Malcolm X Essay The road to equal rights for African Americans has been a long, hard, treacherous road that still continues today. Several prominent African American's have become strong leaders in the fight to bridge the racial gap. Malcolm X was one of the most celebrated of these leaders, some considered to be a hero, where others saw as a "racist monster." From negative racist experiences, early on, Malcolm learned to stand up for what he believed in. His critics portray him as an inately good man, but they criticise the way in which he makes his stands. Some would have liked to have seen him join forces with Martin Luther King Jr., another civil rights activist.