While in prison, Malcolm became a follower of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of a small, urban cult, known as the Nation of Islam. Malcom X looked at himse. The Autobiography of Malcolm X was published in 1964, when many African Americans regularly straightened their hair. They are black men and woman trying to live their lives in a community where the whites are superior and the blacks are inferior. What did the conk symbolize to him at the. our expert writers, Copying content is not allowed on this website, Ask a professional writer to help you with your text, Give us your email and we'll send you the essay you need, Please indicate where to send you the sample, Hi, my name is Jenn When it's the first time, on your own head, the transformation, after a lifetime of kinks, is staggering.... On top of my head was this thick, smooth sheen of … He uses description to convey this message. Then, relax your hair and style it into a conk so you get a nice, smooth look. It is definitely convincing that Malcolm X wrote this story My First Conk.pdf Loading…. Malcolm X wanted to change the mind state of criminals where they would feel a sense of purpose. Sep 17, 2020 - Explore Buggy's board "Painted Conks", followed by 453 people on Pinterest. It was at this time that Malcolm took his first step towards his belief of non-integration with the white people of America. Write my paper. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. The audiences Malcolm attempted to reach were his fellow civil rights leaders, other Muslims, and those who were still living a criminal lifestyle. “Going to lay on that first conk?” the drugstore man asked me. He even goes as far as saying it makes blacks look foolish. In the essay "My First Conk" by Malcolm X, what is the purpose of the "conk" process? (150) He became involved in the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad. African Americans have actually progressively decided to ditch their natural selves and instead take on the job of controling themselves … Upon his release from prison Malcolm became a key member of the Black Muslim Movement. Conking was a popular procedure done in black males to straighten their hair in 1940’s. The comparison of white superiority and black inferiority give examples of the fractured mind state The sharp dressed young "cats" who hung on the corners and in the poolrooms, bars and restaurants, and who obviously didn't work anywhere, completely entranced me. 2. My First Conk Poem by Jeff Lee. Through the use of foreshadow, personal commentary, diction, and tone, Malcolm’s writing style heightens the autobiography’s ability to convey the hardships and transformations of his life. My First Conk Search. Sean Quigley AP English 2A 11/13/11 My First Conk Comprehension: 1. The story was about when Malcolm had his first conk. Malcolm X's My First Conk was a very educational interesting read. The conk symbolized Malcolm fitting in with the masses, and he took comfort in that. Malcolm X described the sense of desperation felt by the... ... lf in the mirror admiring his straight hair like he had gone under some kind of miracle transformation of a white man, and told himself that he would never be without one. “My First Conk” Response Questions 1. My First Conk essays Malcom X and his article titled "My First Conk" say that black men conked their hairs to unify their existence in the society of white people. “My First Conk”, by Malcolm X, argues a few points on the concept of conking from his point of view to help the black community and his readers better themselves. Malcolm X, also advocated for the end to segregation, but emphasized the needs for blacks to become independent of the white man, and stand up for themselves. Going through the pain of the hot lye burning in his scalp was part of the conking procedure. In Malcolm X’s excerpt My First Conk, He describes the process to get a conk. For those not familiar with the term conking is a treatment in which black males concoct a gel, utilizing generally family components, then use it to the hair in order to align it. (203)... StudyMode - Premium and Free Essays, Term Papers & Book Notes. This hairstyle called for a man with naturally "kinky" hair to have it chemically straightened using a relaxer (sometimes the pure corrosive chemical lye), so He had a lot of insight to change the way he was. When he was released in 1952, he renamed himself Malcolm X in keeping with Elijah Muhammad's belief that American blacks should give up their "slave names." (In Malcolm X's opinion.) This was to be done every time someone had to be conked, but evidently was a procedure worth going through each time. I proudly told him, grinning, "Right!". "My First Conk" Discussion in 'Books & Publications Forum' started by HOHNancy, Jun 16, 2005. Their conks and blonde colored wigs were simply doing nothing but making themselves look even more... ...Ronald E. Satterfield Jr. Malcolm got a job as a shoeshine boy, but quickly decided dealing drugs was a much easier way to make money. I couldn't get over marveling at how their hair was straight and shiny like white men's hair; Ella told me this was called a "conk.” long enough to be conked1. The author identified that while the black community was so rapped up in their conking stages, they neglected to realize that their intellectuality still strongly existed. My First Conk -- Responses 1. At the time he gets his conk he Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, came from a place filled with fear and danger, where the “Klansmen shouted threats and warnings [about how] ‘the... ...Malcolm X Malcom X "My First Conk" Categories Race, Race and Ethnicity, Society. This was never done to truly satisfy a personal desire. They are black men and woman trying to live their lives in a community where the whites are superior and the blacks are inferior. time he got it? Malcom X shows for us in his piece titled “My very first Conk” how his first conking went. A conk straightened a black man's hair, so he could look more like a white man. The early lives that these men lived had much influence on how they would later view racism, and speak out on segregation. He calls out all those who have or still sport a conk and urges them to stop. Later, his father was killed and his mother was committed to a mental institution. What did the conk symbolize to him at the . What did the conk symbolize to him at the . In 1946 Malcolm was sentenced to seven years in jail for robbery. In response to his decision of advocating against these traits of copying whites, I agree with him. Conking was a popular procedure done in black males to straighten th Day 1, He also says he is not exempting himself from that category. Malcolm and his siblings were split up by child welfare and for awhile he was forced to live in a reform home run by racist white people. Since then, conking hair has become synonymous with relaxing hair so it appears straight and smooth. 1c. ENG 101 This was never done to truly satisfy a personal desire. (2016, Oct 28). He believed that this should have been practiced or exposed more often to demonstrate that they were more than just colored people living beneath white supremacy, but people with brains and thoughts. Relaxers contain lots of chemicals so do this process at home with caution. Download paper 44 . They need “Red Devil lye, two eggs, and two medium- sized white potatoes… and a large jar of Vaseline, a large bar of soap.” Then the drugstore clerk comments about the Malcolm X getting a conk and Malcolm proudly says “Right!” He later goes on to describe the way the mixture is made and how the Red Devil lye makes the mixture burning hot. The conk was a hairstyle popular among African-American men from the 1920s to the 1960s. I spent the first month in town with my mouth hanging open. Questions for "My First Conk" 1a. Martin Luther King Jr., born Micheal Luther King Jr., was raised with a middle-class family, where his mother and father stressed the importance of obtaining an education (Martin). Malcolm wanted the conk at first because he wanted to look like his friend Shorty and other Negro men and women who had taken these steps to be accepted by the white society. 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