Discussion Questions Ch - Ladue School District

African American Studies IIThe Autobiography of Malcolm XDiscussion QuestionsChapter 1: Nightmare1. The chapter begins with Malcolm’s mother being terrorized by the KuKlux Klan riders threatening and warning her to get their family out oftown. Why do the riders want them gone?2. Explain the Reverend Little’s connection with Marcus Garvey and hisorganization. Why would Garvey’s “back to Africa” preachings be athreat to the KKK, especially since one would think the KKK wouldagree with blacks returning to Africa. How does the Reverend Little’spast explain his dedication to the Garvey movement?3. Describe Malcolm’s family with regard to his step and full siblings.Describe the physical appearances of his parents. How does skincolor and hair texture impact their behavior and determine who arefavored in Malcolm’s family? What other differences exists betweenMalcolm’s parents?4. Trace the several places that Malcolm’s father moves his family.Explain why the family must leave each home. Is each move for thebetter or the worse? Explain.5. Describe the socio-economic status of the blacks in Lansing.Although the Little family is poverty stricken, why are they better offthan many of the other blacks in town?6. How might you explain that although Malcolm has many memories ofattending Garvey meetings with his father and hearing Garveypreachings, he still maintains negative and stereotypical images ofAfrica? Has taken a class such as African American Studies changedyour image of Africa? Why or why not?7. How does the rabbit slaying scene symbolize the Reverend Little’sdeath?

8. Describe the efforts of Malcolm’s mother and other family membersto keep the family going after the Reverend Little’s death. Explainhow racism thwarts the mother’s efforts in particular.9. How does the state Welfare humiliate and dehumanize the Littlefamily? Does the state continue to do so today?10. Describe how the Little family’s destitution begins Malcolm’sdownward spiral into crime. How does Malcolm’s petty crime lead tohis mother being institutionalized?11. What happens to the rest of the family after the mother is placed in theState Mental Hospital at Kalamazoo? Are you surprised or not?12. Why do you think Malcolm X titles this chapter “Nightmare”? Makea list of these “nightmares”.Chapter 2: Mascot1. Explain the significance of June 27, 1937 to African American peoplethen. How does that day’s event influence Malcolm? What is theoutcome of Malcolm’s venture into the ring?2. Malcolm eventually is sent to reform school because of his deliberatedecision to wear a hat in his classroom. Do you agree with the teacher’shandling of the situation? Do you agree with Malcolm’s revenge on theteacher? Cite instances along this chain of events that could have alteredthe outcome.3. What is a mascot? Why does Malcolm feel the Swerlins and other whitesin his childhood regarded him as a mascot? How does Mason JuniorHigh treat Malcolm as a mascot?4. Malcolm’s favorite subjects are English and history, but he dislikes hishistory teacher. Why? Why does he dislike mathematics?

5. Why does being called “nigger” and other racial epithets not botherMalcolm as you think it would?6. What restrictions do Malcolm’s white classmates have on theiracceptance of him?7. How do the white boys use Malcolm to get girls for themselves? Doyoung men use similar strategies today? Explain.8. Describe the “race mixing” that goes on in Lansing. What is hypocriticalabout this behavior?9. Malcolm’s describes his embarrassment of a black actor in the movieGone With the Wind. Why do you think he feel this way?10. Why is Malcolm especially impressed by his older stepsister Ella?11. How does Malcolm’s summer visit with Ella in Boston change him uponhis return to Lansing?12. Why does his English teacher’s “advice” about his future plans disturbMalcolm? What knowledge about himself causes Malcolm to changeinside? How is his behavior different?13. After his graduation from the eighth grade, Malcolm leaves Lansing andgoes to live with his sister Ella in Boston. Why is Malcolm glad Mr.Ostrowski did not encourage him to become a lawyer after all?Chapter 3: Homeboy3. Ella advises Malcolm not to begin looking for a job right away, but totake his time and get the feel of Boston first. Do you think this is goodadvice? Why? What might you have advised Malcolm?4. Malcolm describes the Roxbury Negroes and the “successful” ones inLansing with contempt. Why? Do you agree with him?

