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.
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