Final answer:
The claim that the 'X' was taken by Nation of Islam members to replace their slave names and signify a break from past oppression is true. Malcolm X is a prominent figure who adopted the 'X' to represent his lost heritage and embrace a new identity empowered by the teachings of the Nation of Islam.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the “X” was given to new members of the Nation of Islam to replace their slave names is true. This was to serve as a reminder that their ancestral identities had been erased during the slave trade. The practice symbolized a severance from a past that involved being given a slave owner’s name and an embrace of a new identity that rejected perceived subjugation under a culture that oppressed African Americans.
Malcolm X, initially born Malcolm Little, is a notable example of this. After joining the Nation of Islam, he replaced his surname “Little”, which he considered a slave name, with “X” to represent his lost tribal name. The move was a significant part of the Nation of Islam’s teachings under Elijah Muhammad, which emphasized empowerment, self-identification, and the reclaiming of an African heritage disconnected by slavery. In addition, the Nation of Islam advocated for separation from White Americans due to the belief that African Americans could not thrive in a society rampant with white racism.