To Kill a Mockingbird and the X-rated Autobiography

Just to prove my point against racism I will use two pieces of literature that have established the case against bigotry. One of them is Ms. Lee's Pulitzer Prize winner, To Kill a Mockingbird. Set in the 60's this novel still offers us much insight into the thinking of the world then, but like I said much hasn't changed to this day. It also gives us some hope in thinking and believing that someone out there, like Atticus Finch, believes in his morals more than some societal norm that has been imposed on the free-thinking mind and thus poisoned the whole body into believing and acting out such a heinous crime against a fellow human being. Lee shows us that it is possible for even a six year-old like Scout Finch, to come to her sense so early in her development, and see that racism is not the right thing. Despite, overwhelming proof that the accused, Tom Robinson, innocent the prejudiced jury, indicts him of the rape accusation! What injustice, but it doesn't stop there, the local community tries to shun the Finches for supporting Robinson, and that is to be expected from such a backward society. The kids were threatened and so was the judge later on in the novel as we find out but here is the thing, the kids do not waver in their belief nor does Mr. Finch. They still believe in what they do and are ready to stand by their belief.

Now that was a fictional account of what the author might like to see in this world of ours. Sadly, not all fiction comes close to reality, although some do and some fictional pieces are inspired by true events. But to see; hear; and believe, in a living proof is so much better for the faith of people. That is why I chose Malcolm X's autobiography. So we all can't be left thinking, "Well yeah that's a fake story, it doesn't happen in real life like that, no kid would be that mature so soon." So in order to silence those who won't take the former I present this latter case. TIME rates it as one of the ten most important nonfiction books of the 20th century. I think it should be in the top ten lists for all time to come. It shows how a juvenile coped with the injustices and inequities placed on him by society and at no fault of his own. Malcolm aspired to be a lawyer and was a topper in his school days (there goes the stereotype that African-Americans are not very smart as were protrayed in numerous cartoons) and to this dream he got the reply, "Malcolm, one of life's first needs is for us to be realistic. Don't misunderstand me, now. We all like you here, you know that. But you've got to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer— that's no realistic goal for a nigger. You need to think about something you can be. " Crushing isn't it? Today if we said to a space-loving child, "Son you can't be an astronaut," that would leave him crushed and devoid of hope. People would be outraged. Malcolm understood the full implication of the statement, and so he turned to a life of crime in his youth. He soon got caught and was thrown into the cellars to do time.

During his time in jail he had an awakening of sorts and found that the Nation of Islam was a way that african-americans can obtain their sense of pride. So he read and read during his time in jail and acquainted himself with as much knowledge as possible regarding this new phenomenon. He was very successful at the NOI, but the NOI preached more of an anti-white agenda than a pro-black one. This meant that most of NOI memebers if not all were anti-white and thus bigots themselves. Circumstances were such that Malcolm was able to travel to Africa and then to Saudi Arabia where he was able to perform the annual pilgramage known as the Hajj. That experience in Makkah opened his eyes and he saw that what the NOI was preaching was not the true Islam, because over here in Makkah he saw people from all different races and colors were interacting freely and vibrantly without any prejudice. At that point he converted to mainstream Islam and dropped the anti-white agenda and started looking for more ways to integrate and tolerate each other. So powerful was his belief in this new faith that he changed himself and even regretted some incidents from his life. as is show from the following quotes

"I realized racism isn't just a black and white problem. It's brought bloodbaths to about every nation on earth at one time or another."
"Brother, remember the time that white college girl came into the restaurant -- the one who wanted to help the Muslims and the whites get together -- and I told her there wasn't a ghost of a chance and she went away crying?"
"Well, I've lived to regret that incident. In many parts of the African continent I saw white students helping black people. Something like this kills a lot of argument. I did many things as a [black] Muslim that I'm sorry for now. I was a zombie then -- like all [black] Muslims -- I was hypnotized, pointed in a certain direction and told to march. Well, I guess a man's entitled to make a fool of himself if he's ready to pay the cost. It cost me twelve years."
"That was a bad scene, brother. The sickness and madness of those days -- I'm glad to be free of them."

So I have presented to you two cases, one true and one not so. Both have a lesson, and I know one can't or might not ever come true, i.e. the novel, but literature is written to get people to think. To evoke thoughts and set the mind free once again that has been so pressured by society and what we call norms into accepting certain blatant crimes. We still have time, we can take solace in Scout Finch's example and teach our children to see the truth. Or we can take a page from Malcolm's book and note that it doesn't matter what age you are all you have to do is keep an open mind. If you believe in either of these literary pieces then you should also ascribe to my beliefs, but if you don't well then, like I mentioned previously (see my previous post, "I HAD a dream, sadly") then you are indeed lost.

So keep an open mind and take a stand for what you believe. I don't know what is worse; to stand by and watch atrocities as they happen or to partake in them. But I know this for sure, atleast one of them has stronger beliefs and they will always be strong believers no matter what side they are on. So try to win the strong ones, because the weak ones will follow like meek sheep. You and only you can be the judge of what side you want to be on.

I know what side I am on, it took me a while to get there and I had to overcome my previous beliefs because of the same indoctrination that a lot of us go through, but I know now I am not better than anyone because I belong to a certain group, color, race etc. You are better only in righteousness and that's what makes us humans and not beasts. We can think and reason.

I leave you with a few interesting quotes

"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time." ----- Malcolm X

"Many times I had said to my own assistants that anyone in a position to discipline others must be able to take disciplining himself." ----- Malcolm X

"The meek do not inherit the earth unless they are prepared to fight for their meekness." ----- Harold Laski

All Malcolm X and related quotes are obtained from The Autobiography of Malcolm X written by Alex Haley ghost-writing for Malcolm X.