Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of Islam until 1964, he was a vocal advocate for Black empowerment and the promotion of Islam within the Black community.

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Malcolm X
By Jahid Khan Rahat
Nobody
Can give you
Freedom
Nobody
Can give you
Equity or justice
if you are a man
you take it
-Malcolm X-

2. Submitted to:
Dr. Ziaur Rahman
Associate Professor
Department of Business Administration- General
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)
Submitted by:
Jahid Khan Rahat
ID: 2123021047
MBA 21 Batch
Department of Business Administration- General
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)

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The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said to his followers:
“All humans are descended from Adam and Eve,” said Muhammad in his last known
public speech. “There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a non-Arab
over an Arab, and no superiority of a white person over a black person or of a black
person over a white person, except on the basis of personal piety and righteousness.”
(Source: The last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad)
This term paper is written using four colors: BLACK, RED, YELLOW and WHITE.
The Black and White color symbolizes the race war for which Malcolm X dedicated
his life, and the color Red symbolizes all the bloodshed that had to take place for
this war. Eventually, Yellow color is used for expressing leadership skill of the
Malcom X.

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Quranic Verses About Racism
1. Racism promotes abhorred arrogance and supremacy which characterized Iblis when he
refused to prostrate to Adam as commanded by God as in the Quran.
‫ين‬ِ‫ط‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ۥ‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬َ‫خ‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ار‬َّ‫ن‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬َ‫خ‬ ۖ ُ‫ه‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫ق‬
He (Iblis) replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.”
(Surah Sad, 38:76)
2. The Quran prohibits self-righteousness, while racism does not
ٓ‫ى‬َ‫ق‬َّ‫ت‬‫ٱ‬ ِ‫ن‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫م‬َ‫ل‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫ُو‬‫ه‬ ۖ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫س‬ُ‫ف‬‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ۟‫ا‬ ٓ‫و‬ُّ‫ك‬َ‫ز‬ُ‫ت‬ َ
‫َل‬َ‫ف‬
“So do not (falsely) elevate yourselves. He knows best who is (truly) righteous.”
(Surah An-Najm, 53:32)
3. The Quran prohibits looking down and insulting other ethnic groups while racism, on the
other hand, condones them.
‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ٓ‫ى‬َ‫س‬َ‫ع‬ ٍ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ق‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ٌ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ق‬ ْ‫َر‬‫خ‬ْ‫س‬َ‫ي‬ َ
‫َل‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ن‬َ‫م‬‫ا‬َ‫ء‬ َ‫ِين‬‫ذ‬َّ‫ٱل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ُّ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬ٓ‫ـ‬َ‫ي‬
َّ‫ن‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ٓ‫ى‬َ‫س‬َ‫ع‬ ٍ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬َ‫س‬ِ‫ن‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ٌ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬َ‫س‬ِ‫ن‬ َ
‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ن‬‫و‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ي‬
ِ ْ
‫ٱل‬ َ‫د‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ب‬ ُ‫ق‬‫و‬ُ‫س‬ُ‫ف‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ُ‫م‬ْ‫س‬ِ‫ِل‬‫ٱ‬ َ‫س‬ْ‫ئ‬ِ‫ب‬ ۖ ِ‫ب‬‫ـ‬َ‫ق‬ْ‫ل‬َ ْ
‫ٱْل‬ِ‫ب‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ز‬َ‫ب‬‫َا‬‫ن‬َ‫ت‬ َ
‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫س‬ُ‫ف‬‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ۟‫ا‬ ٓ‫و‬ُ‫ز‬ِ‫م‬ْ‫َل‬‫ت‬ َ
‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ ۖ َّ‫ن‬ُ‫ه‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬
ْ‫ب‬ُ‫ت‬َ‫ي‬ ْ‫م‬َّ‫ل‬ ‫ن‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ۚ ِ‫ن‬‫ـ‬َ‫م‬‫ي‬
ُ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬ َ‫ِك‬‫ئ‬ٓ‫ـ‬َ‫ل‬ ۟
‫و‬ُ‫أ‬َ‫ف‬
َ‫ون‬ُ‫م‬ِ‫ل‬‫ـ‬َّ‫ٱلظ‬
“O believers! Do not let some (men) ridicule others, they may be better than them, nor
let (some) women ridicule other women, they may be better than them. Do not defame
one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. How evil it is to act
rebelliously after having faith! And whoever does not repent, it is they who are the
wrongdoers.”
(Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:11)
(Source: muslim.sg)

