Interesting Facts About Malcolm X

Fiery, determined, and eloquent, Malcolm X inspired self-respect and pride in a generation of African-Americans frustrated by prejudice.
 
Born Malcolm Little, the seventh child of a Baptist minister, Malcolm grew up in Michigan. Although he was an above-average student, he drifted into crime after his father was murdered, probably by white supremacists. In 1946, Malcolm was convicted of burglary and sent to prison. There, he turned to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam (Black Muslims). Muhammad rejected white society and wanted to establish a separate nation for African-Americans. 

On his release from prison in 1952, Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and rose quickly within its ranks. But Malcolm's popularity and his charges of corruption within the organization led to a break with Muhammad. In 1964, during a pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm decided to concentrate on raising the economic standards of African-Americans. He founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity. "We are not fighting for integration, nor are we fighting for separation," he said. "We are fighting for recognition as free human beings in this society." Malcolm X was fatally shot in 1965 while giving a speech in Harlem in New York City. His life story, titled The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written with Alex Haley, was published after his death.

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