by Mark Lugris
Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcom X became a tireless advocate for civil rights. The son of Louise Norton Little, the mother of eight children, and, Earl Little, an outspoken Baptist minister and civil rights activist, Malcom grew up in an environment of racism and fear which culminated in the death of Malcolm's father at the hands of Black Legion, a white supremacist organization in 1929 in Lansing, Michigan.
Malcolm was a good student, graduating from junior high at the top of his class, but he left school after a teacher told him that becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a nigger." He moved to Boston and then to Harlem, where he became involved in narcotics, prostitution and gambling rings. In 1946, he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years for burglary. In prison he renewed his interest in education and coverted to Islam.
Malcom X Quotes on Education
After being paroled in 1952, Malcolm denounced his surname, which he considered to be a slave name and adopted X, which represented his lost tribal name. Following the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm was enlisted to establish mosques in Detroit, Michigan and New York, increasing membership in the NOI from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
Malcom X Quotes on Prison
In 1963 Malcolm learned that Elijah Muhammad was having relations with six women in the NOI and had fathered several children. This blow to Malcolm's faith resulted in his leaving the NOI in 1964 and his pilgrimage to Mecca, which changed his life and his outlook. He returned to the United States with new optimism and a new message for all races.
Malcolm X Quotes on Acceptance
On February 21, 1965 in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom three gunmen from the NOI shot Malcolm X 15 times. He was 39 years old. Malcolm X was survived by his loving wife Betty Shabazz, and their children Attallah, Qubilah, Ilyasah, Gamilah, Mallak and Malikah. His life has been immortalized in print and on film, but Malcolm's greatest legacy is his words. His wisdom is captured in the many Malcolm X quotes found on this site.
Malcolm X Quotes on Acceptance
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Malcolm X quotes (American black militant leader who articulated concepts of race pride and black nationalism in the early 1960s, 1925-1965)
