Malcolm Little

Malcolm X (http://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/MalcolmX.jpg)

The definition of a hero is very subjective; a hero to one person may not be a hero to another. My idea of a hero is someone whose selfless actions have done something wonderful for others, and made a difference in one or many lives. Being a celebrity does not make you a hero; neither does being beautiful or strong. The path my hero chose to walk was not easy and fun, but purposeful. Malcolm X fits my definition of a hero to the letter because he wanted to make things better for people, and he willingly put himself on the line to do it.

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 to Earl and Louise Little in Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Little was a Baptist Priest and a member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. With seven other siblings, money in the Little family was tight. Earl, preaching openly about the black cause, spurred on many hardships for his family. Before Malcolm was even 6 years old, his family was burned out of their house, harassed, threatened, and shot at by who Malcolm later believed was the Ku Klux Klan. Then a few years later Earl Little was found dead, run over by a train car. With the task of raising her children alone too much to bear, Louise Little had a nervous breakdown and was declared "legally insane." After Malcolm's only remaining parent was committed to a mental hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Little children were split up and sent to various foster homes. Life didn't get easier for Malcolm as he got older; dropping out of high school because his teacher said his dreams of being a lawyer were "no realistic goal," Malcolm began hanging around Boston's underworld. At age 21, after a variety of minor arrests and run-ins with the law, Malcolm Little was sentenced to 8-10 years in prison for theft and carrying a firearm.

Nicknamed "Satan" for having an overall dislike of anything religious, Malcolm wasted away in prison until family members reached out to him. His brother Philbert wrote to him about the Nation of Islam, and when he was finally released from prison after 6 years, Malcolm followed in his father's footsteps; he became minister, only of the Nation of Islam's Temple 11 in Boston. Because of their new powerful and dynamic speaker, the Nation of Islam expanded worldwide and grew from 500 members to over 30,000 members. Viewed as one of the most influential leaders of the movement, Malcolm X (he changed his last name to symbolize the rejection of slave names) was able to create new organizations such as the Muslim Mosque Inc., and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Malcolm continued giving speeches promoting equal rights up until his assassination on February 21, 1965. In the middle of a speech, Malcolm was shot 16 times by three members of the Nation of Islam for his controversial and violent methods of achieving equal rights.

In T.A Barron's book, A Hero's Trail, several types of heroes are discussed. Malcolm X is a "Hero to Others Near and Far." Through a tough childhood, discrimination, and jail time, Malcolm X was able to turn his life around, and make a difference to thousands of people, and the results of his actions are still resonating. Malcolm X is truly a hero to others near and far because his bravery and perseverance made things better for an entire race, and human civilization as a whole.

Malcolm X is the person I nominate as a hero. Although others might not agree, Malcolm Little is a hero. Overcoming racial discrimination and his own demons, Malcolm X made a difference. His fight for equal rights put his life in jeopardy and spurred hatred, but he couldn't be stopped. Malcolm knew his work would only amount to something if he changed the way people thought, and inspired others to fight for what they believe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
http://www.africawithin.com/malcolmx/malcolm_bio.htm