_requests/frequentdocs/birmingham.pdf Listening to and studying Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teaching can help students compare Malcolm X’s teaching to other contemporary Civil Rights leaders. This will also show why the authorities responded so abruptly to Malcolm X’s way of initiating social reform. Before Connection #5 What Did Malcolm X Teach? Malcolm X Speaks, edited by George Breitman (Pages 105-114). This book, a selection of Malcolm X’s speeches, will be used in conjunction with the speeches and sermons of Martin Luther King, Jr. to contrast the two different approaches to Civil Rights. Malcolm X’s words best describe what his beliefs were, this talk especially. In this talk Malcolm X addresses the topic of passive resistance. Before Connection #6 Alex Haley http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ahaley.htm Alex Haley was the chronicler of the Autobiography as well as the author of the influential book “Roots.” His role in the writing of significant African-American literature is key in the Civil Rights movement. Before Connection #7 Spike Lee http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/slee2.html Spike Lee is an ardent supporter of Malcolm X as well as a groundbreaking ethnic filmmaker. Lee adapted the Malcolm X’s autobiography to film. This website is a biography and will be used to show his place in Hollywood as well as an example of someone practicing Malcolm X’s teachings. Before Connection # 8 Opposing Forces http://www.kkk.bz/index1.htm This is the home website of the Ku Klux Klan, one of the organizations that opposed the Civil Rights movement. This website will be used carefully as an instrument to express opposing ideas about racial equality. The KKK played a key role in Malcolm X’s teaching and his methodology can be seen as similar to some of the KKK’s. We will discuss this as a class and see if the students find that hypocritical. Before Connection #9 Attallah Shabazz Foreward to “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” We will read the foreward, written by Malcolm X’s daughter Attallah Shabazz, to show what thought has gone into the Autobiography. Shabazz lends a touch of familiarity to her words and gives a look into Malcolm’s familial roles. Before Connection #10 M.S. Handler Introduction to “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” Handler wrote the introduction to the autobiography and met with Malcolm X shortly before his death. The introduction is a reflection on the man that Malcolm X was. Handler was one of the last people that Malcolm spoke to and his words are telling into his last days. During Reading During Connection #1 Malcolm X- The Movie As we read the book we’ll be watching Spike Lee’s film adaptation of the autobiography. We will see how true Spike Lee remained to the text and talk about the benefits of having the book adapted to film. Questions to ask would include “How will this movie inform people in ways the book could not” and “What are the pros and cons of having a work of literature adapted to film. During Connection #2 Apply the Principles To further enhance the book we will be placing ourselves in the shoes of Malcolm X and asking the question-How would Malcolm X approach this topic? By asking the students how they felt Malcolm X would respond to some of the problems or questions confronting youths today they will be able to decide if they agree with the way Malcolm approached things or if there is another, better way to confront controversial issues. Topics to discuss would include: 1- Abortion 2- The war in Iraq 3- Stem Cell research 4- The war on drugs 5- Our current political system During Connection #3 Is there Such a Thing as Civil Rights? In the arena of Civil Rights there are two main schools of thought- the aggressive school of thought that Malcolm X subscribes to and the Gandhian, pacifist philosophy, which Malcolm X is critical of. By discussing both of these schools of thought the students will be able to decide which they believe will accomplish the most and be effective in doing so. During Connection#4 Muhammad Ali Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, both members of the Nation of Islam, were instrumental in the Civil Rights movement. Because they were both members of the Nation of Islam, they consulted with each other and Malcolm X was present at several of Ali’s fights. In talking about Ali and his role in the Civil Rights movement we will discuss why such important advances were made in terms of equality by athletes. What makes athletics such an important part of racial equality? We will discuss this not only because it is very applicable but also because it will keep the class discussion light hearted and interesting. During Connection #5 Islam Islam obviously played a huge part in the reformation of Malcolm after his time in jail as well as after he discovered the truth about Elijah Muhammad. Most civil rights leaders have religion as a basis for their push for equality. I think it would be an interesting question to ask, but I will have to do it with tact, but I would want to discuss what religion offers to people searching for equality. During Connection #6 Offshoots Several different Civil Rights groups followed in Malcolm X’s footsteps, one of them being the Black Panthers. This website gives an overview of their beliefs and will be used to contrast the teachings of Malcolm X. http://www.blackpanther.org/ During Connection #7 The Founding Fathers Malcolm X often sites the founding fathers as examples of people following his methods in gaining freedom. By looking at