Malcom X and Racial Identity Development Essay

Racial IdentityDevelopment is the steps minority or majority groups go with to gain understanding of their racial personal identity. Many people dont go through completely these compass points in their life and it requires a lot of inner growth to get there. later watching Malcom X, a civil rights leader, I saw how Malcom went through each of the stages of black/ minority racial identity ontogenesis some with difficulty and differents with not as much trouble.After reading about and reflecting on the minority development, I realized that Im at the stage of immersion/ emmersion. I find myself to a greater extent concerned about my culture and who I hang out with. Im constantly request perplexitys about where I come from and why certain things work the way they do based on skin color. Im also noticing how my passage is seen through the eyes of others/ majority groups and what factors contribute to their opinions. Im making more than than connections with kids and adults my race instead of with others just to get a better understanding of myself.Everybody has to go through the pre- incur stage. This is the stage where race isnt very apparent to the individual. They dont question the idea that white is right and black is wrong. Malcom experienced this stage in many ways. bingle example of this is when Malcom went to the barber shop to get his hair permed. After seeing his hair straight, he makes a comment grammatical construction, look like white hair dont it. This is an example of the pre-encounter stage because Malcom is saying that white people welcome straight hair which automatic each(prenominal)y makes white hair better.The next stage is the encounter stage. In this stage, the individual grows aware of their race and the disadvantages that come along with it. A certain consequence usually triggers this acknowledgment. An example of how Malcom went through this stage was when he was in school and was told by his white instructor that he couldn t become a lawyer because he was black. This is also a form of transmit racism. He realizes that there are certain things he can and cant do collectable to his race. He also realizes that hes part of a group that has certain disadvantages.After the encounter stage comes the stage of immersion/ emmersion. At this point in the individuals life they want to become more intact with the visible symbols of their race. They concentrate on themselves and the others that are their race. They tend to move away from people of other races. As Malcom is going through this stage, he tends to push people of other races away. A white newsperson approached Malcom and asked him what she could do to answer support the black community and he replied that there was nothing she could do to help the black cause. He felt that white people had so much of an advantage that they wouldnt be able to understand or help the black community.The last stage of the minority racial identity development is internal ization and commitment. In this stage, the individual uses what he/she learned about themselves and their race and transfers it to take bring through about their concerns about their race. When Malcom reaches this stage, he takes his time to apologize to other black civil rights leaders. He realizes that they all had the same ending goal and that they should be working together to help better the understanding of their race.After learning about these stages of minority race identity development, I feel like I have a better understanding of myself and others around me. Im more open to learning more about other races and if my race reflects theirs. As I go through the other stages, I apply to gain a better understanding of what I can do to better the way my race is perceived and how to move on through the stages.