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Daniel Tsai

Harris

AP Language and Composition Pd.2

The Autobiography of Malcolm X: Empathy Brings Out Reality

In The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley, the use of figurative

language reveals that false conceptions caused by prejudice and injustice creates a disconnect

from reality which consequently, formulates divisions between people that can only be mended

through the empathy brought from complete honesty. The specific examples of metaphors and

similes contributes to the overall meaning by offering a more detailed and vivid way to explain

the tone and experiences of Malcolm X. Malcolm X had been sent to his first detention home as

a young teenager, moving him from Lansing to Mason, Michigan. The detention center was ran

by a white couple who had treated Malcolm well, but still displayed explicit racism. Due to their

naive mindset, they made racist comments in front of Malcolm, unaware of their degrading

impact on him. One of the judges in charge of him in Lansing visited Malcolm X at the center,

making him feel like an animal. Malcolm X explained “He would ask about me when he came,

and they would call me in, and he would look me up and down, his expression approving, like he

was examining a fine colt, or a pedigreed pup” (X and Haley 28). When describing the way the

judge had looked at him, Malcolm X uses the simile “like he was examining a fine colt, or a

pedigreed pup” to express how the judge viewed Malcolm highly, as he learned that he was hard

working and intelligent. The effect of comparing himself to a prized colt or a pedigreed pup

suggests that Malcolm was seen as valuable and unique from stereotypical perceptions of black

people. However, despite being described as valuable, the comparison is still between a person
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and an animal, dehumanizing Malcolm. The simile’s effect on the passage as a whole illustrates

the hypocritical tone that Malcolm X saw in the white community, as they behaved friendly and

gave compliments, but the comments were rooted in racism and ignorance. These acts of

prejudice created a false sense of superiority by the white people resulting in a greater division

based on these false perceptions. By acknowledging the inhumane treatment, Malcolm X tries to

establish a connection to make the reader empathize with him and come to an agreement that no

person should be treated that way. Only through understanding the experiences of others can one

truly realize that every human being deserves the same level of equality and respect regardless of

race, gender or other distinctive features. Furthermore, as Malcolm X had grown in popularity

from his powerful speeches and lectures, he was often asked to speak for universities, television

programs and radio shows. One example of the tactics he used to strengthen his argument

included purposely making a mistake in claiming that there had been progress in the treatment of

black people by the white community. The audience or interviewer would then try to expose

Malcolm X to admit there has been good progress, allowing him respond with his prepared

answer.

Four hundred years the white man has had his foot-long knife in the black man’s back-

and now the white man starts to wiggle the knife out, maybe six inches! The black man’s

supposed to be grateful? Why, if the white man jerked the knife out, it’s still going to

leave a scar (X and Haley 277).

The example of figurative language can be seen with the metaphor comparing the treatment of

black people by white people as a person being stabbed in the back. This alone reveals the idea

of an injustice being done; however, Malcolm X’s main point comes with the idea that even “if

the white man jerked the knife out, it’s still going to leave a scar”. The metaphor of the knife is
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used to disclose how much damage the white people have done to their relationship with black

people. This reveals the meaning that prejudice and hate leads to damaged relationships because

it explains that there was no equality and peace between them. In describing how white people

have treated African Americans in such a candid and vivid way, Malcolm X attempts to heal the

damaged relationship through empathy. Empathy allows one to understand the pain felt by others

and hopefully even persuade them to be more kind and respectful. The false perception created

from a sense of superiority would diminish as there would be a common understanding of the

struggles each person goes through. As the book progresses, Malcolm X traveled to Mecca as

part of the Hajj and wrote a letter back to the United States after experiencing a paradigm shift

from seeing the sense of community between the different races. In his letter, Malcolm X

describes how the various countries he visited did not have the same injustices and divisions as

in America. He contrasts the sense of unity in the other countries to the relationships in the

United States by stating “With racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer, the so-called

‘Christian’ white American heart should be more receptive to a proven solution to such a

destructive problem. Perhaps it could be in time to save America from imminent disaster” (X and

Haley 347). The simile “racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer” reveals the idea that

the prejudice present in the United States leads to something extremely destructive and painful.

He also conveys that if the country continues to display such racism, it could lead to an

“imminent disaster”. Despite the possibility of a disaster, Malcolm X clarifies that hope for a

better future is possible because he had seen it in other countries. In explaining the feelings of

African Americans throughout the book, he attempts to make the reader understand the prejudice

and hate they experienced. Gaining an accurate and honest understanding of what others
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experience forces people to acknowledge the similarities that they all share, creating a greater

sense of equality and respect between different groups of people.

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Work Cited

X, Malcolm and Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York, Ballatine Books,

June 1973.