5. List examples of some of the euphemisms that blacks used to indicatetheir professions. Why do you think blacks described their jobs in thisway instead of saying what they really do?6. Instead of being impressed with these blacks, Malcolm is attracted to andentranced by another kind of black. Why? Explain.7. Who is “Shorty”? What does he mean when he calls Malcolm his“homeboy”? Why does Malcolm take to him so quickly? How doesShorty help Malcolm become acclimated to Boston?8. What all does Freddie advise Malcolm to do to earn tips while shiningshoes? What does he mean when he tells Malcolm to “Uncle Tom alittle”? What are some other items Freddie tells Malcolm to have onhand for his customers? What does Freddie mean when he tellsMalcolm, “The main thing you got to remember is that everything in theworld is a hustle”?9. What differences does Malcolm observe between the white dances andthe black dances?10. Approximately how old is Malcolm as he hangs out with Shorty andexperiences his first liquor, cigarette, reefer, shooting craps, playingcards, and playing the numbers? Is the young person of the same agetoday as worldly as Malcolm or more inexperienced? Explain.11. Describe the look of the zoot suit. Does it share any similarities with thepopular look of today’s adolescent attire?12. What is a “conk”? Describe the process by which black men “conked”their hair. What is unpleasant and painful about the process? Why doyou think these men endured such torture for this special look? Dopeople torture themselves today to attain a particular beauty standard?Explain.13. How does Malcolm feel about seeing himself with his first conk? Whenhe reflects on it later, how have his feelings changed? What does a conkrepresent on a black man, according to Malcolm X? What do you thinkMalcolm X would say about the nonkinky hairstyles that young blackmen wear today? Do you agree?

Chapter 4: Laura1. Note the slang that Malcolm X uses in the opening paragraph of thischapter. How would you define “groovy,” “frantic,” “scenes,” “chicks,”“cats,” “pads,” “juke,” “mellow,” “blew gage,” “juiced back,” “jumped,”“fine,” “hip”? What current slang could you substitute for these?2. How does Malcolm explain the difference between white dancing andblack dancing? Does that explanation stand for today? Explain.3. Why doesn’t Malcolm want to take the job at the Townsend Drug Store?Why does he agree to take it?4. Although Laura represents one of the “Hill Negroes” that Malcolmcannot stand, she is somewhat different. Explain why Malcolm isattracted to her. Why doesn’t he mention her to his friend Shorty?5. Describe Laura’s style of lindying. How is it different from that of manyof Malcolm’s other partners? Is her style of dancing consistent with herpersonality? Explain.6. Who is Sophia? Describe her. How is she different from other whitewomen who consorted with African American men at that time? Whateffect does she have on Malcolm? In what ways does she differ fromLaura?7. How does Sophia bring status to Malcolm around his friends and otherblack men. Does having a beautiful white woman give black men statustoday? Explain.8. What eventually happens to Laura? Do you think her decline isinevitable or not? Malcolm blames her treatment of her for her decline.Would you agree with him?9. With what date and event does this chapter end? How old is Malcolm?Where is he living and what does he do for a living?

Chapter 5: Harlemite1. Why does Ella get Malcolm a job working for the railroad? Are herplans successful? Explain. Why does Malcolm go along withworking on the railroad? Why is Malcolm attracted to New YorkCity?2. What attitude do most of the ghetto black males have toward the war?Are they justified in thinking that way? Explain. What do they do toavoid the draft?3. Describe the contrasting black lifestyles that Malcolm sees inWashington D.C. “just a few blocks from the White House.” Whatkind of jobs do the “Negroes with Howard University degrees” hold?4. Explain Malcolm’s statement, “Within the first five minutes inSmall’s, I had left Boston and Roxbury forever.” Categorize theNegroes Malcolm learns about in Harlem.5. What is Kitchen Mechanics’ Night at the Savoy? Explain theprostitute’s statement, “. . .professionals couldn’t do any businessbecause of the amateurs.”6. How are Malcolm and the other train porter “. . . both servants andpsychologists”?7. Malcolm discusses the black and white sellers of the Daily Worker, anewspaper that advocates for blacks. Why does he think the paper “. ..somehow was tied in with the Russians”? Why had many blacksembraced the Communist Party?8. Malcolm eventually loses his job because of his inappropriatebehavior. Why does he manage to hold on to his job for so longdespite his behavior? How does he feel about losing it?9. Describe Malcolm’s effect on Lansing when he returns there. Why doyou think the people in Lansing are not ready for the likes ofMalcolm?

10. Malcolm takes a new job as a waiter at Small’s Paradise in New York.Describe the education he receives in the restaurant. How doesHarlem become the black Harlem of today? During the 1920’s whatrole did music and entertainment play in spreading Harlem’s famousimage? What connection exists between the Savoy and the “LindyHop”? From where does the dance receive its name?11. Malcolm also receives an education in forms of hustling. Name someof the hustles he learns.