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Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1
Malcolm X Stood Up for Black Women When Few Others Would.........................................................2
Early Life .......................................................................................................................................................5
Criminal Life..................................................................................................................................................7
Marriage Life and Family..............................................................................................................................9
Finding a New Meaning: Life in Prison ......................................................................................................10
Nation of Islam...........................................................................................................................................11
Enemies from within..................................................................................................................................16
A New Beginning: Birth of a True Leader ..................................................................................................18
Lost Light: An Abrupt Goodbye..................................................................................................................22
References .................................................................................................................................................25

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Introduction
Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent
figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of Islam until 1964, he was
a vocal advocate for Black empowerment and the promotion of Islam within the Black community.
A posthumous autobiography, on which he collaborated with Alex Haley, was published in 1965.
Malcolm spent his adolescence living in a series of foster homes or with relatives after his father's
death and his mother's hospitalization. He committed various crimes, being sentenced to 10 years
in prison in 1946 for larceny and burglary. In prison he joined the Nation of Islam and after his
parole in 1952 quickly became one of the organization's most influential leaders. He was the public
face of the organization for 12 years, advocating Black empowerment and separation of Black and
white Americans, and criticizing Martin Luther King Jr. and the mainstream civil rights movement
for its emphasis on nonviolence and racial integration. Malcolm X also expressed pride in some
of the Nation's social welfare achievements, such as its free drug rehabilitation program.
Throughout his life, beginning in the 1950s, Malcolm X was subjected to surveillance by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In the 1960s, Malcolm X began to grow disillusioned with the Nation of Islam, as well as with its
leader, Elijah Muhammad. He subsequently embraced Sunni Islam and the civil rights movement
after completing the Hajj to Mecca, and became known as "el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz". After a
brief period of travel across Africa, he publicly renounced the Nation of Islam and founded the
Islamic Muslim Mosque, Inc. (MMI) and the Pan-African Organization of Afro-American Unity
(OAAU). Throughout 1964, his conflict with the Nation of Islam intensified, and he was repeatedly
sent death threats. On February 21, 1965, he was assassinated in New York City. Three Nation
Basic Information
Date of Born May 19, 1925
Date of Died February 21, 1965
Born Name Malcolm Little
Later Name Malik el-Shabazz

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members were charged with the murder and given indeterminate life sentences; In 2021, two of
the convictions were vacated. Speculation about the assassination and whether it was conceived or
aided by leading or additional members of the Nation, or with law enforcement agencies, have
persisted for decades.
A controversial figure accused of preaching racism and violence, Malcolm X is also a widely
celebrated figure within African-American and Muslim American communities for his pursuit of
racial justice. He was posthumously honored with Malcolm X Day, on which he is commemorated
in various cities across the United States. Hundreds of streets and schools in the U.S. have been
renamed in his honor, while the Audubon Ballroom, the site of his assassination, was partly
redeveloped in 2005 to accommodate the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and
Educational Center.
Malcolm X Stood Up for Black Women When Few Others Would
“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The
most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most
neglected person in America is the Black woman.”
—Malcolm X

