Malcolm X

Malcolm X is a prominent African-American civil rights activist and Muslim minister who introduced black nationalism and racial pride during the 1950s and 60s.

Malcolm X (May 19, 1925 - February 21, 1965) was an African American nationalist and civil rights activist. Before he became Malcolm X, his name was Malcolm Stuart Little. Malcolm X's father was a Baptist minister whose skin was very dark and his mother's skin was much lighter. His parents taught him to be proud of being black in an openly anti-black society.

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was fourth of the eight children of Louise and Earl Little. His father was an avid supporter and member of the Universal Negro Improvement Movement. He supported Marcus Garvey, a known black nationalist leader. Malcolm X’s family experienced number of harassments from the Ku Klux Klan and other factions such as the Black Legion due to Earl’s civil rights activism.

In 1931, Malcolm’s father was found dead in the street across the municipal streetcar tracks. Six years later, his mother was admitted to a mental institution due to trauma and depression where she stayed for 26 years.

By 1938, Malcolm X was sent to the juvenile detention home in mason, Michigan. He stayed with a white couple who treated him well. Later on, he attended the Mason High School where he excelled both academically and socially.

At the age of 15, Malcolm dropped out of school after his encounter with his English teacher. Malcolm thought of himself of being a lawyer but the teacher told him to be realistic and consider carpentry instead.

He moved to Boston with his sister Ella. Malcolm worked at a ballroom. Later on, he became acquainted with drug seller in the underground streets of Boston. Malcolm X was arrested in 1946 for burglary. He was sentenced with 10 years imprisonment. Most of his time in prison was spent in reading books while his siblings joined the Nation of Islam.

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In 1952, he converted to the Nation of Islam with the idea that black Americans should have their own state separate from white Americans for them to gain freedom, justice, and equality. He taught that all white people were bad. After his release from prison, Malcolm travelled to Detroit, Michigan. He met Elijah Muhammad, a leader of the Nation of Islam and supported him to expand the movements nationwide.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a contemporary of Malcolm during the early 1960s. Though King’s Civil Right Movement was an alternative of Malcolm’s radical philosophy.

Malcolm’s militant proposal earned him numbers of followers and critics. The Nation of Islam grew to 40,000 members from 400 in 1952.

When the African-American Civil Rights Movement began to gain momentum in the 1960s, Malcolm was skeptical. He did not believe in the peaceful protests of Martin Luther King, Jr. Malcolm didn't want a nation where blacks and whites were integrated, he wanted a separate nation just for black people.

In 1964, Malcolm left the Nation of Islam after the feeling of betrayal and misunderstanding.

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Malcolm may have left the Nation of Islam, but he was still a Muslim. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca where he had a change of heart over the beliefs of the Nation of Islam. Upon his return he began to work with other civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. on ways to peacefully achieve equal rights.

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1964

Malcolm had made many enemies within the Nation of Islam. Many leaders spoke out against him and said that he was "worthy of death." On February 14, 1965 his house was burned down. A few days later on February 15th as Malcolm began a speech in New York City, he was gunned down by three members of the Nation of Islam.

- Talking about his childhood, Malcolm once said "Our family was so poor that we would eat the hole out of a doughnut." - He also went by the name Malik el-Shabazz. - He married Betty Sanders (who became Betty X) in 1958 and they had six daughters together. - He became close friends with boxing champ Muhammad Ali who was also a member of the Nation of Islam.

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