Black Rage Summary

In “Malcolm X and Black Rage” by Cornel West it talks about Malcolm X and the anger he had for the states because of their unfair treatment to African Americans. Malcolm wanted to create a psychic conversion which is making a black person truly believe in the capacity his or herself by destroying white racist oppression. He also wanted black people to stop the portrayal society had of them. Not only did he want white people to see them differently, but he wanted black people to see themselves differently as well. Cornel West calls Malcolm a prophet in American history.

Cornel West says “Malcolm X was the prophet of black rage primarily because of his great love for black people” (pg.451). The reason Cornel West calls Malcolm a prophet is because the way he expressed his black rage which he had done like no other person had ever done in American history. Malcolm knew the risk he was taking when he spoke publicly on the relentless attacks on African Americans that they have experienced on their intelligence, looks, and potential from a society that values whiteness. Doing that could’ve resulted in things like early death or prison but he did it anyway because he had so much love for black people. The constant attacks affected how blacks looked at themselves. Malcolm believed that if black people felt the love that motivated that rage the love would produce a psychic conversion.

A “psychic conversion” which insists that black people must no longer measure themselves by any standards that devalue them in favor of whiteness. West use Michael Jackson as a great example when he said “Michael Jackson may rightly wish to be viewed as a person, not a color (neither white nor black), but his facial revisions reveal a self-management based on a yardstick...” (pg.451). Even though he was one of the greatest entertainers ever to live he still partially viewed himself through white people eyes. The black middle class was at risk if a psychic conversion was to happen because...