Perception
Because it is the autobiography of a black man living during a time when the black population was suppressed and forced to live almost completely separated from the white population, the major theme is racism and the way black people are perceived by those around them. The autobiography presents two different ways of thinking: the classic American one in which the blacks are considered inferior and thus not allowed to rise above the status given to them by other white men; and an Islamic perception with which Malcolm comes into contact when he visits Mecca. There, Malcolm is able to see blacks and whites cohabiting in peace and harmony and without considering themselves better compared to the person next to them. Malcolm is shocked to see this but also pleasantly surprised to see that the world is not as he imagined it. If until then Malcolm believed that blacks were universally good and blacks were universally evil without exception, his ideas changed after his visit.
Religion
Another major theme is religion, namely how Islam is superior to other religions that seem to promote racism and hate. Malcolm finds redemption through religion and he also finds peace through it. He discovers Islamism in prison and he becomes interested in the principles promoted by the Nation of Islam fast because they present the white race as being an abomination and the black race as being the pure race. Malcolm adopts these ideas and becomes a firm believer in Islam while also starting to promote racist ideas this time aimed at white people. His trip to Mecca changed the way he thought about race until then and realized that blacks and whites are not enemies and that they can live together in peace and harmony. Religion helps him understand that what he should promote is love, not hate.
Fight for survival
Black people had a hard time finding work or keeping that job because even when a person appeared to be white, like Malcolm’s mother did, they were still fired when the employed found out about that person’s race. Because of this and because the only jobs available for black people were either poorly paid or were humiliating and degrading, many black people chose to become involved in illegal activities like drug dealing, theft, prostitution or pimping and bootlegging. While these activities were illegal and dangerous, many were forced to get involved because it was the only way they could earn money. One of the main themes in the autobiography analyzes the lengths to which a person is willing to go just to survive.
