Malcolm X Biography

Malcolm X was an influential and controversial figure in the American

civil rights movements of the 1960s. He preached a radical philosophy of
racial equality.
Let the government know that if they dont stop the Klan,
well stop it ourselves.. by any means necessary Now.. the
press calls us racist and people who are violent in reverse
Well, if a criminal comes around your house with his gun,
brother.. it doesnt make you a robber because you grab
your gun and run him out.

Malcolm Little was

born in Omaha,
Nebraska, May 19,
1925. His father
was a Baptist preacher and staunch supporter of Marcus Garvey a
radical exponent of black rights. Later, Malcolms father was murdered
by locals.
As a youngster he was shocked when he told his teacher he wished to
become a lawyer. His teacher responded.
Lawyer, thats no realistic goal for a nigger Why dont you plan on
carpentry?
Malcolm says after that his attitude to the white establishment soured.
As a teenager, Malcolm became heavily involved in selling drugs in

Harlems criminal world. He was often on the run from the police and at
age 21 he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years at Charlestown State
prison. He gained a nickname Satan for his anti-religious attitude.
However, during his time in prison he become increasingly receptive to
the message of Islam brought to him by his brother Reginald.
On release from prison he become closely involved with the Nation of
Islam under Elijah Muhammad. Possessing great skills of oratory and
persuasion, Malcolm X was made ministry of the Nation of Islams New
York Temple.
The Nation of Islam became an important faction in the civil rights
movement. They were more militant than the non-violent civil rights
movement and were often criticised for being unpatriotic.
Malcolm X said On being American.
Sitting at the table [with nothing to eat] doesnt make you
a diner. Being here in America doesnt make you an
American
In 1963, Malcolm X split from the Nation of Islam after revelations of the
leader Elijah Muhammad having fathered children with former
secretaries. His split created great animosity and he received many
threats in the next few years.
It is incorrect to classify the revolt of the Negroes as simply
a racial conflict of black against white.. Rather we are today
seeing a global rebellion of the oppressed against the
oppressor, the exploited against the exploited
Malcolm X
He made a pilgrimage to Mecca and travelled around the world becoming
an international celebrity. He was struck by the evidence of greater
interracial harmony in the rest of the world.
On February, 21, 1965 he was assassinated in New York, by rival Black
Muslims though there remains controversy over who his real killer was.
Malcolm X, undoubtedly had a powerful impact on influencing American
society and attitudes to race. He was instrumental in forging the
movement of black power and radicalism that departed from the more
non-violent approach of Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X briefly meet in 1964 before going to
listen to a Senate debate about civil rights in Washington.
(image Wikicommons)

Malcolm X was an influential and controversial figure in the American

civil rights movements of the 1960s. He preached a radical philosophy of
racial equality.
Let the government know that if they dont stop the Klan,
well stop it ourselves.. by any means necessary Now.. the
press calls us racist and people who are violent in reverse
Well, if a criminal comes around your house with his gun,
brother.. it doesnt make you a robber because you grab
your gun and run him out.

Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925. His father
was a Baptist preacher and staunch supporter of Marcus Garvey a
radical exponent of black rights. Later, Malcolms father was murdered
by locals.
As a youngster he was shocked when he told his teacher he wished to
become a lawyer. His teacher responded.
Lawyer, thats no realistic goal for a nigger Why dont you plan on
carpentry?
Malcolm says after that his attitude to the white establishment soured.
As a teenager, Malcolm became heavily involved in selling drugs in
Harlems criminal world. He was often on the run from the police and at
age 21 he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years at Charlestown State
prison. He gained a nickname Satan for his anti-religious attitude.
However, during his time in prison he become increasingly receptive to
the message of Islam brought to him by his brother Reginald.
On release from prison he become closely involved with the Nation of
Islam under Elijah Muhammad. Possessing great skills of oratory and
persuasion, Malcolm X was made ministry of the Nation of Islams New
York Temple.

The Nation of Islam became an important faction in the civil rights

movement. They were more militant than the non-violent civil rights
movement and were often criticised for being unpatriotic.
Malcolm X said On being American.
Sitting at the table [with nothing to eat] doesnt make you
a diner. Being here in America doesnt make you an
American
In 1963, Malcolm X split from the Nation of Islam after revelations of the
leader Elijah Muhammad having fathered children with former
secretaries. His split created great animosity and he received many
threats in the next few years.
It is incorrect to classify the revolt of the Negroes as simply
a racial conflict of black against white.. Rather we are today
seeing a global rebellion of the oppressed against the
oppressor, the exploited against the exploited
Malcolm X
He made a pilgrimage to Mecca and travelled around the world becoming
an international celebrity. He was struck by the evidence of greater
interracial harmony in the rest of the world.
On February, 21, 1965 he was assassinated in New York, by rival Black
Muslims though there remains controversy over who his real killer was.
Malcolm X, undoubtedly had a powerful impact on influencing American
society and attitudes to race. He was instrumental in forging the
movement of black power and radicalism that departed from the more
non-violent approach of Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X briefly meet in 1964 before going to
listen to a Senate debate about civil rights in Washington.