The Ideas and Practices of the African─Americans Civil Rights Movement: A Case Study of Malcolm X

• Main Authors: Chih-Chiang Tsai, 蔡志強
• Other Authors: Thomas B. Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/2b8hq7

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 美國研究所 === 89 === Sixties in the American society is a complex and also abundant history. In politics, leaders of the new generation at that time started a whole new prelude. In society and cultural perspective, the drastic motion and change of various forces made American society of that generation resplendent as a kaleidoscope. Conflicts among classes and hierarchies, battles between conservative and liberal, the pendulum between the reality and ideal as well as anti-cultural characteristics gradually prevailed. Return to nature and pursuit of self is spiritual features presented by people in that decade. In addition, various forms of self-liberation and different values enriched the content of American society gradually. However, on the other hand, American society was also led to separation and conflicts, and then the Civil Right Movement hence rose. Since the first nineteen black slaves are brought to the new continent in 1619, problems between black and white races in the U.S. were rooted. When immigrants came to this new territory to pursue freedom, they also gradually lapsed into racial problems, and these problems foreshadowed the serious social conflicts in American history thereafter. A period of social movement must have its origin and expand step by step. American Civil Right Movement, of course, is no exception. Therefore, this thesis will not only study the historical process of American Black Civil Right Movement, but also search the social-historical factors of it as well as the mental status of black people, the oppressed. Thus, through the social-psychological analysis, the thesis chooses Malcolm X, one of Civil Right Movement leaders, to explore the deeper meanings of Civil Right Movement. The structure of the thesis first studies the growing process and personalities of Malcolm X, and his understanding of the subject, freedom. Secondly, it discusses the trend of racism in society at that time, Malcolm’s “dynamic adaptation” toward this society, and reasons for him to become a leader in this social trend. Thirdly, Malcolm’s influences to the Civil Right Movement are canvassed from self-awareness of races, reconstruction of the black community and human rights respectively. The last part is the writer’s personal reflections after the research.