Robin Davis Gibran Kelley (born in 1962) is a professor of American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. In his essay 'The Riddle of the Zoot-Malcolm Little and Black Cultural Politics during World War II', he analyzed how Malcolm's youth as a hustler influenced his later political commitment. The riddle mentioned in the title is a reference to black writer Ralph Ellison, who wrote, 'Much in Negro life remains a mystery, perhaps the zoot suit conceals profound political meaning, perhaps the symmetrical frenzy of the Lindy Hop conceals clues to great potential power, if only Negro leaders would solve this riddle'. This text refers to the autobiography of Malcolm, a famous character of African American history of the XXth century. This document aims to show the role played by Malcolm, through his corrupted lifestyle and his embarrassing background; and through the creation of a new style, the zoot suiters. As it is said at the beginning of this document, 'the purpose of this chapter is to rethink Malcolm's early life, to re-examine the hipster subculture and its relation to wartime social, political, economical and ideological transformation'.
[...] More generally, the demographic and economic change of the war led to a strengthening of the social conflicts between the races and within the urban black communities. This document mostly focuses on “race rebels”, that is to say zoot suiters and hipsters. First, Malcolm lived in Boston, where he met his mentor, who taught him the hipster culture. But to make sure that his pupil will learn correctly, Malcolm needed a suit: zoot suit” as for him, it was not just a cloth, but it was a new identity, which reflected a new identity opposed to the dominant culture. [...]
[...] Malcolm X decided to turn the pursuit of leisure and pleasure into a career when he moved to Harlem in New York City. Kelley in his essay looks for psychological explanations for Malcolm Little's “downfall”. It was difficult for the black population to face the fact of “equal opportunity” advocated by the US in the wartime, while there is still racial discrimination in employment and wages. Hustling, that is to say illegal economy should be seen as an effort to escape the dependency of low wages for black people. [...]
[...] Most of the time, when one talk about the fight against discrimination in the US, one thinks automatically about Martin Luther King because of his non violent action such as boycott, to fight against racism but Malcolm X is often seen in his violent behaviour. Kelley, unlike many other biographers of Malcolm little, did not take his words for granted but critically reflects on them and analyzes them in reflection of society at that time. Indeed, this essay is an analysis of Malcolm's youth as a hustler. [...]
[...] During the World War II, selective service was seen by the black population which were an obstacle to the “pursuit of pleasure”. Malcolm and his homeboys tried to “evade the draft”, they did everything possible to obtain 4F status not to fight. There were “hundreds, perhaps thousands, of zoot suiters and musicians who dodged the draft”. Actually, it was not only unpatriotic; it was also a way to oppose the “white war”. African Americans didn't see the point in fighting against Germans as they found there enemy in White Americans. [...]
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