Final answer:
Malcolm X believed that white racism was the most dangerous thing in the world, fostering self-hatred among African Americans and inhibiting their potential. His advocacy for Black self-esteem, self-determination, and a distinct separation from white society underscored his influential role in the development of the Black Power movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Malcolm X, a prominent figure of the 1960s and a key member of the Nation of Islam, believed that the most dangerous thing in the world was white racism. This belief was rooted in his experiences and the teachings of Elijah Muhammad.
Malcolm X saw white racism as a pervasive and destructive force that taught African Americans to hate themselves, their history, and their culture. He advocated for Black self-esteem, self-determination, and the eventual emigration of African Americans to Africa, rejecting the integration and assimilation strategies of the mainstream civil rights movement.
Addressing black audiences, Malcolm X often challenged them with the powerful question: "Who taught you to hate yourself?" His distrust in white society was further enforced by acts of violence against Blacks, including police brutality and terrorist acts like the bombing of a Black church in Alabama.
He saw violence as an appropriate response to violence and laid the foundation for the Black Power movement, emphasizing independence for Black people. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968 only strengthened the appeal of Malcolm X's views among young African Americans.