Malcolm X

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his controversial advocacy for the rights of blacks; some consider him a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans, while others accused him of preaching racism and violence.

Early Life

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalism. Earl's civil rights activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black Legion, forcing the family to relocate twice before Malcolm's fourth birthday.

Career

Malcolm X was a prominent black nationalist leader who served as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam during the 1950s and 1960s. Due largely to his efforts, the Nation of Islam grew from a mere 400 members at the time he was released from prison in 1952 to 40,000 members by 1960.

Assassination

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was preparing to address the Organization of Afro-American Unity in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom when someone in the 400-person audience yelled, "Nigger! Get your hand outta my pocket!" As Malcolm X and his bodyguards tried to quell the disturbance, a man rushed forward and shot him once in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun and two other men charged the stage firing semi-automatic handguns. Malcolm X was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm, shortly after arriving at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Legacy

Malcolm X is often considered one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. His militant views that Western nations were inherently racist and that black people must join together to build their own society and value system had a strong influence on black nationalist and black separatist movements of the 1960s and 1970s.

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Nation of Islam
• Black Nationalism
• Organization of Afro-American Unity