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Malcolm X: Historical Perceptions

THESIS

The impetus for the development for this major work arose from the varied and largely, colorful interpretations of Malcolm X. The differences seem to have arisen from scholars and historians use and understanding of many different and varied sources and most important, their own perspective of the events as they unfolded. How historians approached Malcolm X is of paramount importance to future historians and more importantly, to the study of history. Principally, these differences of thought and perspective are greatly determined by the writer's context, which in turn is at the core of the focus question, concerning the historiographical issue whether each generation writes the same history in a new way. Furthermore the purpose of this thesis is, not only, to show whether each generation does write the same history in a new way, but whether through this process the growth of history is not stunted or hindered but allows future accounts to draw on past sources and derive new conclusions. The constitution of this essay will support this aim by discussing a number of scholars and historians – Edward Woods, James Elridge and Jonathan Kingsley - through showing the differing perspectives.

History is a subject that will remain constant even if we were, by some remarkable turn of fate, to fall short of events to appreciate. The previous century alone will remain of indisputable value to historians for the simple reason that there will always be new interpretations of historical events from every generation, and within each generation from remarkably different individuals with varying contexts. Due to this wonderful circumstance, a variety of intriguing perspectives emerge and spurs further an even greater quest for the truth.

The statement ‘each generation writes the same history in a new and different way' derives great meaning in relation to the figure of Malcolm X due to the myriad of perspectives that have been based on his person and in turn, the...