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On May 22, 1962, Malcolm X delivered a speech in Los Angeles, California, in which he spoke
to and about Black women. There, he gave one of his most-quoted statements about his observation
of what it means to be a Black woman in America. During this speech, he spoke to the negative
ways in which Black women are treated, and he called on us, Black women, to think deeply about
the harmful internalization of society’s loathing of who we are, particularly when it comes to our
natural appearance. “Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the
texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips?
Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet?” Malcolm
asked his audience. This remains not only a collection of potent Quotables but also a testament to
his commitment to the upliftment and empowerment of Black women.
“You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do
is to be an intelligent human being.”
—Malcolm X
Like many of his peers, Malcolm’s liberation words often focused on using the language of “man”
and “men,” which was standard at the time. This particular quotation, however, diverted from the
idea that men were to be the primary freedom fighters. No doubt, his enlightenment around

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women’s issues was heavily influenced by his brilliant wife, Betty, but in this statement, Malcolm
stood out from those who constantly harped on the Black man’s experiences with racism, and he
evolved from his own previous gendered commentary. This might not seem all that important, but
as a 21st-century Black feminist who is keenly aware of the erasure of women from Black
liberation history, it stands out to me as something worth noting.
When we speak of Malcolm X, we would be remiss if we don’t also acknowledge his complicated
legacy. Over the course of his life, Malcolm went through many life-changing events that shaped
his worldview; he lived through ups and downs from which he learned and grew, like most of us
do, and it’s important to note this when we discuss his life and work. What he experienced, from
growing up exposed to violent acts of White supremacist terrorism to being incarcerated after
engaging in criminal activities, endeared him to so many people. What he learned from his
experiences made him the empathetic, relatable leader that people came to love and respect. He
seemed real and less like an unapproachable icon or untouchable demigod, as some national and
global leaders have been regarded throughout history.
“Concerning nonviolence, it is
criminal to teach a man not to
defend himself when he is the
constant victim of brutal attacks.”
- Malcolm X
This is a story of one man who went from a small, petty criminal to becoming a global voice
against racism. He is misunderstood as someone who preached hate and violence against white
people. Because of that his memory is often censored in today’s history. He is one of the most
prominent Muslim leaders in modern history and a symbol of Black liberation, who has inspired
generations. He was a gangster, a preacher, and a revolutionary leader.
This is the extraordinary journey of Malcolm X.

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Early Life
Born as Malcom Little to Earl Little and Louise Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha Nebraska. His
father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister and an outspoken follower of Marcus Gravey, who was
a Black Nationalist leader. While growing up his parent always taught him all about the history of
slavery, and the importance of rising above their circumstances. During that time Gravey spoke
for equal rights and supported a “Back to Africa” movement for all African Americans. Due to his
father support for the desegregation between white and black people and the involvement with the
Back to Africa movement, they were threatened by the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremist group
that believes white people are superior to all other races and were constantly on the move just to
stay alive. From an early age Malcom experienced the brutality of racism at first hand. Early Life
Malcolm X After moving to Lansing, Michigan in an all-white neighborhood their land was taken,
and their house was burned down, and they did not receive any support from the law. Instead after
filing a report his father, Earl Little, was arrested for arson, with the police saying that he burned
down the house for insurance money.

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In 1931 when Malcolm was six years old, his father Earl Little was mysteriously murdered.
Officially this incident was ruled as a “Streetcar Accident,” although it was quite evident to the
family members that Earl had ultimately been murdered by the Black Legion, an offshoot of the
KKK.
Malcolm X said in his autobiography: “The police took my mother to the hospital, and to a room
where a sheet was over my father in a bed, and she wouldn’t look, she was afraid to look…. My
father’s skull, on one side, was crushed in, and his body was cut almost in half.”
(Malcolm X 20) (Source: The Autobiography of Malcolm X)
Being a Black single mother, in a time of hate and racism and discrimination had a huge toll on
his mother. As could not find a job and just to support her seven children she was forced to sell
many of her assets rent off their land but there was never enough money to go by. However, society
was not done being cruel; at the age of 13 Malcolm’s mother was admitted to a mental institution
and all his siblings were split up and sent to different foster homes.
Despite all of these setbacks Malcolm X did very well in school. He received good grades and was
elected as the class president. He was intelligent, charismatic and had a passion for public speaking.
However, when his English teacher Mr. Oatrowaki asked him about his ambition Malcom said he
wanted to be a lawyer as there was no Black lawyer in Lansing, Michigan, instead of supporting
him his teacher told him that it was not possible for him and he is better off doing carpentry.
Malcolm X Mr. Ostrowski said: “Malcolm, one of life’s first needs is for us to be realistic. Don’t
misunderstand me, now…. A lawyer – that’s no realistic goal for a nigger…. Why don’t you
plan on carpentry?”
(Source: The Autobiography of Malcolm X)
This was the first major turning point in Malcolm X’s life. Having literally no one to support him,
his dream of becoming more than an African American was shattered. Soon after that Malcolm
was charged with delinquency and was even sent to a juvenile detention home. At the age of fifteen
he dropped out of school.

