Malcolm X had a difficult childhood, as his family faced racism and hostility from white communities. His father was killed and their home was burnt down by white supremacists. After struggling in school due to racism, Malcolm was incarcerated for several years, where he was introduced to the Nation of Islam. He rose to become the national spokesperson for the group, advocating for black empowerment and separation from white society. However, he later split from the Nation of Islam and adopted a more moderate philosophy of unity between all races. His former group assassinated him in 1965 for renouncing their teachings.

1. Malcolm X
Malcolm was raised by an outspoken
Baptist minister
Their house was burnt down
His father was ‘killed’
Both incidents viewed by police as

2. Malcolm X
• He worked well in school and decided to
become a lawyer
• A teacher told his that being a lawyer ‘was
not realistic for a black person’
• Malcolm lost interest in school and went
into petty crime, spending 7 years in jail.
• This is where he learnt about Nation of
Islam

3. Malcolm X
Early in life I learnt that if
you wanted something, you
had better make some noise’

4. Nation of Islam
• Malcolm X was a strong orator and he
was appointed national spokesman of
Nation of Islam
Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves
and achieving political, economic and social success.
• Membership had risen to 30,000 by
1963
• The media and the FBI become
interested in him
• The FBI infiltrated the movement

5. Nation of Islam
• Led by Elijah Muhammad
• Malcolm was taught that white society was
actively oppressing blacks, stopping them
Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves
and achieving political, economic and social success.
achieve social, economic and political
success.
• Nation of Islam wanted a separate state
• This was a very different stance from
Martin Luther King

6. Split with Nation of Islam
• Elijah Muhammad had several affairs
which went against the strict
teachings of the religion
Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves
and achieving political, economic and social success.
• Malcolm was extremely disappointed
with Elijah and left to found his own
organisation – Muslim Mosque
• He softened his approach and started
preaching to all races with the USA

7. Malcolm’s assassination
• The Nation of Islam tried on at least
two occasions to assassinate Malcolm
– without success
Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves
and achieving political, economic and social success.
• They succeeded in 1965, when he
shot 15 times at close range, which
speaking at an event.
• What is Malcolm’s legacy?

8. Quotes
"When a "When a person places the proper value
on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he
will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you
hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the
next breath he is going to tell you what he won't
do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in
order to get it, he doesn't believe in freedom. A
man who believes in freedom will do anything under

9. Quotes
"I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men,
but I don’t believe in brotherhood with
anybody who doesn’t want brotherhood
"I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don’t believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn’t want
brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I’m not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody
right who doesn’t know how to return the treatment."
with me. I believe in treating people right,
but I’m not going to waste my time trying
to treat somebody right who doesn’t know
how to return the treatment."