Malcolm X was an African American civil rights activist who fought for human rights and a more just and peaceful world. He had a difficult childhood after his father died and his mother had a breakdown. As a young man, he became involved in criminal activities but later converted to Islam and became a leader advocating for black rights and empowerment. He was assassinated in 1965 at the age of 39 after receiving many threats and hate mail for his militant views and challenges to the racial status quo.