e further acceptance Malcolm, and all rejected males, looked for at this time in American history.With Malcolm’s imprisonment ended the acceptance of the ghetto hustler and gangster life. In prison Malcolm had to find a new place to turn for acceptance. As his father did, Malcolm turned to religion. The religion he turned to, The Nation of Islam or more commonly known as the Black Muslims, were a group of African Americans who believed, among other things, that whites were the roots of evil. Malcolm became immersed in his religion. It seeped into every part of his life. “For the next years I was the nearest thing to a hermit in the Norfolk Prison Colony. I have never been more busy in my life” (173). Malcolm wrote many letters to family and friends about his new found faith and , most importantly, he found the acceptance he longed for with the teachings of Mr. Muhammad. This acceptance gave him purpose and after his release Malcolm became one of the foremost representatives of the Nation of Islam. After Malcolm separated from the Nation of Islam, part by choice but part by force, he had to turn elsewhere for the acceptance and purpose, which all African American males needed at this time. With his national prominence he formed a new organization. This organization would be the last place he found acceptance because of his untimely death. His organization, the Muslim Mosque Inc., he claimed would “help to challenge the American black male to gain his human rights, and to cure his mental, spiritual, economic, and political sickness” (322). This statement shows Malcolm understood that the Black male needed to feel like he was part of a group with a purpose greater than themselves. Their purpose to gain equality by any means necessary until the day he was assassinated. Malcolm understood that the Black male needed to feel like he was part of a group with a purpose greater than the individuals the...
