Malcolm X

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was a Baptist minister and a supporter of the Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. His mother was a homemaker who suffered from mental health problems after the death of her husband, who was possibly killed by white supremacists. Malcolm grew up in poverty and hardship, moving from foster homes to relatives after his mother was institutionalized. He dropped out of school after eighth grade and became involved in a life of crime, drug use, and gambling. He was arrested in 1946 for burglary and sentenced to 10 years in prison. While in prison, he was introduced to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, a Black separatist and Islamic movement. He converted to Islam and changed his name to Malcolm X, rejecting his "slave name" and embracing his lost African identity. He was paroled in 1952 and became a minister and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, attracting many followers with his charismatic and fiery speeches. He advocated for Black self-reliance, self-defense, and separatism from the white society. He also criticized the civil rights movement for its emphasis on nonviolence and integration, and clashed with its leader, Martin Luther King Jr. He married Betty Shabazz in 1958 and they had six daughters. In 1963, Malcolm X had a falling out with Elijah Muhammad over personal and ideological differences. He left the Nation of Islam and founded his own religious organizations, the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. He also made a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he had a spiritual transformation and embraced Sunni Islam. He changed his name again to el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz and adopted a more moderate and inclusive outlook on race relations, expressing willingness to work with other civil rights leaders and organizations. He also traveled extensively in Africa and the Middle East, where he met with various political leaders and activists. He returned to the United States in 1964, where he continued to speak and write about his experiences and views. He also faced death threats and harassment from the Nation of Islam, as well as surveillance and infiltration from the FBI. On February 21, 1965, he was assassinated by three gunmen, who were members of the Nation of Islam, while giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. He was 39 years old. His funeral was attended by thousands of people, and his eulogy was delivered by the actor and activist Ossie Davis. He was buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Westchester County, New York. His autobiography, which he co-authored with Alex Haley, was published posthumously in 1965 and became a bestseller and a classic of American literature. His speeches and writings have inspired generations of Black activists, leaders, and artists, as well as movements such as the Black Power, Black Arts, Black Panther, and Black Lives Matter. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of the African American struggle for freedom and justice.