Malcom X: Is Malcolm X A Modern Prophet?

On 19 May 1925, Louise Little gave birth to Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. At first, Malcolm Little led a troubled path of preaching radical Islam and opposing desegregation and integration, but later he converted and worked for racial equality. Because he challenged power, told of immediate troubles, suffered discontent, and provided fear of the Lord, one might call Malcolm a modern-day prophet. In other words, Malcolm shows the characteristics of an ancient prophet, thus making him a modern prophet.

Although Malcolm was born in Nebraska, his family moved to Lansing, Michigan when he was just an infant. His father, Reverend Earl Little, was a Baptist minister and supporter of black nationalism. In 1931, a streetcar most likely operated

By calling the people in power, the whites, “devils” and encouraging African-Americans to defend themselves against them “by any means necessary,” it is clear that Malcolm X opposed the establishment. One ancient prophet, Amos, also challenged power and strength when he said, “They hate those who reprove at the gate and abhor those who speak with integrity; therefore because you tax the destitute and exact from the levies of grain, though you have built houses of hewn stone, you shall not live in them; though you have planted choice vineyards, you shall not drink their wine. Yes, I know how many are your crimes, how grievous your sins: oppressing the just, accepting bribes, turning away the needy at the gate,” (New American Bible, Revised Edition, Amos 5: 10-12). In this quote, Amos speaks out against the rich who live in live in comfortable stone houses while they tax the poor. Another reason showing Malcolm X as a modern prophet is because he told the immediate troubles. Malcolm once said, “Good education, housing, and jobs are imperatives for the Negroes, and I shall support them in their fight to win these objectives. But while the Negro does not have these objectives, he is nobody.” Here, Malcolm X warns that if African-Americans cannot achieve these three goals, they will never be equal to the white man in society. Similarly, the ancient prophet Amos also told of the immediate troubles when he proclaimed, “Thus says the Lord: for three crimes of Judah, and now four - I will not take it back-because they spurned the instruction of the Lord, and did not keep his statutes; because the lies which their ancestors followed have led them astray, I will send fire upon Judah, and it will devour the stronghold of Jerusalem,” (Amos 2: 4-5). Here, Amos warns Judah that God will send fire upon it for its crimes. Next, Malcolm X suffered discontent, another characteristic