Andres J. Washington
Fingerprint
Geometric Analysis
History tells us that Malcolm X encompassed
an elevated mental manifestation. In
juxtaposition, the frequency of his fingerprint patterns and dermal ridge
configurations were apart from the expected display of the average
individual. This is a significant event
in dermatoglyphics, a unique phenomenon!
If we were to discover a similar pattern frequency and/or ridge
structure upon the hands of another individual, we could say that the person in
question maintains a potential for astuteness, as did Malcolm X. The fingerprint patterns that we possess are
a result of our genetic make-up, this is because fingerprints are a byproduct
of the human evolutionary cycle.
In reference to the
evolution of fingerprint patterns, the ulnar loop resides midway between the
whorl (the first pattern to appear on the person of individuals) and the arch
(that which was last).
The right thumb
impression of Malcolm was a horizontal radial loop with a ridge count of fourteen. In
other words, the ridges enter and exit in the direction of the radius
bone. Two variables which influence the
display of a given pattern are gender and racial stock. However, considering the above and all other
known variables, radial loops have failed to provide a display on the
aforementioned digit (for the male population) at frequencies higher than 0.438 percent
Malcolm
X
Malcolm’s left index
fingerprint was also a
horizontal radial loop. The
radial loop is a minority pattern in so much as the definition can be
understood. Its counterpart, the ulnar
loop, maintains the highest frequency among all other patterns. Further, the
discovery of a horizontal radial 1oop upon the person of another individual has
been infrequently noted in my thirty-five years of study. Most loop patterns are diagonal in
appearance.
Most individuals
display patterns that are consistent with the patterns of the neighboring
digits. However, Malcolm displayed
variety in the distribution of his fingerprints. Notwithstanding, the right ring finger of
Malcolm displayed a central pocket loop type whorl pattern with an outer
tracing. The frequency for this pattern
to appear on the right ring finger is 7.51 percent. And it was the only whorl pattern in the ten
set.
Under the original
rules for classifying fingerprints according to the Henry System of Fingerprint
Classification and Filing, we would conclude that Malcolm had three plain arch
patterns which were displayed on the right index, right middle and the left thumb. However, under revised rules for
classification, the right middle finger impression is classified as a tented
arch pattern (technical). A technical
tented arch is a pattern that has two of the three requirements necessary to be
considered a loop pattern.
This pattern (#3) had
a delta and a core but did not display a recurving ridge in front of the
delta. I have not seen a study to
include the frequency of technical tented arches on the right middle finger. However, when considering all tented arches
the frequency on the right middle is 3.33 percent.
The
breakdown on the combination of fingerprint patterns for Malcolm X was the
following:
Four
Ulnar Loop patterns (# 5, 8, 9 and 10)
Two Plain
Arch patterns (# 2 and 6)
One
Tented Arch pattern (# 3)
Two
Radial Loop patterns (# 1 and 7)
One Central
Pocket Loop Type Whorl pattern (# 4)
An extraordinary
configuration of the dermal ridge arrangements and
the variance of
pattern display indicates an elevated mental manifestation.
Click here for statistical data on male NCIC FPC frequencies.
Click here for statistical data
on female NCIC FPC frequencies.
Click here for the fingerprints of Malcolm X.
Copyright © Andres J. Washington