From TheBestLinks.com
Malcolm X (pronounced Malcolm Exx, May 19, 1925 - February 21, 1965 -- also: Malcolm Little, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, and Omowale) was a spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, and founder of both the Muslim Mosque, Inc and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was assassinated in February 1965. During his life, X was one of the most prominent militant black nationalist leaders in the United States.
Early years
He was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. His father Earl, an outspoken Baptist minister and supporter of Marcus Garvey, was murdered in Lansing, Michigan in 1931.
Malcolm later dropped out of high school, and moved to Boston to live with a half-sister. He found work as a shoeshiner at a Lindy Hop nightclub; in his autobiography, he says that he once shined the shoes of Duke Ellington and other notable black musicians. After some time, he moved to Harlem, New York, where he became involved in drug dealing, gambling, prostitution, racketeering, and robbery (referred to collectively by Malcolm as "hustling"); he also faked insanity in order to avoid the World War II draft. Little was arrested for burglary in 1946 and sentenced to ten years in prison (he was paroled after seven).
Later years
Prison
Malcolm was arrested on January 12, 1946 at the age of 20 and sentenced to eight to ten years in prison on charges of breaking and entering, carrying firearms, and larceny. He earned the nickname Satan in the Charlestown State Prison for his constant cursing, especially of God and the Bible.
In 1948, his family converted him to Islam. He studied the teachings of Elijah Muhammad diligently and began to expand his intellect. His sister Ella helped to transfer him to the lower-security prison colony in Norfolk, Massachusetts where he became an avid reader and found justification for the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam in history and philosophy. He participated in the Colony's weekly debates. He copied an entire dictionary from the Colony's library to expand his knowledge and to improve his handwriting.
His first contact with Elijah Muhammad was in prison, where he corresponded with Muhammad by mail. As he progressed in his self-education, he began to write to the leader daily.
After his release from prison on August 7, 1952, he bought a suitcase, eyeglasses, and a watch, later saying that these were the items he used most in his later life.
Nation of Islam
In 1952, after his release from prison, Malcolm went to meet Elijah Muhammad in Chicago. It is here that he received the iconic "X".
In 1953, Malcolm left his half-sister Ella in Boston to stay with Elijah Muhammad in Chicago. He soon returned to Boston and became the Minister of the Nation of Islam's Temple Number Eleven.
His active membership in the Nation led to him opening several temples around the country, of which he often became Minister. His rousing, incendiary and inspirational speeches and spotless personal example led to the ranks of the Nation of Islam burgeoning. He was soon seen as the number two man in the movement, next to Elijah Muhammad himself.
As Malcolm worked tirelessly for the Nation of Islam, he was increasingly exposed to rumours of Elijah Muhammad's extra-marital affairs with young secretaries. Adultery is severely shunned in the teachings of the Nation. Although this news unsettled Malcolm, he often brushed it aside. But soon he investigated these allegations and saw that they were true, and they were eventually affirmed by Elijah Muhammad himself, who claimed that it was legitimate for him as he was the messenger of God. Despite being unsatisfied with the excuses, and being disenchanted by other ministers using Nation of Islam funds to line their own pockets, Malcolm's faith in Elijah Muhammad did not waver.
By 1963, tension in the Nation of Islam grew to a boiling point. Elijah Muhammad was jealous of Malcolm's popularity (as were several other senior ministers). Malcolm watched the March on Washington critically, unable to understand why black people were excited over a demonstration "run by whites in front of a statue of a president who has been dead for a hundred years and who didn't like us when he was alive." Later in the year, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Malcolm delivered a speech as he regularly would. However, when asked to comment upon the asssassination, he replied that it was a case of "chickens coming home to roost" -- that the violence that JFK had failed and at times refused to reign in had come around to claim his life. This comment led to widespread public outcry and led to the Nation of Islam publicly censuring Malcolm X. He was banned from speaking for six months, effectively a suspension order. Malcolm obeyed and kept quiet.
In 1964, Malcolm started collaborating on the now legendary Autobiography of Malcolm X with Alex Haley. He also publicly announced his break from the Nation of Islam, and founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. At this point, Malcolm still adhered to the teachings of the Nation of Islam. In April, he made the famous Ballot or the Bullet speech.
Malcolm was in contact with several orthodox Muslims, who encouraged him to learn about orthodox Islam. He soon converted to orthodox Islam, and as a result decided to perform Hajj.
Hajj
In the spring of 1964, Malcolm made the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The trip proved life-altering. The fellowship he witnessed between Muslims of all races shattered his long-held belief that such communion was impossible. He returned to the United States as a convert to orthodox Islam (and with a new name - El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) and founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity preaching a new interracial acceptance in addition to his belief in black nationalism.
Life magazine published a famous photograph of Malcolm X holding an M1 Carbine and pulling back the curtains to peer out of a window. This photograph is a popular image on T-shirts and often appears with the slogan "By any means necessary." The photo was taken in connection with Malcolm's declaration that he would defend himself from the daily death threats which he and his family were receiving.
Death and afterwards
Tensions increased between Malcolm and the Nation of Islam. Orders were given by the Nation members to kill Malcolm. On February 14, 1965 his home in New York was firebombed by the Nation of Islam, but Malcolm and his family survived.
A week later on February 21, in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm had just begun delivering a speech when a disturbance broke out in the crowd of 400. A man yelled, "Get your hands off my pockets! Don't be messin' with my pockets!" As Malcolm's bodyguards rushed forward to attend to the disturbance, a black man rushed forward and shot Malcolm in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun. Two other men quickly charged towards the stage and fired handguns at Malcolm.
Malcolm X was buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Three people were arrested for his murder: Nation of Islam members Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler, and Thomas 15X Johnson. All three were convicted of first-degree murder in March 1966. An FBI memo uncovered during the COINTELPRO investigations, however, takes credit for creating the factional dispute that led to Malcolm X's assassination. The exact role of the FBI in his death has never been made clear although it is known that at least one of Malcolm's bodyguards was an undercover NYPD police officer reporting back to the FBI. Hayer himself appears to be the only man guilty of the assassination; he later gave the names of the other assassins as Albert Thomas, Leon Davis, William Bradley, and Wilbur McKinley.
Despite his change of view, he was most remembered for his anti-racist speeches, which were emulated by other black nationalist organizations such as the Black Panthers.
Biographies
The Autobiography of Malcolm X ( ISBN 0345350685 ) was written by Alex Haley between 1964 and 1965, based on interviews conducted shortly before Malcolm's death (and with an epilogue for after it), and was published in 1972. The book was named by Time magazine as one of the 10 most important nonfiction books of the 20th century.
The film Malcolm X was released in 1992, directed by Spike Lee. Based on the autobiography, it starred Denzel Washington as Malcolm with Angela Bassett as Betty and Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad.
External links
ar:مالكوم اكس
de:Malcolm X
ja:マルコムX
Related links
Top visited
0 of
0 links
[no links posted yet]
>> place link >>
Discussion
Last posted
0 of
0 messages
[no messages posted yet]
>> post message >>
Watch
You can
add this article to your own "watchlist" and receive e-mail notification about all changes in this page.
