Malcolm X Research Papers

Biography of Malcolm X On May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm Little was born to Reverend Earl and Louise Little. Rev. Little, who believed in self-determination and worked for the unity of black people. Malcolm was raised in a background of ethnic awareness and dignity, but violence was sparked by white racists trying to stop black people such as Rev. Little from preaching the black cause.

Other Muslims thought Malcolm was getting to powerful. One example of the conflicts Malcolm's power caused involved the leader of the Muslim Nation, Elijah Muhammed. Elijah Muhammed was said to have fathered two young women's children. Malcolm went to talk to the women. The women told Malcolm that Elijah always talked behind Malcolm's back, saying bad things. Malcolm's faith was shattered. He was with the Black Muslim religion for twelve years. He decided to try to take, and make his own Islam religion. Muhammed found out about this, and said that Malcolm could not preach for 90 days.

Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Both of his parents were proclaimed pan africanist and followers of black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. There were also very active in the Universal Negro Improvement Association. When Malcolm was 6 years old, his father was killed by members of a white supremacist group called the Black Legion, mainly because of him involvement with UNIA and his commitment to pan-africanism and the advancement of colored people, which was highly frowned upon during that time. When he was 13 years old, his mother was admitted into a mental health facility after suffering a nervous breakdown. Consequently, Malcolm and his 10 siblings were separated and sent to various foster homes.

With Malcolm's imprisonment ended the acceptance of the ghetto hustler and gangster life. In prison Malcolm had to find a new place to turn for acceptance. As his father did, Malcolm turned to religion. The religion he turned to, The Nation of Islam or more commonly known as the Black Muslims, were a group of African Americans who believed, among other things, that whites were the roots of evil. Malcolm became immersed in his religion. It seeped into every part of his life. "For the next years I was the nearest thing to a hermit in the Norfolk Prison Colony. I have never been more busy in my life" (173). Malcolm wrote many letters to family and friends about his new found faith and , most importantly, he found the acceptance he longed for with the teachings of Mr. Muhammad. This acceptance gave him purpose and after his release Malcolm became one of the foremost representatives of the Nation of Islam.

It would be the time spent in prison that would transform Malcolm and change him from a career criminal to the activist he would later be known as. He visited the prison library and read books on religion, philosophy, and history. He read and copied the entire dictionary acquiring the skills that would make him a powerful public speaker. He dedicated his time in prison to his own personal development and through his brother Reginald learned of the organization known as the Nation of Islam or the Black Muslims. The Nation of Islam is an Islamic religious organization founded by its leader Elijah Muhammad which promoted Black separatism from whites culturally, physically, politically and psychologically. Malcolm began to follow the preachings of Muhammad and practiced the religion devoutly, giving up drug use, alcohol consumption, as well as eating pork.

    In grade school, Malcolm’s life was far from a childhood of fun and learning. He was the only African American child in his class, causing him to feel out of place and alone. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, a common question that most children reply with astronaut or superhero, he replied simply, a lawyer. This is a realistic and attainable occupation, yet his white teacher seemed to believe it was an absurd answer considering Malcolm’s race. The teacher then replied that maybe he should dream of becoming a carpenter instead. In 1931, his father’s body was discovered lying across streetcar tracks. Although Malcolm X 's family believed his father was murdered by white supremacists from whom he had received frequent death threats, the police officially ruled Earl Little 's

Three of the men arrested were later identified as members of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X had a profound influence on both blacks and whites. Many blacks responded to a feeling that he was a man of the people, experienced in the ways of the street rather than the pulpit or the college

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His father

He was sentenced to 8 years in Massachusetts State Prison. His education had come to an abrupt halt due to his life of crime. In jail, Malcolm used his sentence to gain a Master’s degree. Malcolm’s brother visited and discussed his recent conversion to the Nation of Islam, a Black nationalist organisation which used Islam to deal with the hardships of White supremacy in North America. Curious to find out more, Malcolm studied the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm underwent a transformation in prison. He learnt the value of knowledge; Malcolm famously said “education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare it for

Malcolm was arrested on January 12, 1946, and convicted of burglary, carrying an illegal firearm, and larceny (Crime and Investigation 1). He was sent to Charlestown State Prison for 8-10 years. While there, he joined the Nation of Islam. He began exchanging letters frequently with Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam’s leader, and changed his name to Malcolm X. He stated the “X” symbolized his lost tribal name, and that he was destroying the surname “Little” that his ancestor’s slave-owners had imposed on his family.

Despite his dismal upbringing, Malcolm was able to graduate from his junior high school at the top of his class. He was aspiring to become a lawyer, but after one of his teachers told him that trying to be one was, "no realistic goal for a nigger", he decided that school was not for him and moved to Boston for awhile and made a living working a number of jobs, none of which were permanent. Eventually he would find himself working as a waiter at a restaurant called Small's Paradise in Harlem, New York. It was at this time that Malcolm Little began using and then selling drugs and even committing burglary. In 1946 he would be arrested for burglary and sentenced to ten years in prison. It was during his stay at the Charlestown, Mass. Prison that he would make maybe the most significant change of his life. Malcolm would begin studying the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of a small cult-like Islamic group that called themselves the Nation of Islam, he also began to study the Koran (the Islamic holy book). It was during these long years in prison that Malcolm was able to educate himself fully and came to the conclusion that he wanted to join Elijah and the Nation of Islam and fight for equality between blacks and whites.

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska as Malcolm Little to parents Earl and Louise Little. The Littles moved to Lansing, Michigan when Malcolm was an infant due to threats the family received from the Klu Klux Klan. This was because Reverend Earl Little was an early follower of Marcus Garvey, who preached black independance and self-respect (Altman, 197). Reverend Little died when Malcolm was only six years old after being hit by a streetcar. Malcolm always believed that this was a hate crime committed by whites. Many speculate that this is what originally caused Malcolm to distrust whites. Malcolm’s mother, Louise Little, was committed to the State Mental Hospital in Kalamazoo in 1939. Her exact illness is unknown (Mamiya).

Malcolm X was born on May 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was originally named Malcolm little and his Muslim name was el-Hajj Malik el- Shabazz. He was an African American leader who became ideological hero among black youth after The Autobiography of Malcolm X was published. Throughout his life he had to go through many ups and downs. His father passed away when Malcolm was Six years old, family became extremely poor. Malcolm’s mother was the only one who could work and make money for her kids, later she was committed to an insane asylum. Malcolm and his siblings were sent to foster homes. As he was growing up he was getting into stuff that he shouldn’t be doing. He became a drug dealer and ended up in prison for robbery. This is where he decided

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Born into a large family, the family did not have a lot of money. So they moved to Milwaukee in 1926 and then to Lansing in 1928. Malcolm, growing up in a family with many brothers and sisters, lost his father at the young age of six after he was hit by a car. Malcolm would go on to live in

In his book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm faced with adversity from the beginning of his life. Malcolm was born May 19th, 1925, during times of extreme racial violence and harsh discrimination . His family moved to Lansing, Michigan to avoid the persecution of local white groups, but they could not escape racial injustice. White supremacists burned Malcolm’s family home and murdered his father. Overcome with grief, Malcolm’s mother was confined to a mental hospital. Malcolm was then given to foster parents. He felt out of