How to Analyze the Different Accounts of the Assassination of Malcolm X
There are competing versions of who assassinated Malcolm X and why. An academic evaluation of competing versions of the assassination can give a clearer picture of the events and people surrounding this event. While even a careful analysis will not produce a definitive answer to all questions surrounding this complicated historical figure, using good sense and discretion in the analysis will lead to supportable and thoughtful conclusions. A good search will utilize a variety of types of sources.
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Things You'll Need
- Access to the Internet
- Access to a library
- Access to an academic library such as a university (preferred)
Instructions
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Gather internet sources. Conduct several searches that include long-tailed keyword searches such as "theories of Malcolm X assassination," "who killed Malcolm X," "who wanted Malcolm X dead," "why was Malcolm X killed," and so on. Use different search engines for different results; bookmark pages that look interesting, provide useful information or provide a unique point of view.
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Gather academic sources. If you have access to an academic library, this can be an excellent source of information. There are professors who have dedicated an entire academic career to the study of Malcolm X, his life, his death and his words. A search at a university library or through its website, will return results including books, journal articles, book reviews, reference books and histories. Narrow searches by date of publication and types of sources for more focused results.
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Gather library sources. Books, articles and reference materials are available at standard libraries. These references will be from the popular press -- meaning the mainstream commercial press that publishes well-known news magazines, books and newspapers. Each of these sources is valuable. News articles give you a good idea of what was printed in the contemporary press at the time of Malcolm X's death and what theories there are surrounding the assassination. Reference works provide a solid overview of the assassination.
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Evaluate websites. Critically evaluating Internet sources is an important skill for the analysis of Malcolm X's assassination. First, analyze the author, or source, of the information. Note any evidence of authority, background or history in Malcolm X. Note affiliated organizations, contact information, and any print publications. Note any author bias and whether it is made known. Look at the domain name. If the site is an .edu site, it may be more credible than a .com site. An .org site may be credible, but check out the organization before deciding how to process the information.
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Evaluate book sources. In much the same way as you evaluate the authors of a website, evaluate authors of books. Check out the author's credentials and be certain they represent true organizations or academic institutions. Look at the author's background and biases. One popular account of Malcolm X's assassination makes a case for FBI and CIA involvement but uses sources written by authors with a grudge against government in general without research to back up their claims of government involvement. The proof offered of government involvement in Malcolm X's assassination was largely that government agencies are incompetent and some employees abuse their power. Those sources do not offer proof of the CIA or FBI being involved in this specific crime, yet the author of the book does not reveal this. Research authors and sources for a well-rounded point of view.
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Evaluate articles. Note whether the articles come from the popular press, special interest publications, or the academic press. Articles that are printed in peer-reviewed, academic journals will have bias and a point of view, but the point of view is generally well-supported with valid research and historical documentation. For all articles, check source credibility: How long has the source been around, what kind of respect does it get from scholars and is it trying to sell a product or an ideology.
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Write conclusions. After reading and analyzing the information you find on the different theories surrounding the Malcolm X assassination, write down the findings and organize your thoughts about them. Summarize what you've read and draw your own conclusions. This will help you assimilate and distill all the information to decide what you believe is most correct.
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Tips & Warnings
Reading book reviews can be an excellent way to research an author or get an idea of a book's credibility. Scholars often write book reviews on books in their area of expertise, and reading these reviews can give you an excellent idea of the validity of theories explored in the book.