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Criminal Life
After dropping out, Malcolm started to live with his sister in Boston, Massachusetts. He began to
work as a shoeshine boy, a busboy, a waiter, and a dishwasher. He still had to face a lot of racism,
which encouraged him to visit the Black ghetto of Roxbury, an area where mostly the minority
lived. There he was introduced to the so-called Black Streetlife. He began to wear flashy clothes
and got involved in gambling, pimping, selling drugs and burglary, and other criminal activities.
As he got more involved with illegal activities, he could no longer stay with his sister, so in 1942,
Malcolm moved to New York City's Harlem Criminal Life Malcolm X neighborhood. He got a
job doing dishes at a restaurant, and with the help of his charismatic personality, he made a lot of
friends of all races.
Based on stereotypes, white men began to approach him for drugs and other substances. However,
this time Malcolm decided that instead of rebelling, he should take advantage of the situation. He
quickly adapted to New York Streetlife and became known as Detroit Red. In New York, Malcolm
also met his best friend, who also shared his first name, Malcolm Jarvis. The two of them were
partners in crime. They used to go to jazz clubs at night to sell drugs and performed other criminal
activities. For a while, they were making a lot of money and having the time of their lives. In 1949,
both Malcolms were dating two white, rich girls whom they met at a nightclub. These girls

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convinced them that they wanted their relationship to be like Bonnie and Clyde, who were an
American criminal couple that traveled the Central United States during the Great Depression. The
rich girls would inform the boys when their neighbors were out so they could go and steal from
those houses. Although, this did not last long and when the group was caught, it caused a major
outrage in the courts not because of burglary but because of their mixed races. No one in the court
could believe that two rich white girls would partake in such activities, especially with two Black
males. Due to such prejudice of the court, the girls could easily lie and blamed everything the boys.
Both Malcolm’s were only 20years at the time, and they received the maximum sentence of 10
years in prison.
Malcolm X may have a deservedly mixed reputation, but the famous photograph of him standing
at the window, rifle in hand, insisting on black liberation “by any means necessary,” is about as
American as it gets. It should be celebrated just like the “Don’t tread on me” Gadsden flag. By not
making that connection, the movement is losing touch with one of its greatest triumphs and
forsaking a prime illustration of why its cause is so just and so crucial.
If you’re looking for a model of public engagement, it’s hard to do
worse than “by any means necessary.”
-The slogan of Malcom X
Malcolm X spoke the phrase “by any means necessary” in a speech announcing the creation of a
new organization after he left the Nation of Islam. A larger quote helps fill in the context:
That’s our motto. We want freedom by any means necessary. We want justice by any means
necessary. We want equality by any means necessary. We don’t feel that in 1964, living in a
country that is supposedly based upon freedom, and supposedly the leader of the free world, we
don’t think that we should have to sit around and wait for some segregationist congressmen and
senators and a President from Texas in Washington, D. C., to make up their minds that our people
are due now some degree of civil rights. No, we want it now or we don’t think anybody should
have it.

