Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father was a Baptist minister and his family faced racism, as their house was burned down by a white supremacist group. His father was later murdered, causing his mother's mental breakdown. Malcolm was then sent to a juvenile home. He later moved to Boston and got involved in crime, being arrested in 1945. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and converted to Islam, changing his name to Malcolm X. He became one of the organization's most influential leaders, but later had a religious conversion on a pilgrimage to Mecca and left the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father was a Baptist minister and his family faced racism, as their house was burned down by a white supremacist group. His father was later murdered, causing his mother's mental breakdown. Malcolm was then sent to a juvenile home. He later moved to Boston and got involved in crime, being arrested in 1945. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and converted to Islam, changing his name to Malcolm X. He became one of the organization's most influential leaders, but later had a religious conversion on a pilgrimage to Mecca and left the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father was a Baptist minister and his family faced racism, as their house was burned down by a white supremacist group. His father was later murdered, causing his mother's mental breakdown. Malcolm was then sent to a juvenile home. He later moved to Boston and got involved in crime, being arrested in 1945. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and converted to Islam, changing his name to Malcolm X. He became one of the organization's most influential leaders, but later had a religious conversion on a pilgrimage to Mecca and left the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. His father was a Baptist minister and his family faced racism, as their house was burned down by a white supremacist group. His father was later murdered, causing his mother's mental breakdown. Malcolm was then sent to a juvenile home. He later moved to Boston and got involved in crime, being arrested in 1945. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and converted to Islam, changing his name to Malcolm X. He became one of the organization's most influential leaders, but later had a religious conversion on a pilgrimage to Mecca and left the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam.
Early Life Malcolm Little was born in a small home in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was Reverend Earl Little and his mother Louise Little. Earl Little was a baptist minister who would travel around town to preach at secret meetings.
One of Malcolms most vivid
childhood memories was waking up to screaming chaos. His house was burning down around him. The family ran out into the lawn and cried as they watched their house burn by the hands of the Black Legion, a white supremacist hate group. When the white police and firefighters arrived, they did nothing but look as the Little house turned into ash.
"I remember snatched
awake into a frightening confusion of pistol shots and shouting and smoke and flames" (Haley 5).
Earl and Louise Little
This would not be the only
tragedy the family would experience at the hands of the white man. In 1931, Earl Little was found dead on the towns trolley tracks. He had been beaten over the head multiple times before being tied to the tracks and left to be run over.
This incident sent Malcolm
s mother spiraling into insanity and eventually led to her admittance to a mental hospital. Malcolm was then sent to live in a juvenile home in Mason, Michigan. Here, he attended Mason High School, where he thrived. He was the top of his class, and his class president.
One day, his English teacher asked him what he
wanted to be. He answered a lawyer. His English teacher responded to this by telling him to be more realistic, and that there were many good positions open in carpentry. This event made Malcolm restless with his current situation, and he wanted out. He then went to live with his half sister, Ella, in Boston, an event that would open his eyes to a whole new world.
In Boston, Malcolm met
Malcolm Shorty Jarvis. Shorty hooked him up with his first job, shining shoes at the Roseland State Ballroom. He hopped around from job to job, until he found himself in Harlem working as a server on a train. With a solid job, Malcolm went to live in a house run by prostitutes.
After referring a military agent
to a prostitute, Malcolm was fired from his job as a server. This is the beginning of his life as a drug hustler. He went around selling marijuana, and later cocaine to New York musicians, constantly moving to avoid being arrested. In 1945, his luck ran out, and Malcolm was arrested with charges of burglary. Little did he know then, going to prison would inspire one of the most important transitions in his life.
While in the Concord Reformatory,
Malcolm's younger brother Reginald visited him, and told him of his conversion to the Muslim religion. Malcolm was intrigued by the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, and decided to join the Nation of Islam (NOI). Doing this had a cleansing effect on Malcolm, and it inspired him to recover from his days of hustling, and educate himself. He read up on as many subjects as he could, and learned to reason and speak publicly.
Malcolm was released in 1952 after
serving only seven years. After he was released, he started meeting with Elijah Muhammad and gaining respect in the NOI. After extensive training, Elijah sendt Malcolm to Boston to establish a temple. He then goes on to minister at temples in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. With his new fame, Malcolm is faced with the awkward reality that his fame has surpassed that of his mentors. He traveled to the Middle East and Africa, tuning in on his African ancestry. This is also the time he changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X.
The trips Malcolm took to the
Middle East were eye opening to him. Going to Mecca and taking part in the Hajj changed his life. He realized that people of all colors and backgrounds could agree and work together, as opposed to his past self who often preached violence and believed that integration could never be achieved. This was a major turning point in Malcolms life, as he realized that he didnt agree with the morales of the Nation of Islam.
In January of 1958, Malcolm
married Sister Betty X, who was working as a nurse. He proposed to her spontaneously through a payphone call. Together, they had five children.
Shes the only one I would
trust with my life
In 1964, Malcolm left the
Nation of Islam. He discovered that Elijah Muhammad, someone whom he had always looked up to, had committed adultery. He had had relationships with at least six female members and some had even resulted in children. Malcolm was torn and angered. He decided to start his own organization, Muslim Mosque, Inc.
Malcolm is one of history
s greatest public speakers. He debated with Martin Luther King Jr., and made speeches promoting self-love and standing up for the equality of the AfroAmerican people. Time magazine named him one of the most in demand public speakers of his time.
Malcolms strong opinions made
him an obvious target for violence. Malcolm was assassinated on February 21, 1965, just a week after his house was firebombed. He was shot by rival members of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm left an important legacy behind, and continues to inspire people today.
The Legacy of Malcolm X
Malcolm X left a permanent impact on the American people. He embodies the idea of self examination, something we can all learn from. His words still inspire many of us today. His story will never be forgotten.
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.
-Malcolm X
Works Cited Book: X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print. Images: "Photographs." Malcolm X. Jay Studios, 2015. Web. Oct. 2015. <http://malcolmx.com/photographs/ >. "Malcolm X Kidding around with Muhammad Ali, New York, 1963." Rare Historical Photos. N.p., 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Oct. 2015. < http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/malcolm-xkidding-around-muhammad-ali-new-york-1963/ >. Scapiro, Rich. "Malcolm Xs Assassin Living in Plain Sight in Newark: Author." NY Daily News. N.p., 15 Feb. 2015. Web. 5 Oct. 2015. <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyccrime/malcolm-x-assassination-mystery-article-1.2115843
