I believe Malcolm was tying to become successful and wanted to show whites that blacks are not failures. Along the lines he forgot how he was doing illegal things like asking a soldier to be put on with a prostitute. He started doing illegal things like selling weed and rugs and ruin his life. He got involved with cops and almost lost his life when Archie came to shot him. He though that was his hustle and he was independent. Though in reality he could've gone to school and get educated and live a better life. Instead of Lindy hopping he could've spend his time studying so he wouldn't have to go to jail. He was too young to go through the things he went through but at the end it was him who made those choices.