Malcolm X Activism

Black activism was thriving during the 1950s and 1960s due to leadership from many strong activists. One in particular that holds a special background goes by the name of Malcolm X. He was an African American leader and figure of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X’s birth name was Malcolm Little and he was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925 (Malcolm X.). During the time of Malcolm’s activism, America was chaotic. Other anti-war protests were occurring alongside the civil rights movements. Malcolm X stands out during this time because of his indefatigable efforts to make a change in the United States. From 1955 to 1965 was the civil rights movement and he wasn’t going to die without the world knowing what he believed needed change (Malcolm X.). Living
Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam. Once educating himself, Malcolm completely enthralled himself into a new lifestyle. This was the time in his life where he changed his surname from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. This was a custom of the NOI because it represented a person escaping from their slave-filled past and replacing their name with an ‘X’ (Malcolm X.). Wallace D. Fard founded the Nation of Islam in 1930. Fard is also the one who holds the connection to Islam. Followers of NOI believe like other Muslims, that Allah is the higher power and only power, but NOI has redefined some concepts of the Islamic religion as well. NOI has become one of the most well known organizations in black American history. The NOI offers multiple resources and programs to enrich African-Americans. The NOI’s first era of popularity was in the 1950’s during the time of the civil rights movements. The growth of the nation was the due to the leadership of Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm was a member from 1952-1964 and during his time the membership grew from 400 to around 300,000 ("Nation of Islam."). Malcolm met Elijah Muhammad in 1952 in Chicago, which instigated the start of creating temples in New York and other various locations on the east side of the United States. Continuing his own journey in the NOI, Malcolm began to mandate different rules in the nation to promote growth and
He was still a target to most members of the Nation and had been marked for assassination. They were various attacks on him and his family, for instance planting bombs and firebombing his home where his wife and six children resided. After these attacks, his enemies were still out for vengeance. Malcolm had just ended speaking at the Manhattan Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965, when three gunmen shot him on stage. He was rushed to the New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and was pronounced dead upon his arrival. Malcolm had a funeral service on February twenty seventh, 1965 at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ. Fifteen hundred people attended his funeral and buried Malcolm themselves. The three gunmen who shot him were all members of the Nation of Islam. All there were convicted of first-degree murder in 1966