Malcolm X

By: Noah, Marnus & Qais

Malcolm X was an American Muslim Minister and human rights activist.

He violently indicted white Americans for their crimes against black people.

He has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history.

Who was Malcolm X and when and where was he born?

Malcolm X, born May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska as Malcolm Little also known as el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz

What where some significant events in his childhood and how did they shape

his philosophy of black rights? When Malcolm X was four years old, local KKK members smashed all of the family's windows, causing Earl Little (his father) to decide to move the family from Omaha to East Lansing, Michigan. However, in 1929, a racist mob set their house on fire, and the town's all-white emergency responders refused to do anything. "The white police and firemen came and stood around watching as the house burned to the ground," Malcolm X later told the press.

What was his main message for blacks and whites and how did

this message differ from King's?Malcolm X Martin Luther King Jr.

Malcolm X supported rebellion against all who are deemed responsible for holding down the African American people. He seemed to support not just rebellion, but blatant violence and bloody revenge.

Martin Luther King Jr. made a more powerful impact on because he also stood for standing up and speaking out against the prejudices against American blacks, but he did not advocate breaking the law or endangering anyone's life in order to make the point clear.

What are some of the reasons he changed his last name?

Malcolm X changed his name in 1952 after he moved to Chicago.

The reason driving his change of name was the fact that he joined the Nation of Islam.

African American followers of Mohammed knew that their family names were not their true last names, but a name that had been given to their ancestors when they were shipped as slaves to America - the custom at that time was for white slave owners to give their own last name to their slaves as a sign of ownership.

Therefore, Malcolm changed his last names to 'X' as a sign that he rejected the actions of the former slave owners, and as a mark for 'unknown' since his real family name was not recorded.

Malcolm earned the Muslim name El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, after the required pilgrimage to Mecca

What specific actions did he take towards black rights?

While in prison in Massachusetts, Malcolm X became a member of NOI. He was persuaded to do so by his brothers Philbert and Reginald who were both members of NOI. (Islamic Religious and equality movement)

He quickly rose in importance within NOI and as a MinisterHe gathered around him a number of devoted followers all from the " ghetto".

Malcolm X referred to white people as “devils” and he rejected integration in favour of segregation. His verbal attacks against White America became more and more bitter. Malcolm X became a national/international figure between 1959 and 1965.

Malcolm X knew all along that what he was saying and pushing for would be rejected by Washington and that his views would shock the white political power brokers in Washington and make the views of Martin Luther King seem far more acceptable. By rejecting Malcolm X, it is said that he made Washington accept the views of King

Accomplishments

Malcolm became an influential leader of the nation of Islam.

combined islam with black nationalism and sought to encourage disadvantage young blacks searching for confidence in segregated America.

Malcolm x popularized his ideas, particularly among the black youth, and laid the foundation for the black power movement of the late 1960 to 1970s

How did he die and what was the impact of his death?

On February 22nd 1965 Malcolm X and his body guards where walking through a crowd and suddenly they heard someone yell "N*gga get yo hands outta ma pocket!" He tried to calm the situation down but all of a sudden a man rushed towards him with a sawed off shotgun and shot him once in his chest. Then two other men charged towards him with semi automatic handguns and started firing. He was officially declared dead at 3:30 pm. His autopsy revealed that he had 21 bullet holes in his body

Citations

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-civil-rights-movement-in-america-1945-to-1968/malcolm-x/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm

http://malcolmx.com

http://www.biography.com/people/malcolm-x-9396195

The End

May 19th 1925 to February 22nd 1965