Final answer:
Malcolm X was attracted to the Nation of Islam due to its messages of black empowerment, self-discipline, and separation from a white society perceived as oppressive. He resonated with the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, which emphasized self-esteem and control over black communities, diverging from the mainstream civil rights movement's nonviolence strategy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Malcolm X was drawn to the Nation of Islam (NOI) for various reasons that resonated with his personal experiences and worldview. The NOI's message of black self-empowerment and the advocacy for separation struck a chord with Malcolm, as he saw in Elijah Muhammad's teachings a way for African Americans to take control of their communities and destinies. The self-discipline promoted by the religious group, the origin story focusing on race, and the narrative that whiteness was a symbol of inherent evil appealed to Malcolm's understanding of the social structures around him.
Malcolm experienced firsthand the destructive effects of racism and the denigration of black identity, manifesting in the media and education systems. The self-esteem of the black community was an emphasis of Muhammad's teachings, which Malcolm championed after his release from prison. Malcolm's shift to the NOI also represented a rejection of his former last name 'Little,' a vestige of slave masters, and an embrace of a collective lost heritage symbolized by the 'X' in his newly adopted name.
Malcolm's embrace of Muhammad's teachings and his position on self-defense contributed to his rise within the NOI and his influence on the civil rights narrative. His message and methods diverged from the mainstream civil rights movement, which advocated nonviolence, in favor of a stance that endorsed self-defense in the face of racial violence. Malcolm X's advocacy for black autonomy and skepticism towards white society made him a prominent figure within the nationalist movement, influencing many African Americans during a tumultuous period of American history.