Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Malcolm Little, also known as Malcolm X was a great influence on the civil rights movement. Malcolm X, spoke on behalf of African Americans in the United States that believed in separation of blacks and whites. He devoted his entire life in attempt to give black people the rights they deserved.

Malcolm X was born May 19, 1925 in Omaha Nebraska the son of a black man named Earl Little who was a radical Baptist preacher, a supporter of Marcus Garvey, and a member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. It was a movement for people of African ancestry to retake Africa, and for the European colonial powers to leave it. Even though Malcolm loved his father, his earlier years seemed to not be influenced by his father’s beliefs. His father was killed when he was just 6 years old. He was hit on the head then thrown onto rail tracks to be cut in half, the police found it to be suicide rather than murder. Because it was suicide, his life insurance policy would not cover it. It was not uncommon for African Americans to be subject to unfair treatment by white police officers during the civil rights movement.

Malcolm had lost many friends and family members to white racists. He had five uncles, four of which were killed by white men. One of his uncles was lynched, a common procedure by the KKK in attempt to make an example of an African American to other African Americans. This began to generate Malcolm’s hate for the white man, but he stayed very affiliated with them the rest of his childhood. After his father’s death, Malcolm’s mother was sent to an insane asylum, so he was sent to live with a white family. He grew up living his life acting like a white boy rather than a black boy of his time. He attempted to fit in, but he could never gain complete acceptance by the whites kids. He later stated December of 1964 at a speech “I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don't believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn't want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I'm not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn't know how to return the treatment."(Web)In his later adolescence he became much of a criminal. He became an avid drug user and a frequent burglar. Ironically, during this time he found himself being mostly attracted to white women. He believed this was because it was taking from the white man what he cherished most.

It wasn’t until Malcolm was sent to prison that learned about the Muslim faith. His brother sent him letters about it and Malcolm took it and believed it all. It was lead by Elijah Muhammad who was believed to be a messenger of Allah. Like many members of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm changed his last name to X. This was because Muslims considered the last name given to them was a slave name, the name given to them by a white slave owner. After his