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Marriage Life and Family
In 1955, Betty Sanders met Malcolm X after one of his lectures, then again at a dinner party; soon
she was regularly attending his lectures. In 1956, she joined the Nation of Islam, changing her
name to Betty X. One-on-one dates were contrary to the Nation's teachings, so the couple courted
at social events with dozens or hundreds of others, and Malcolm X made a point of inviting her on
the frequent group visits he led to New York City's museums and libraries.
Malcolm X proposed during a telephone call from Detroit in January 1958, and they married two
days later. They had six daughters: Attallah (b. 1958; Arabic for "gift of God"; perhaps named
after Attila the Hun); Qubilah (b. 1960, named after Kublai Khan); Ilyasah (b. 1962, named after
Elijah Muhammad); Gamilah Lumumba (b. 1964, named after Gamal Abdel Nasser and Patrice
Lumumba); and twins Malikah (1965–2021) and Malaak (b. 1965 after their father's death, and
named in his honor).

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Finding a New Meaning: Life in Prison
When Malcolm went to prison, he saw many innocent Black African American being falsely
locked up for crimes they did not commit. All these men have turned to God as their salvation and
escape from reality. Malcolm did not believe in God and this enraged him very much. He yelled
at other inmates saying that they were stupid to believe in God. He said that God only cared for
the white people and had abandoned Black people.
“If there truly was a God, he wouldn’t let black people suffer like this.”
-Malcolm X
An older inmate, John Bembry, could see that Malcolm was very angry and in a lot of pain as he
could no longer accept reality. So, he advised Malcolm that if he could not escape reality he should
turn to books because it could help transport his mind from the harsh reality to his imagination.
Malcolm was surprised initially but took Membry’s advice and began to read every book in the
prison library. For the first time in his life, he got to know about the great works of Shakespeare,
Socrates and all of the famous writers. Reading books helped him to understand the world and
what meant to be a leader; it gave a new meaning or opened a new chapter in his life.

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Nation of Islam
After spending a few years in prison, Malcolm’s brother, Reginald, visited him and told him about
the Black Muslim, a religious organization. The Black Muslims were an Islamic organization
whose official name was the Nation of Islam, under their leader Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm was
surprised to know that this organization preached that the Black was the superior race. Malcolm
told his brother that he did not believe in God regardless his brother sent him a book written by
Elijah Muhammad. Elijah Muhammad said that the Black people are already going through their
version of hell on Earth in that book. The teaching of the Nation of Islam was like Middle- Eastern
Islam, but Elijah Muhammad preached that the white people were the mortal enemy, and the Black
race was the actual superior race. Elijah Muhammad encouraged the Black people to educate
themselves and be proud of their skin color. Malcolm was immediately hooked as he and his
sibling were also taught the same things by their parents when they were younger. Therefore,
Malcolm decided to give The Nation of Islam a try, so he started to grow a beard and refused to
smoke, drink, or eat pork. His drastic changes made the prison guards suspicious, and they tried to
stop him, but Malcolm, according to the teachings of the Nation of Islam, decided that he would
no longer be submissive. Malcolm wrote to the governor that being a citizen, he should be given

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the freedom to choose his religion, which was later granted to him. A part of Elijah Muhammad’s
teaching was to take pride in being an African American, and so Malcolm dropped his last name
“Little” as it was given to his ancestors by their slave owner. He had no idea of his family’s real
African tribal name, so he decided the letter “X” to be his last name. The “X” represented the
missing family history, and that has been stolen from him.
“For me, my X replaced the white slave master name of Little which
some blue-eyed devil named Little had imposed on my paternal
forebears”
- Malcolm X
(Source: The Autobiography of Malcolm X)
After becoming Malcolm X, Malcolm began copying words from the dictionary and developed a
comprehensive sense of vocabulary that would help him to become a passionate and compelling
public speaker. He started a debate team in prison where men would go and listen to him speak.
He became such an extraordinary speaker that people were convinced to join the Nation of Islam,
and they began to pray together. The prison guards became wearier of him, and they thought that
Malcolm had too much influence, and if he is given liberty, he will start a race war. The prison
warden notified the FBI, and Malcolm was placed on the FBI’s watch list.
In 1952 six years after being arrested, Malcolm was released from prison. He went to Chicago,
Illinois, to meet Elijah Muhammad. There he officially accepted Islam and became a minister for
the Nation of Islam in Detroit, Michigan.
Malcolm was so excellent in his speeches that he was given the position of “National Spokesman.”
After Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam, the organization grew from 500 members in 1952 to
over 30,000 members by 1963. Malcolm told Black people not to compare themselves with white
people and encouraged them to open their business so that Black people do not have to be
dependent on white people. For the first time in American history, African American businesses
sprang up; there were barbershops, butchers, restaurants, and clothing stores owned by Black
people.

