All Souls: Is Poverty a Choice?

In some cases poverty can be a choice, but in most cases it isn't. Obviously, being born into poverty isn't a choice, and that's how most people are placed into a situation of poverty. In the case of the MacDonalds in All Souls, poverty is verging on being a choice. Michael's mother could have had fewer children, finished school, and gotten a good job. She definitely had the potential at one point to lift her family out of the projects, more than most of the other families, but overall they enjoyed that lifestyle. It was more of an unconscious decision, but it wouldn't have been too hard to predict that that's where they'd end up. It may be sort of an unconscious decision for others too.  If someone is born into an impoverished family and community, that is all they know. Maybe they have the ability to lift themselves or their families out of poverty, but they just don't know how because no one in the community has done so. These people are not to blame for their situation, but it's possible that it's not as hard for some people to get out of poverty as it might seem.

Malcolm X: Integration

As Malcolm X distanced himself from the Nation of Islam, his views started to grow slightly less radical.  I think that he might have even come to support integration had he lived long enough to develop his views.  Now that we have seen how the integration tactic has played out, we can look back at its flaws and its strengths, even though the process is by no means over.
People of different cultures still like to associate with their own culture, which can lead to self-segregation and neighborhoods of mostly one race.  And this by itself isn't a problem. It's important to keep a sense of cultural identity. It's in places like schools and the workplace that integration is most important.  It develops cultural interaction and understanding.
Integration is a slow process, but I think it is for the better. It can be thought of as a medicine that might first be bitter going down, but will help you in the end. There were some problems in the beginning, and there still are, but overall I think we've seen a positive trend, especially compared to the pre-integration days. And places like Whitney Young are a big help in the process. It brings normal, but smart, kids from all over the city and encourages all of them to pursue higher education, no matter their background. Though social problems still plague many African-American neighborhoods, I feel that in the long run the future will present even more positive opportunities.

Autobiography of Malcolm X: Chapters 1-12

The first half of the book chronicles the foundation of Malcolm's stance as a Muslim and a proponent of African-American rights, from the very beginning of his life. I thought it was interesting that his father, a preacher, was a follower of Marcus Garvey's Back to Africa Movement. Although Malcolm never specifically stated that this influenced his separationist views, it is basically the same principle and likely made it easier for him to accept the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. I also had never known about Malcolm's past as a hustler and a drug addict. His complete turnaround is actually very remarkable, and pretty rare, but I think that his experiences in Harlem and Roxbury give his cause some proof of legitimacy. His story definitely had the potential to attract followers, because it is such an obvious example of what Islam did, and could do for others.