Malcolm XMalcolm X

1925-19651925-1965

Early Life Early Life

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska.19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska.

His mother, Louis Norton Little, Malcolm His mother, Louis Norton Little, Malcolm was on of the family's eight children.was on of the family's eight children.

His father, Earl Little, was a Baptist His father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister a supporter of Black Nationalist minister a supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garveryleader Marcus Garvery

In 1931 Malcolm’s father was found with In 1931 Malcolm’s father was found with his mutilated body lying across the town's his mutilated body lying across the town's trolley trackstrolley tracks

Early Life (con…)Early Life (con…)

His mom no able to deal with his father’s His mom no able to deal with his father’s death had an emotional breakdown and death had an emotional breakdown and was committed to a mental institution.was committed to a mental institution.

When that happened the children were When that happened the children were split up amongst various foster homes and split up amongst various foster homes and orphanages.orphanages.

EducationEducation

Malcolm was a vey Smart Child.Malcolm was a vey Smart Child. He was very focused student and even He was very focused student and even

graduated from junior high at the top of graduated from junior high at the top of his class. his class.

Malcolm's dream was always to become a Malcolm's dream was always to become a lawyer but his dream was crushed when lawyer but his dream was crushed when his teacher told him "no realistic goal for a his teacher told him "no realistic goal for a nigger”!nigger”!

Malcolm lost interest in school and Malcolm lost interest in school and dropped out after being told this. dropped out after being told this.

After Dropping Out After Dropping Out

Malcolm moved to Boston, Massachusetts Malcolm moved to Boston, Massachusetts working various odd jobs.working various odd jobs.

Then he went to Harlem, New York this Then he went to Harlem, New York this was where Malcolm committed many was where Malcolm committed many crimes. crimes.

In 1942 Malcolm was in deep with the In 1942 Malcolm was in deep with the wrong crowd he was coordinating various wrong crowd he was coordinating various narcotic, prostitution and gambling rings. narcotic, prostitution and gambling rings.

Then Malcolm moved back to Boston with Then Malcolm moved back to Boston with is friend “Shorty” . is friend “Shorty” .

Boston Boston

In Boston Malcolm and his friend convicted In Boston Malcolm and his friend convicted on burglary charges in 1946.on burglary charges in 1946.

He was sentenced to 7 years in prison. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison. During this time Malcolm Furthered his During this time Malcolm Furthered his

Education.Education. Malcolm's brother Reginald visited and Malcolm's brother Reginald visited and

discussed his recent conversion to the discussed his recent conversion to the Muslim religious organization the Nation of Muslim religious organization the Nation of Islam.Islam.

Boston (con...)Boston (con...)

When Malcolm Heard about this he was When Malcolm Heard about this he was very interested. very interested.

Causing Malcolm to study the teaching of Causing Malcolm to study the teaching of the Nation of Islam who’s at the times the Nation of Islam who’s at the times leader was Elijah Muhammad.leader was Elijah Muhammad.

In 1952, Malcolm was a devoted follower In 1952, Malcolm was a devoted follower with the new surname "X." He considered with the new surname "X." He considered "Little" a slave name and chose the "X" to "Little" a slave name and chose the "X" to signify his lost tribal name.signify his lost tribal name.

Nation Of Islam Nation Of Islam Elijah Muhammad also charged him with Elijah Muhammad also charged him with

establishing new mosques in cities such as establishing new mosques in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York.

Malcolm used newspaper columns, radio, Malcolm used newspaper columns, radio, and television to communicate the Nation and television to communicate the Nation of Islam's message across the U.S.of Islam's message across the U.S.

His charisma, attracted an astounding His charisma, attracted an astounding number of new members. Malcolm was number of new members. Malcolm was largely credited with increasing largely credited with increasing membership in the Nation of Islam from membership in the Nation of Islam from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.

Media Magnet Media Magnet Malcolm, became a media Magnet; Malcolm, became a media Magnet;

because of the controversy that because of the controversy that surrounded him. surrounded him.

The Hate That Hate Produced, that The Hate That Hate Produced, that explored fundamentals of the Nation of explored fundamentals of the Nation of Islam and Malcolm's emergence as one of Islam and Malcolm's emergence as one of its most important leaders. its most important leaders.

Malcolm was faced with the uncomfortable Malcolm was faced with the uncomfortable reality that his fame had eclipsed that of reality that his fame had eclipsed that of his mentor Elijah Muhammad.his mentor Elijah Muhammad.

End of The Nation of IslamEnd of The Nation of Islam Racial tensions ran increasingly high Racial tensions ran increasingly high

during the early 1960s. during the early 1960s. Malcolm's vivid personality had captured Malcolm's vivid personality had captured

the government's attention. the government's attention. As membership in the Nation of Islam As membership in the Nation of Islam

continued to grow, FBI agents infiltrated continued to grow, FBI agents infiltrated the organization and secretly placed bugs, the organization and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps and cameras surveillance wiretaps and cameras surveillance equipment to monitor the group's equipment to monitor the group's activities.activities.

End of The Nation of Islam (con)End of The Nation of Islam (con)

Malcolm's faith was dealt a crushing blow at the Malcolm's faith was dealt a crushing blow at the height of the civil rights movement in 1963. height of the civil rights movement in 1963.

Elijah Muhammad was secretly having relations Elijah Muhammad was secretly having relations with as many as six women in the Nation of Islam.with as many as six women in the Nation of Islam.

He was deeply hurt by the deception of He was deeply hurt by the deception of Muhammad, whom he had considered a prophet, Muhammad, whom he had considered a prophet, and felt guilty about the masses he had lead into and felt guilty about the masses he had lead into what he now felt was a fraudulent organization.what he now felt was a fraudulent organization.

TensionTension

Malcolm went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia.

He returned to the United States with a He returned to the United States with a new outlook on integration. This time, new outlook on integration. This time, instead of just preaching to African-instead of just preaching to African-Americans, he had a message for all races.Americans, he had a message for all races.

Relations between Malcolm and the Relations between Malcolm and the Nation of Islam had become volatile after Nation of Islam had become volatile after he renounced Elijah Muhammad. he renounced Elijah Muhammad.

Build up Build up

Informants working in the Nation of Islam Informants working in the Nation of Islam warned that Malcolm had been marked for warned that Malcolm had been marked for assassination.assassination.

After repeated attempts on his life, After repeated attempts on his life, Malcolm rarely traveled anywhere without Malcolm rarely traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14, 1965 the bodyguards. On February 14, 1965 the home where Malcolm, Betty and their four home where Malcolm, Betty and their four daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York was firebombed.was firebombed.

The EndThe End

At a speaking engagement in the At a speaking engagement in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965 three gunmen rushed February 21, 1965 three gunmen rushed Malcolm onstage and shot him 15 times at Malcolm onstage and shot him 15 times at close rangeclose range. .

Fifteen hundred people attended Fifteen hundred people attended Malcolm's funeral in Harlem at the Faith Malcolm's funeral in Harlem at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ on Temple Church of God in Christ on February 27, 1965.February 27, 1965.

Website Used Website Used

http://www.africawithin.com/malcolmhttp://www.africawithin.com/malcolmx/malcolm_bio.htmx/malcolm_bio.htm

http://www.brothermalcolm.net/http://www.brothermalcolm.net/