1. Why was the Selma march different to other civil rights marches?
Malcolm X
Lesson Starter:
Why was the Selma march different to other civil rights marches?

2. Learning Intentions Today we will: Identify who Malcolm X was.
Explain his importance as part of the civil rights movement.

3. Civil Rights Questions
Was the gains made by non-violent protest worth the injuries and deaths?
The aims of the campaign in the South had been met, should the campaign end?
Racism and discrimination in the North had not been challenged, should this be the next step?
Should the movement become violent?

4. Split MLK had focused on the South – new leaders in the North emerged.
Many Black Americans were tired of seeing the violence being used against their Black brothers and sisters.

5. Malcolm X Born Malcolm Little.
Father followed Marcus Garvey’s philosophy.
Father killed by KKK when Malcolm was 6.

6. Nation of Islam
Completely rejected integration ideas of people like MLK.
Malcolm became a member of the Black Muslims (Nation of Islam) and changed his name to Malcolm X.
The “X” was to represent his real African name that had been stolen by slave owners who bought his ancestors.

7. Malcolm X disagreed with MLK:
“The goal of Dr King is to give Negroes a chance to sit in a segregated restaurant beside the same White folks who have persecuted, beaten and lynched Black people for years. Dr King seems to want Black people to forgive the people who have beaten, bought, sold and lynched for four hundred years.”

8. Malcolm as a Threat
Malcolm promoted the idea of a separate nation for Black Americans.
The language used by the group was much more aggressive than other civil rights groups.
The FBI considered Malcolm to be a threat. Riots had occurred in LA and the government thought they might spread.
His phone was bugged and his conversations were recorded.

9. Departure
Malcolm left the Nation of Islam in 1963 after disagreements with the groups leader Elijah Muhammad.
After travelling to Mecca in 1964, Malcolm changed his attitude to White people.

10. When he returned to the USA he said…
“In a few weeks in Africa I saw all races, all colours, blue-eyed blondes to Black-skinned Africans in true brotherhood…I now know that some Whites are truly sincere and are capable of being brotherly towards a Black man.”

11. Assassination
Feb 14th 1965 – Malcolm’s home firebombed by Muhammad’s followers.
Feb 21st 1965 – Malcolm is murdered by three members of the Nation of Islam. His bodyguards who were usually with him day and night were nowhere to be seen.