Chapter 4: I See a Nightmare (1952-63) Summary and Analysis

To understand Malcolm X's point of view, one must understand the struggle that black people faced during his time. Many blacks in past decades had escaped to the North, hoping for freedom, only to find despair and frustration there. They were oppressed in the North as well, and were unwelcome. Many felt that the quality of life for blacks in the North was worse than in the South. Racism was ubiquitous across white society. Scholars who study Black Muslims believe that Malcolm X was most responsible for transmitting this idea to the blacks of his movement.

X was paroled from Charlestown State Prison in 1952. Elijah Muhammad's religious movement was small, with about four hundred members. X was totally committed to Muhammad and came to lead "temple seven" of the Nation of...