Malcolm X was an influential African American activist and Muslim leader during the civil rights movement. He advocated for black empowerment and founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc. after leaving the Nation of Islam. His pilgrimage to Mecca broadened his views on race and he began advocating for human rights for all. He was assassinated in 1965 by members of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X's legacy continues to inspire those fighting for social justice.

1. MALCOLM X

2. Who was Malcolm X?
Malcolm X was an African-American Muslim
and human rights activist. He was a prominent
figure during the civil rights movement. He was
also a spokesman for the Nation of Islam until
1964. He advocated for empowerment in the
black community and later all Muslims.

3. A Brief Biography
• Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska.
His father was murdered when he was still a young child. As a
result of this trauma, Malcolm's mother was admitted into a
mental institution. The Little children were divided into foster
homes and orphanages.
• As a teenager, Malcolm moved to Boston to live with his
stepsister. Malcolm became involved in crime and gangs. In
1946, Malcolm was arrested on burglary charges. While
in prison, Malcolm began to study Islam after his brother
Reginald discussed his recent conversion to Islam and the
religious organization called the Nation of Islam with him.
Malcolm became Muslim and studied the teachings of the Nation
of Islam's leader Elijah Muhammad. The Nation of Islam worked
towards the empowerment of African-Americans. Additionally,
Elijah Muhammad considered himself a Prophet.

4. The Nation of Islam
• Malcolm changed his surname to "X" as "Little" was a slave
name. When Malcolm was paroled in 1952 he was a devoted
follower of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm quickly became involved
with the Nation and soon became their Minister and spokesman.
Elijah Muhammad appointed Malcolm special tasks, such as
establishing mosques in cities including Detroit and New York.
By 1963, Malcolm helped the Nation grow from 500 followers to
30 000.
• Soon, Malcolm became a known individual. He was invited for
interviews and television specials which he attended. Malcolm's
fame began to increase to the point that his popularity began to
surpass that of Elijah Muhammad. In addition, Malcolm's
activism and publicity caught the eye of the government. The
FBI was sent to infiltrate the Nation. They planted bugs,
cameras, and mics to monitor the Nation's activities.

5. Leaving the Nation of
Islam
• In 1963, Malcolm found out that his leader Elijah Muhammad
was secretly having relations with several women in the
organization. Elijah Muhammad had up to six relations with
women of which some resulted in children. Malcolm strictly
adhered to the laws of Islam one of which included
remaining celibate until marriage.
• In 1964, Malcolm left the Nation of Islam. He found his
own organization called the Muslim Mosque, Inc. Malcolm
went to perform the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca soon after.
This trip proved to be life changing for Malcolm. He saw the
true unity and brotherhood of Islam. He saw people
worldwide gathering in one place with one goal. There
were people of all races and of every shade gathered for
God to perform the pilgrimage. This changed Malcolm's
perception and gave him a different outlook on his beliefs.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

6. The Return Home
• Malcolm made the journey back to America with a new mission.
He would speak to all walks of life rather than only the African-
American community.
• After leaving the Nation of Islam, relations between Malcolm and
the Nation became tense. FBI agents within the Nation
had informed officials that Malcolm had become flagged for
assassination.
• Many attempts were made to harm Malcolm and his family.
Malcolm would not travel without guards as it was too
dangerous. On February 14, 1965, Malcolm's home in New York
was bombed. Malcolm was able to escape unharmed along
with his wife and four daughters.

7. The Final Attack
• On February 21, 1965, Macolm was scheduled to speak at
Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom. Three gunmen rushed
Malcolm on to the stage and shot him 15 times at close range.
His wife and daughters were present during the brutal murder.
Malcolm, 39-years-old at the time, was pronounced dead
upon arrival to the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
• Malcolm's assassins were all members of the Nation of Islam.
In 1966, Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler, and
Thomas 15X Johnson were all convicted of murder of the first
degree.
• Malcolm was buried by his friends at the Ferncliff Cemetery in
New York.

8. The Change in Perspective
• Malcolm's perspective changed when he was introduced to the
Nation of Islam. The Nation of Islam promoted independence in
the African-American community. After Malcolm performed
pilgrimage in Mecca, he saw the brotherhood of Muslims. There
were all races and skin colors collected to perform Hajj. He
realized that the Nation of Islam was not entirely following the
guidelines of Islam. This brought change to Malcolm's mission.
He then shifted his focus from the African-American community
to all walks of life.

9. A Few Quotes
• “I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't
believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who
doesn't want to practice it with me. Brotherhood is a
two-way street.”
• “Human rights are something you were born with.
Human rights are your God-given rights. Human
rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations
of this earth. And any time anyone violates your
human rights, you can take them to the world court.”
• “I have more respect for a man who lets me know
where he stands, even if he's wrong, than the one
who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a
devil.”

10. Malcolm's Legacy
• Malcolm's efforts are still recognized today. Many individuals in
the Muslim community are influenced by Malcolm's journey.
Many African American people are also inspired by Malcolm's
legacy although they may not be Muslim themselves.
• Malcolm X became a voice for all. He identified the problems
pertaining to his people in the American system and raised
awareness. To this day, African American people are still fighting
the justice system. Influential individuals like Malcolm X are
still impacting society generations later.