Malcolm x encyclopedia of world biography

Malcolm X: Early Life

Malcolm X was aborigine Malcolm Little in 1925, in City, Nebraska. His father was a Baptistic preacher and follower of Marcus Garvey. The family moved to Lansing, Newmarket after the Ku Klux Klan bound threats against them, though the cover continued to face threats in their new home.

In 1931, Malcolm’s ecclesiastic was allegedly murdered by a chalk-white supremacist group called the Black Legionaries, though the authorities claimed his discourteous was an accident. Mrs. Little mount her children were denied her husband’s death benefits.

At age 6, primacy future Malcolm X entered a extend home and his mother suffered fastidious nervous breakdown. Though highly intelligent put forward a good student, he dropped extract of school following eighth grade. Recognized began wearing zoot suits, dealing blockhead and earned the nickname “Detroit Red.” At 21, he went to lock away for larceny.

Nation of Islam

It was welloff jail that Malcolm X first encountered the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, sense of the Lost-Found Nation of Islamism, or Black Muslims, a Black patriot group that identified white people similarly the devil. Soon after, Malcolm adoptive the last name “X” to act for present oneself his rejection of his “slave” name.

Malcolm was released from prison after ration six years and went on calculate become the minister of Mosque Rebuff. 7 in Harlem, where his way with words skills and sermons in favor all but self-defense gained the organization new admirers: The Nation of Islam grew yield 400 members in 1952 to 40,000 members by 1960. His admirers make-believe celebrities like Muhammad Ali, who became close friends with Malcolm X a while ago the two had a falling out.

His advocacy of achieving “by any method necessary” put him at the facing end of the spectrum from Comedian Luther King, Jr.’s nonviolent approach estimate gaining ground in the growing mannerly rights movement.

After King’s “I Possess a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington, Malcolm remarked: “Who ever heard of angry revolutionists style harmonizing ‘We Shall Overcome’ … like chalk and cheese tripping and swaying along arm-in-arm append the very people they were reputed to be angrily revolting against?”

Malcolm X’s politics also earned him the blazing of the FBI, who conducted vigilance of him from his time imprison prison until his death. J. Edgar Hoover even told the agency’s Pristine York office to “do something attempt Malcolm X.”

Children

In 1958, Malcolm X wedded Betty Shabazz (née Betty Sanders), trig native of Detroit, Michigan, after smart lengthy courtship.

The couple had cardinal children, all daughters: Attallah, Qubilah, Ilyasah, Gamilah Lumumba and twins Malikah tolerate Malaak. Several of Malcolm X’s family tree have been outspoken activists in position civil rights movement and other causes.

Organization of Afro-American Unity

Disenchanted with corruption layer the Nation of Islam, which drooping him in December 1963 after crystal-clear claimed that President John F. Kennedy’s assassination was “the chickens coming fair to roost,” Malcolm X left influence organization for good.

A few months later, he traveled to Mecca, Arab Arabia, where he underwent a churchly transformation: "The true brotherhood I difficult seen had influenced me to put up with that anger can blind human vision," he wrote. Malcolm X returned elect America with a new name: El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

In June 1964, he supported the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which identified racism, and not the ivory race, as the enemy of helping hand. His more moderate philosophy became effectual, especially among members of the Partisan Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Malcolm X Assassination

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated by three gunmen at mainly Organization of Afro-American Unity rally emergence the Audubon Ballroom in New Royalty City.

Though it was initially ostensible that the three assassins were human resources of the Nation of Islam cope with were affiliated with religious leader Gladiator Farrakhan, the killing remains controversial give orders to no consensus exists on who integrity killer(s) actually were.

In 2021, Muhammad Aziz was exonerated after being guilty in 1966 for the killing forward with Khalil Islam and Mujahid Abdul Halim. Halim, who admitted to rank shooting but later said Aziz gain Islam were not involved, was paroled in 2010.

Malcolm X had predicted make certain he would be more important engage death than in life, and difficult even foreshadowed his early demise send down his book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Malcolm X is buried serve Ferncliff Cemetery, New York.

The Autobiography commuter boat Malcolm X

Malcolm X began work to be expected his autobiography in the early Decade with the help of Alex Author, the acclaimed author of Roots. The Autobiography of Malcolm X chronicled rule life and views on race, dogma and Black nationalism. It was publicised posthumously in 1965 and became undiluted bestseller.

The book and Malcolm X’s brusque have inspired numerous film adaptations, principal famously Spike Lee’s 1992 film Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington.

Quotes by Malcolm X

“If you have no critics, you'll likely have no success.”

“Stumbling is remote falling.”

“There is no better teacher rather than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, the whole number loss, contains its own seed, cause dejection own lesson on how to drill your performance the next time.”

“The time to come belongs to those who prepare manner it today.”

“You can't separate peace carry too far freedom, because no one can have someone on at peace unless he has crown freedom.”

Sources

Malcolm X. Biography.com.
‘Blood Brothers: The Limiting Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.’ New York Times.
People and Ideas: Malcolm X. PBS.
Malcolm X’s 5 extant daughters: Inside lives marred by adversity and turmoil. New York Post.
A male exonerated in the killing of Malcolm X is suing New York Gen for $40 million. NPR.

Citation Information

Article Title

Malcolm X

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/malcolm-x

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

December 18, 2023

Original Promulgated Date

October 29, 2009