how American independence was gained we will see if there is any credence to his claims, and if there is how that affects our approach towards freedom. During Connection #8 Malcolm X in History During the reading of the book the class will discuss ways that Malcolm X has affected the history of the Civil Rights movement. Questions we will discuss include, Why does Malcolm X warrant studying? and How does Malcolm X help the movement towards equality? During Connection #9 The Harlem Unity Rally One of the key meetings in the life of Malcolm X was his organization and speech at the Harlem Unity Rally. Widely regarded as one of the crucial points in his “ministry,” is significant in Civil Rights history as well. This website contains audio clips of his speeches and we will analyze his public speaking techniques and how the class responds to his points. http://www.brothermalcolm.net/mxwords/whathesaid5.html During Connection #10 The Organization of Afro-American Unity The Organization of Afro-American Unity was the group that Malcolm X started after the return from his pilgrimage to Mecca. The website contains some information about this group and we will analyze it to show a shift in his philosophical approaches towards civil rights. After Connections After Connection #1 Uncle Tom A racial stereotype that was created in the 1800’s was that of an Uncle Tom, a type of person who follows the namesake of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Malcolm X often uses this phrase as an attack on his detractors. In order to understand this criticism we will read a couple of passages from Uncle Tom’s Cabin and discuss as a class the validity of Malcolm’s assertion that “Uncle Toms” are bad for social equality. After Connection #2 Overt vs. Covert Racism In this activity we will discuss the difference between overt and covert racism, overt being obvious or visible and covert being undercover or unseen. I will ask the class for examples of people or organizations who have exhibited overt racism and then share some examples of covert racism I have seen. Then I’ll ask questions like which is worse, and what would Malcolm X say is the bigger problem? After addressing these questions we’ll talk about ways to combat these types of racism. After Connection #3 Change One of the things I love about Malcolm X is his willingness to change. I think that is what is most admirable about him. His willingness to leave his life as a felon and reform via the Nation and Islam is commendable, as is his break from the Nation of Islam after he noticed things he did not agree with in their practices. I will pick out certain people in the class and give them tough situations to face. For instance, picking a football player and getting him to admit a touchdown he scored did not count, or getting someone who just got an “A” on a test admit to the teacher they did not deserve it. After this activity we’ll discuss how people in America have a special opportunity to change from any situation they are confronted with. After Connection #4 Today’s Race Problem For this activity I’ll ask the kid what they feel is the biggest race problem they are seeing is an issue today and discuss it with them. In our discussion we’ll come up with possible resolutions to the problems, first using their ideas and then using some of Malcolm X’s principles. After Connection #5 Malcolm X in History Using the same timeline we discussed earlier we will notice the changes that occurred after Malcolm X’s death and how he affected or hurried along that change. How would life have been different if Malcolm X would not have pushed for the changes he did the way he did? After Connection #6 I Have a Dream In this connection we will read/watch/listen to the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. and discuss what people think about it. After this we will talk about how there are multiple ways to confront the same problem and then we will apply this to the connection of today’s race issue. I will probably do those two connections around the same time period. After Connection #7 The Power of Speech Both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were exceptional public speakers, which played a big part in their effectiveness. I will have each person write a short five minute speech about something they feel strongly about and then have five people get up and share theirs after I give a speech of my own to encourage them. After this we’ll talk about why the spoken word is so powerful in terms of getting a group to do something. After Connection #8 Invisible Man Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man has a main character whose life mirrors Malcolm X’s almost exactly. If we decide to read the book we will discuss the different demises that each person faces and talk about where the actuality of these characters differs. After Connection #9 In the Heat of the Night One of the most powerful movies that I have ever seen is In the Heat of the Night, a story that deals with a northern black solving a crime in a racist southern town. We will scrutinize the main character’s actions and put them into two categories, either following Malcolm X’s train of thought or Martin Luther King’s. Then we’ll talk about how movie would have been different if the main character switched ways of approaching his problem. After Connection #10 Wrapping it Up Spike Lee says this book has changed thousands of lives, and my life is one of them. I will share my feelings abut the book with the class and then have them share their thoughts about what the book taught them or made them think about.