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At that time around, there was a major movement for racial integration. There are famous leaders
like Martin Luther King Jr and other leaders who were preaching bringing the races together
towards equality and peace. However, Malcolm X believed that all the civil rights gains made in
America amounted to almost nothing. He criticized all those who preached non-violence methods
and called for self-defense in the face of white violence.
“If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six
inches, there's no progress. If you pull it all the way out that's not
progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And
they haven't even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound.
They won't even admit the knife is there.
- Malcolm X
(Source: The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X)
Malcolm met a young student nurse named Betty Sanders in New York. They fell in love and got
married in 1958. Betty joined the Nation of Islam and became Betty Shabazz. The couple went
on to have six daughters together.
As Malcolm had an ideology of standing up against injustice towards Black people, he formed a
fraternity group called “The Fruit of Islam”. These men were like a private militia. They were
always clean-cut and wore a brand-new suit with pride. They were all members of The Nation of
Islam and were taught never to use violence unless in self-defense. The times were so bad that
peaceful protesters were beaten down by the police and chased off by dogs, and so Malcolm
believed that if they need to get things done, they have to be prepared to stand up and fight when
it's necessary. Therefore, the fruit of Islam was taught never to start a fight, but at the same time,
they should not accept a beating without fighting back.

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On April 26th, 1957, a member of The Nation of Islam, Johnson X Hinton, was taking his suits
out of his car in front of the Muslim temple in New York City just like any other day when the
police wrongly accused him of stealing the suits. When Johnson tried to explain, the police beat
him with heavy clubs and detained him in the police station without giving him any medical
attention. When Malcolm heard about the incident, he rushed to the police station and demanded
to see Johnson. The police denied that there was someone named Johnson in lockup and told
Malcolm to leave. Malcolm told them to look out of the window. When the police saw the rally, it
frightened them; they saw a massive group of men wearing a crisp suit, sunglasses standing out on
the streets. The police finally allowed Malcolm to see Johnson and allowed him to take Johnson
to the hospital. The militia followed then to the hospital, and when it was confirmed that Johnson
would survive, Malcolm waved his hand, and the militia dispersed. Such power and influence of
one Black man terrified the NYPD, and they began to keep Malcolm under close observation.
“We are harassed. We are exploited. We are downtrodden. We are
denied not only civil rights but also human rights. So, they only way
we are going to get such professed exploitation away from us is come
together against the common enemy.”
-Malcolm X
(Source: The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X)

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In 1962 an almost identical situation happened all over again. A man named; Ronald Stokes was
taking the dry cleaning out of a car in front of a mosque when the police accused him of stealing
the suits. When Stokes tried to explain himself, the police began shooting him, and Stokes died on
the spot. Upon witnessing the incident, 11 men rushed outside and tried to stop the police, but they
were all arrested and accused of being part of a so-called "Mob". Even in the local newspaper, it
was reported that this was a "Muslim Mob Riot" and the police were only there to stop the people
from causing "Collateral Damage" and safeguarding the interests of the "Citizens." In court, the
police officer who shot Stokes, admitted that he knew Stokes was unarmed but claimed that Stokes
menacingly raised his hands and this was enough for the jury to be convinced of the officer's
innocence and he was set free without charges. In addition to that, the 11 members who tried to
stop the police were sentenced to jail for assaulting a police officer.
After witnessing this incident, Malcolm understood that this is much bigger than the Nation of
Islam and it needs national support, so he called upon all Black people to come together regardless
of their religion to fight, to be united and to stand against such brutality.

