Comparing and contrasting the story of Malcolm X with Plato’s allegory of the cave.
Malcolm X was a human rights activist back in the 1950’s. He was killed because he found the truth and was not afraid to share it with the world. Malcolm X attains the four level of understanding depicted in “Plato’s allegory of the cave.”
As a child Malcolm X lived his life in a state of false impression. He believed everything that he was told. He was told that he could not be a lawyer, because he was black, and instead he should be a carpenter. Malcolm X was called “Negro” so many times he began to believe that it was his name. In relation to “Plato’s allegory of the cave” the prisoner of the cave believed that reality consisted of nothing but shadows. To Malcolm X reality consisted of dying his hair red because ultimately he wanted to be white. He slept with white women because he wanted control and a sense of power.
Later on in his life, Malcolm X met a man named West Indian Archie. West Indian Archie influenced Malcolm into doing drugs, and he also became a thief. Malcolm was sentenced to eight to ten years in jail, where he did hard labour. His biggest crime of all was sleeping with white women. A major turning point in Malcolm X’s life happens during the time he spent in jail, where he met a man named Banes. Brother Banes informs Malcolm X that everything he was thought he accepted it, he was told being black was a curse and at last he believed it. Malcolm X attains informed belief in prison, when Banes takes him to view the dictionary meaning of the words black, and white. The definition of the word black had the most negative connotations it meant developed in darkness, dirty, gloomy, wicked, foul, hostile, while the word white meant pure, white as snow, the opposite of black. Brother Banes informs Malcolm that he was a self hating black person. Brother Banes tells Malcolm X “Take one step towards Allah and he will take two steps towards you.” With this, Malcolm X becomes a Muslim and a follower of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X was teaching others Elijah Muhammad’s truth. He preached to others to go to temple instead of going to church. There was a racial explosion because black people were dissatisfied. In “Plato’s allegory of the cave” when the prisoner looked at the sun and contemplated that it was nature, he was able to understand the concept of light, that came from the sun, just as in Malcolm X’s life he spoke on behalf of Elijah Muhammad’s teachings on the treatment of blacks therefore he was in the third level of knowledge; conceptual understanding.
Malcolm X was a strong believer in Elijah Muhammad, but was betrayed by Elijah Muhammad this led into Malcolm X’s unified understanding. Elijah Muhammad betrays Malcolm, by fathering illegitimate children for two different women. Malcolm X becomes a strong believer in Allah. Malcolm X becomes independent in his words and his actions, he takes a trip to Mecca where he attains the fourth and final level of understanding. He sees that he is able to communicate and get along with people of all different skin colour and races, because they all believe in one god. Malcolm X no longer has hostility and hate against white people. He is able to practice the true Islamic faith. This final trip to the pilgrimage thought him unified understanding about non-segregation. As in “Plato’s allegory of the cave” the prisoner will find it hard to go back and live in the cave because he knew that there was a reality and he would be willing to die for his belief rather than go back into the cave.
In conclusion, Malcom X attains the four levels of understanding depicted in “Plato’s allegory of the cave.” Malcolm X was willing to die for truth, which says a lot about the content of his character and the beliefs he stood for.
