1960's: Malcolm X

Malcolm Little, known as Malcolm X (1925 - 1965), was an influential and prominent African-American leader and human rights activist during the 1960's who advocated the concepts of race pride and black nationalism. Malcolm X was a man of humble birth. He was born into an era of strong racial views and segregation between the black and white communities. While serving time in prison, Malcolm X joined the Nation of Islam that preached that the black man was better than the white, that the white man was the devil and although initially his leanings were that of non-violence, by 1964 he was advocating the raising of arms against the white man if they did not get equality.

Facts:
Fact 1: 
Malcolm Little, who would become known as Malcolm X, was born on May 19th 1925 during the 20th century which saw unbelievable changes in the world in science, space travel and innovations.

Fact 2: 
When Malcolm X dropped out of school he went to live with his older half-sister in Boston when he fell in with the local low life and began selling drugs.

Fact 3: 
In 1945 Malcolm X, together with four others were caught committing a series of burglaries and would be sentenced to ten years in prison served in Charlestown State Prison.

Fact 4: 
While serving his sentence Malcolm X became acquainted with John Bembry and never met a man like him, someone who was respected not because of violence but because of education.

Fact 5: 
Malcolm X began to read, voraciously, soaking up knowledge like a sponge. 

Fact 6: 
His siblings wrote to him often and frequently spoke of a relatively new religious movement, the Nation of Islam, in particular the return to Africa of descendants of slaves taken from their shores. 

Fact 7: 
On the advice of his brother Reginald, he stopped smoking and refused to eat pork.

Fact 8: 
With guidance from Elijah Muhammad, the leader of NOI, Malcolm X renounced his past, promised never again to engage in destructive activities and began to pray to Allah. He converted to Nation of Islam.

Fact 9: 
It would be in 1950 that he changed him name to Malcolm X, the X standing for the name white man had given him.

Fact 10: 
Once paroled in 1952 he quickly rose in the ranks of the Organization. He had a way with people that no other did and the ranks of the NOI swelled because of him. 

Fact 11: 
Malcolm X met Betty Sanders in 1955, by 1956 she had joined NOI and changed her name to Betty X and by 1958 they married. Together they had six daughters, the last two were twins born after the father’s death.

Fact 12: 
Already on the FBI’s watch-list he would be under constant surveillance by the New York City Police Department after an incident where an NOI member was attacked and severely beaten by the police.

Fact 13: 
In 1960 Malcolm X was invited to several functions given by United Nations General Assembly and met such people as Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Kenneth Kaunda of the Zambian African National Congress, Ahmed Secou Toure of Guinea and Fidel Castro of Cuba. 

Fact 14: 
The teachings of the Nation actually promoted racism, segregation, black supremacy and hatemongering towards white people. This was going totally against what the Civil Rights movement was in favor of.

Fact 15: 
The Civil Rights organization would come out against NOI and Malcolm X as irresponsible extremists.


Fact 16: Malcolm X eventually left the Nation of Islam and became a Sunni Muslim and began to speak out against the NOI. The NOI (Nation of Islam) assassinated him on February 19th, 1964. 

Fact 17:  His body was laid to rest in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. 

Influence & Legacy: 

Having started from very humble beginnings Malcolm X is credited with being of great influence on the African American people, in giving them a connection with their African heritages and raising their levels of self-esteem. He would also be responsible the large spread of Islam among the black communities across America.

Important Events of the 20th century and during the life of Malcolm X include: 

Mussolini dissolves parliament and becomes a dictator, the Great Depression, World War II and the Assassination of John F Kennedy.

Watch this Biography.com video. (3.42)