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Enemies from within
For years, Malcolm X became the face of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm was spreading the
teachings of Elijah Muhammad, but it was Malcolm who the people looked up to. Even the white
supremist became fearful of Malcolm’s message of Black Supremacy.
Elijah Muhammad hardly did any work and Malcolm used to visit him every month to give him
money for his monthly expenses. In addition, there were many sexual allegations against Elijah
Muhammad which was only demeaning his picture as the Head of the Nation of Islam. There was
even a rumor which Malcolm X himself later on confirmed that Elijah Muhammad had 8 children
with 6 different secretaries.
As the Black Muslim movement reached its peak, some members of the Nation of Islam felt that
Malcolm was getting too influential and powerful in the community. They wanted to oust Malcolm
from the organization. Some followers say it was because Malcolm wanted to convert the
organization from a religious organization into a political organization, while other say it was due
to personal jealousy.

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On December 1st, 1963, Malcolm X demeaned the assassination of President John F, Kennedy by
saying that it was bound to happen and was due to the climate of hate that President Kennedy was
building. This comment shocked both his followers and other citizens of America.
“The chickens from your barnyard will return to your barnyard not
your neighbor’s barnyard. I think this is the prime example of the
devil’ s chicken coming back home to roost. And Being an old farm
boy myself, chickens coming home to roost never did make me sad;
they’ve always made me glad”
- Malcolm X
(Source: The New York Times, The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X)
Soon afterwards Elijah Muhammad suspended Malcolm and ordered him not to speak to the media
for ninety days. Many believed that this was done to overturn Malcolm from the organization due
to conflicting opinions about Malcolm within the organization. Malcolm did not leave The Nation
of Islam right away, but he began to distance himself from the organization. He started to focus
more on the civil rights movement preaching people that the people need to stand up and support
one another if they want to get the recognition that they deserve.

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A New Beginning: Birth of a True Leader
After distancing himself from the Nation of Islam, Malcolm found that he struggled with his
Muslim faith, so he decided to perform Hajj, a Muslim pilgrimage, and went to Mecca in Saudi
Arabia in early 1964. There he was shocked to see people of all races standing beside one another,
making their pilgrimage together. Malcolm finally understood what true Islam was like. Elijah
Muhammad taught people that the white people were evil and mortal enemies of Blacks. However,
after performing Hajj, Malcolm realized that brotherhood among the human race was possible.
“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”
-Malcolm X

24. Page | 19
“ When I was in on the pilgrimage I had close contact with Muslims
whose skin within America would be classified as white and with
Muslims who themselves would be classified as white in America, but
these particular Muslims didn’t call themselves as white. They looked
upon themselves as human beings, as part of the human family and
therefore they looked upon all other segments of the human family as
part of the same family.”
- Malcolm X
(Source: Malcolm X- Return From Mecca Interview - May 21, 1964)

25. Page | 20
After performing Hajj Malcolm X changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and gave up the
radical views taught by The Nation of Islam and converted to Sunni Islam, which originated from
the Middle East.
Malcolm spent additional three weeks traveling around countries in Africa, meeting officials, and
speaking on radio and television across the continent. In Cairo, Malcolm went to a meeting with
the Organization of African Unity, where he met Africa’s most high- profile leaders, including
Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, and Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria. He
also met with Fidel Castro and was the first African American leader to meet the newly created
Palestine Liberation Organization.
When Malcolm returned to the United States, he was a completely changed man. He no longer
preached that white men were devils, which he previously did, and said that all races should come
together to live in peace. He changed his opinion about Martin Luther King Jr and believed that
King was not preaching a pipe dream. On March 8th, 1964, Malcolm officially announced that he
was leaving the Nation of Islam. After leaving The Nation of Islam, Malcolm exposed all the
corruption that he had kept a secret before leaving the Nation of Islam. He compared the religion
to a mafia crime ring that he no longer wanted to be apart of. Therefore, if anyone wanted to follow

