Final answer:
The subject of the selection is Malcolm X, an African American leader and a key figure in the Nation of Islam who advocated for the empowerment and self-determination of black people during the 20th-century civil rights movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the selection provided is Malcolm X, an influential African American leader and human rights activist. The excerpt is from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which details his life, experiences, and the evolution of his viewpoints. Malcolm X, initially born as Malcolm Little, was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam and helped to articulate the frustrations and aspirations of African Americans during the civil rights movement. His radical views on race relations and his emphasis on black self-sufficiency and self-defense marked a departure from the nonviolent principles of other civil rights leaders of the time. In prison, he embraced Islam and, upon release, quickly became a leading voice for the Nation of Islam, promoting black empowerment and often espousing separatist ideologies. His later life, however, showed a shift towards more inclusive and cooperative efforts after his pilgrimage to Mecca.