El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz by Negin

El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz by Negin - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Not that many people are familiar with the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz but many people are familiar with the familiar “Malcolm X”. Malcolm X was born in 1925 in the United States whose birth name was El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz.
Personally, Malcolm X is my role model in many different kinds of ways. He was courageous, played a major role in the fight for civil rights and he was highly intellectual despite his lack of a college education. Furthermore, I would argue that his incredible personality and the significance of his life for the American history is simply not celebrate enough. Every year, in January we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, but we do not celebrate the life of Malcolm X.
When Malcolm X was imprisoned, instead of being desperate he discovered his passion for reading. He read history and philosophy books, such as Kant, Nietzsche, Herodotus and H.G. Wells Outline of History, etc. Personally, I think this is amazing and it shows his mental strength. Most of the time, people who are imprisoned show negative psychological effects. Malcolm X turned his mystery into a positive experienced. He read and read and educated himself. This is one of the most valuable traits a human being can possess: staying positive in negative situations. I would love to ask him from face to face what his secret was to stay positive. Another fascinating personally trait that Malcolm X had was his courage. When he was imprisoned, he connected with the Nation of Islam. Later in his life, he separated from this organization. Although he was continuously threated by them, he insisted on his separation and did not give in. Not only was he now fighting against the Nation Of Islam but he also was fighting for the right of Afro Americans which made the most of the Caucasian population angry. In general, people who were fighting for equality of Afro Americans and Caucasian population had to face many difficulties. I deeply admire this determination and enormous courage. If more people similar to Malcolm X would exist, this world would be a better place. This is the reason why I would love to meet him, even if it would be only once.