26. Page | 21
him, he was starting his group called Muslim Mosque Inc. Malcolm’s actions posed a considerable
threat to Elijah Muhammad’s livelihood. Malcolm’s received several death threats from the Nation
of Islam and communities, but he kept moving forward with his new aim to bring peace to all
nations.
Interviwer: “Are you not parhaps afraid of what might happen to you
as a result of making these revelations?”
Malcolm X: “Oh yes I probably am a dead man already”
(Source: Malcolm X on Front Page Challenge, 1965: CBC Archives)
Malcolm soon became an international diplomat and traveled to 14 African countries where he
met 11 head of state. He wanted to discuss the treatment of African Americans and the human
rights issue they were facing in America. Malcolm encouraged the United Nations to step in to
help Black people in the United States since the American government was not doing enough to
support the rights of the Black community.
“It remained a domestic problem, It has remained within the
jurisdiction of the United States and as such. It has been impossible
for the Afro-Americans, or American negroes to try and enlist the
support of other dark- skinned people who are being oppressed the
world in that struggle. And the only way this can be done is by
internationalizing the problem.”
-Malcolm X
(Source: Malcolm X- Return from Mecca Interview - May 21, 1964)

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Lost Light: An Abrupt Goodbye
The FBI and the CIA were always following Malcolm X wherever he went. His family was
threatened and was receiving harassing phone calls on a daily basis. Malcolm’s car was bombed,
but when he survived, his house was burnt down, where his wife and daughter nearly died. FBI
surveillance records show that law enforcement was aware that groups within the Nation were
openly discussing his death. Elijah Muhammad told Boston minister Louis Farrakhan that
hypocrites like Malcolm should have their heads cut off.
On February 21st, 1965, Malcolm X was giving a speech in New York City when a member of the
Nation of Islam shot him in the chest at close range with a sawed-off shotgun, and two other men
fired semi-automatic handguns. He had 21-gun shots on his body and so at the age of 39, Malcolm
X died.
“It has always been my belief that I, too, will die by violence. I have
done all that I can to be prepared.”
- Malcolm X
(Source: The Autobiography of Malcolm X)

28. Page | 23
Malcolm X was only starting his new goal of attempting to change the lives of African Americans,
and sadly there is no way of knowing how much he would have achieved. Unlike many leaders,
Malcolm X never stood still; he was always evolving, always making himself better, and always
pursuing truth. Before his death, Malcolm admitted that he had made a mistake by preaching hate
against white people and was ready to go with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement.
If Malcolm X was still alive today, there was no telling how much he could have accomplished.
However, even in his short time, he inspired many African Americans to be proud of the skin color
and never feel disadvantaged because of it. No matter what religion a person might be, they can
still find inspiration from listening to his speeches. Lastly, whether everyone agrees or not, there
is so much in American society that would have never existed without the influence of Malcolm
X.

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References
1. X, M., & Haley, A. (1992). The autobiography of Malcolm X. New York:
Ballantine Books.
2. Tuck, S. (2013). Malcolm X's Visit to Oxford University: U.S. Civil Rights,
Black Britain, and the Special Relationship on Race. The American
Historical Review, 118(1), 76-103. doi: 10.1093/ahr/118.1.76
3. Hassan, M. (2020). Malcolm X’s The Autobiography and US Race
Relations. Literature At Portsmouth.
4. Malcolm X. (2020). Retrieved 2 November 2020, from 0
5. Malcolm X. (2020). Retrieved 2 November 2020, from
https://www.biography.com/activist/malcolm-x
6. CBS, Smithsonian Channel. (2018). The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X [Film].