Abstract
Robin Davis Gibran Kelley (born in 1962) is a professor of American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. In his essay 'The Riddle of the Zoot-Malcolm Little and Black Cultural Politics during World War II', he analyzed how Malcolm's youth as a hustler influenced his later political commitment. The riddle mentioned in the title is a reference to black writer Ralph Ellison, who wrote, 'Much in Negro life remains a mystery, perhaps the zoot suit conceals profound political meaning, perhaps the symmetrical frenzy of the Lindy Hop conceals clues to great potential power, if only Negro leaders would solve this riddle'. This text refers to the autobiography of Malcolm, a famous character of African American history of the XXth century. This document aims to show the role played by Malcolm, through his corrupted lifestyle and his embarrassing background; and through the creation of a new style, the zoot suiters. As it is said at the beginning of this document, 'the purpose of this chapter is to rethink Malcolm's early life, to re-examine the hipster subculture and its relation to wartime social, political, economical and ideological transformation'.
