Malcolm X

Background Malcolm X was born on May 19 1925. Born Malcolm Little but he later changed his name to Malcolm X. Malcolm’s father, Earl was a minister. Before Malcolm was born the KKK came looking for his father and burned his house to the ground when they found him in east Lansing Michigan but he still survived. Two years after Malcolm was born his father was found murdered by the KKK. (later became his inspiration)

Nation of Islam In 1946 Malcolm X went to jail for burglary and received letters from his brother Reginald about the Nation of Islam. The Nation of Islam is a black Muslim organization committed to black uplift. When released from prison Malcolm X went to the Temple Number One where Elijah Muhammad was the minister. Converted to Muslim in prison In 1952 Malcolm was made assistant minister and was sent to Detroit to start a new temple by Muhammad.

Nation of Islam Wallace Fard founded the Nation of Islam in the 1930s. Christianity was the white man's religion, and was forced on African Americans during the slave experience. Believed Islam was closer to African roots and identity. Members of the Nation of Islam read the Koran, worship Allah as their God, and accept Muhammad as their chief prophet. Mixed with the religious tenets of Islam were black pride and black nationalism. The followers of Fard became known as Black Muslims.

Fight For Equality In 1958 Malcolm X married Betty X and over the next six years had four children. Began ministries in the big cities in the north - Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York F.B.I. would attend all of his speeches because they didn’t like how he preached about equality and figured fights would break out. Wanted - equal job opportunities, equal wages, equal educational opportunities, and day to day equality.

Fight For Equality Famous quote "By any means necessary." By this he meant that people should do whatever it takes to accomplish equality. The FBI feared this idea, though, because unlike Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jesse Jackson who encouraged only peaceful protests to fight for equality, Malcolm encouraged black people to fight for their rights "by any means necessary" and that sometimes included violence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=hhg6LxyTnY8&feature=fvwp

MLK Jr. & Malcolm X Martin Luther King Jr. preached of peaceful change and integration in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Malcolm X delivered a different message: whites were not to be trusted. He called on African Americans to be proud of their heritage and to set up strong communities without the help of white Americans. Promoted the establishment of a separate state for African Americans in which they could rely on themselves to provide solutions to their own problems. Violence was not the only answer, but violence was justified in self-defense. Blacks should achieve what was rightfully theirs "by any means necessary.“ Same goals, different ways. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kctEXjAeOKA

No More Nation of Islam Malcolm X described the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Nov. 22, 1963) as a "case of chickens coming home to roost“ an instance of the kind of violence that whites had long used against blacks. Malcolm was becoming very successful which brought jealousy among Muhammad In response to his comments on the Kennedy assassination, Muhammad suspended Malcolm from the movement. (left the group) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNIqAzQDvs0&feature=related

No More Nation of Islam On February 14, 1965, someone set fire to the X’s home. Malcolm and his family escaped out the back door unharmed. On February 21, 1965, he was to present a speech in Harlem. Growing hostility between Malcolm's followers and the rival Black Muslims clearly resulted in violence and threats against his life. When he began to speak three men from the Nation of Islam shot and killed Malcolm X. Three Black Muslims were convicted of the murder.

Timeline 1947-1952 Introduced to Islam, converts. 1952 Released from prison changes name to Malcolm X and joins Nation of Islam, becomes Assistant Minister of Nation of Islam's Detroit Temple. 1954 Promoted to Minister of Nation of Islam's New York Temple. Jan. 14, 1958 Marries Betty X 1959 Broadcast documentary "The Hate that Hate Produced" Dec. 4, 1963 Nation of Islam suspends Malcolm because of remarks responding to President John F. Kennedys assassination (quits)

1964 Breaks with Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam and founds the Muslim Mosque, Inc. Apr. 22, 1964 Makes pilgrimage to Mecca and recieves name El-Hajj Malik al-Shabazz Jun. 28, 1964 Forms the Organization of Afro-American Unity Aug. 13, 1964 U.S. State and Justice Departments take notice of his influence on African leaders at the U.N. Feb. 14, 1965 Malcolm X's home is firebombed. Feb 21, 1965 Assassinated while beginning a speech February 21 at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City