My biography project for Malcolm X.

1. By: Kate Sheeder

2. Written By: Manning Marable

3.  Malcolm X’s beliefs
and ideals align with
the Black Lives Matter
movement.
 Institutionalized racism
is a large part of the
American education
system and I wanted to
see how that
influenced Malcolm X’s
education and/or
childhood.
Current Events Lack of Knowledge
 In school, I only
learned about Rosa
Parks and Martin
Luther King Jr. Very
little is said about
Malcolm X and he
has always
fascinated me. I
thought this would be
a great time to learn
about him.

4.  Born: May 19, 1925 in
Omaha, Nebraska
 Father: Reverend Earl Little
 Mother: Louise Little
 Parents were Civil Rights
Activists.
 Malcolm was the 7th of 9
children
 Malcolm’s early life took
place in and around Lansing,
Michigan

5.  Stage 4: Industry
Versus Inferiority:
“Children now want
to enter the larger
world of knowledge
and work. Their
theme is “I am what I
learn.” Miller pg. 153
Erikson’s “Eight Ages of
Man”
The Little Family’s
Values
 The Littles believed in
Garveyism (aspect of
Black nationalism) and
drilled their students on
the Black nationalism
values.
 “...on one morning
following the National
Anthem...informed his
teacher that blacks
also had their own
anthem.” Marable pg.
29

6.  Erikson would say that Malcolm became a
Civil Rights activist at a young age thanks to
his positively reinforced parental influence.
 Malcolm’s development fits in with Erikson’s
stage theory—especially stage four.
 “Successful experiences give children a sense
of industry, a feeling of competence and
mastery...” Miller pg 153
 Malcolm felt competent and fulfilled alongside
his activist parents, sparking a passion for
activism himself.

7.  Earl Little left the
evening of September
8, 1931 to collect
money.
 Earl’s body was found
split in two under a
street car.
 Initially deemed a
street car accident,
activists later deemed
Earl a “victim of racist
violence.” Marable pg
31
Earl Little Malcolm’s Reaction
 Malcolm struggled not knowing
the truth behind his father’s
death.
 “Malcolm’s most vivid memory
of his father’s funeral was his
mother’s hysteria.” Marable pg
31
 Earl’s death was an adjustment
for Malcolm and he realized as
a child that his mother could not
adjust.
 Malcolm “cast his father as a
martyr for black liberation.”
Marable pg 32

8.  Piaget’s cognitive development stages
of death concepts:
 Concrete Operation (7 to 11 years):
children recognize that all living things
must die and that death is irreversible,
however, they consider death to be
caused by concrete elements
originating from outside the body and do
not recognize death as an intrinsic and
natural part of the life cycle.
 http://www.paulspencer.com.au/articles/
Dr%20Paul_Comprehension%20age%2
0ofdDeath%20and%20dying%20presen
tations%20master.pdf

9.  Piaget would say that Malcolm fell into the
concrete operation stage during his father’s
death.
 Malcolm was 7 years old.
 He accepted the idea that death is irreversible.
He knew his father was never coming back.
 However, he struggled to understand that
death is a natural part of a life cycle.
 Constantly questioned why his father died and
how he died.

10.  Malcolm’s mother
was institutionalized
for most of his
teenage years.
 He was then raised
by his older
siblings, and
through a juvenile
home.
 At 16, Malcolm
moved in with his
half sister, Ella, to
Boston.

11.  Malcolm X’s move to
Boston changed his
view on black culture.
 “On the weekends,
thousands of blacks
congregated in
Boston’s busy streets.
For the first time in his
life, Malcolm saw
black-white couples
walking together
easily, without obvious
fear.” Marable pg 37
Malcolm X and His New
Home Vygotsky Beliefs
 Sociocultural
Approach: “A child’s
participation in
various cultural
routines nurtures
particular ways of
thinking.” Miller pg
218

12.  Vygotsky would
believe that Malcolm
X’s move from
Michigan to Boston
opened his eyes to
new cultural norms
and values.
 Malcolm X saw
Boston as a “thrilling
world, a lively, urban
environment” and it
took hold of his
imagination and spirit
for years to come.