Malcolm X: The Unforgettable Fire
This biographical article illustrates Malcolm X’s influence on the Civil Rights era. In fact, if one is to really understand the dynamics of the Civil Right era, he/she must come to understand how Malcolm X impacted the movement; he offered an alternative view to the mainstream Civil Rights movement. Malcolm X justified violence with the use of his phrase, “by any means necessary.” He also advocated for both the establishment of a separate black community (rather than integration) and the use of violence in self-defense (rather than non-violence). This article could serve as an anchor or supplementary text for a unit on the Civil Rights movement, American history, religion in America, and great orators.

Author: Greg Kirmser

Interest Levels: 8 - 11

Reading Levels: 2, 4, 6, 8