Links
I am going to give a full
and detailed account of the life story of Malcolm X. I have researched
his life extensively and I know that just as I am, you will be fascinated
by the accomplishments and the achievements that he has in his life. There
are many different things that he has done in his life, from the time that
he was named Malcolm Little, to after he had experienced the Hajj, and
changed his name to Malcolm X. All of these events are included in this
page and everything in-between.
Links
Malcolm
links site
This site gives a lot of different
information. It is largely about how there is an organization backing Malcolm
X and all about what they believe. There are many very good links that
are given in this site. This site is better to get other sites out of it
than to use it for research. It will lead you to many good sites.
The
time line of his life
This site is good for information.
It does give the best and most in-depth Timeline that I have been able
to find. There are many very detailed events that most sites don't contain.
It is very good. I would highly suggest this site.
The
story of Malcolm's life
This site has many different
outlooks and opinions, as well as a fairly detailed showing of the life
that he lead, and the causes that he fought for. This site is not particularly
great, but is one of a few sites that contains information on Malcolm X.
All the rest of the site, just tells you how to obtain information.
Another
good story of his life
This is another fairly decent
account of his life. It is not particularly well written, but does show
what it is trying to get across. It is just not done in the best way that
it could have been done. It contains all of the information, but is just
not very well laid out and written.
1946
Sentenced to 8-10 years for armed robbery; served 6 1/2 years at Charlestown,
MA State Prison
1948-49
Converted to the Nation of Islam while in prison.
1953
Changed name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X and became Assistant Minister
of Nation of Islam's Detroit
Temple.
1954
Promoted to Minister of Nation of Islam's New York Temple
1958
Married Sister Betty X in Lansing, Michigan and they had six daughters:
Attallah (1958), Qubilah (1960), Ilyasah
(1962), Gamilah (1964) and twins Malaak and Malikah (1965).
1959
Traveled to Middle East and Africa
1963
Nation of Islam ordered Malcolm X to be silent, allegedly because of remarks
concerning President Kennedy's
assassination
March,
1964
Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam and started his new organization, Muslim
Mosque, Inc. and changed his name to
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.
April,
1964
Traveled to Middle East and Africa
June,
1964
Founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU), a secular
political group,
July,
1964
Traveled to Africa
February,
1965
Malcolm X's home was firebombed
February,
1965
Assassinated as he began speaking at the Audubon Ballroom, New York.
Split from the --(Nation of Islam)-
Malcolm had
been a big part of taking Islam from being a very little religion and following
to being one of the largest. It was now one of the most powerful forces
in America, not to mention one of the most influential mostly all due to
the contributions of Malcolm. Along with Christianity and Judaism Islam
was one of the largest religions in the US. He was one of the best speakers
and best minds ever. He was also an excellent debater. He was often seen
debating on TV, on the radio and in high profile events and college settings.
Although Malcolm claimed to be non-violent with his beliefs of Islam, there
were many skeptics that thought that he was very centered towards violence
as the only option. They were led to believe this for one, just for the
reason that he was Black. Because most whites were scared of blacks and
him being a very intellectual and influential African-American made him
even more intimidating for most whites. But he also made statements that
were very questionable. Like “ Why, are you going to be non-violent when
they bomb your churches and kill your children.”
There
were many rumors circulating About Elijah Muhammad having illigetament
children, up to as many as 10. And of legal cases being filed in paternity
suits. Although this is very common now, back then it was very bad and
frowned upon by most. But this was not nearly Malcolms only problem with
the NOI. It commonly asked poor people that could barely pay their own
rent and buy their own food for money that the people needed much more
than anyone receiving it usually Muhammad and high officials. But Malcolm
couldn’t point all of the blame on Muhammad and others he had to take some
responsibility. For example he had expanded the empire much too fast and
had not allowed enough time for many important things to occur like for
the leadership capabilities to expand.
He had the
title of National Minister from Muhammad but was refused to be given the
full authority. He was often asked by Muhammad to tone down his remarks
and opinions. He was not one easily swayed by others he always stood for
what he believed and he didn’t quiet down for long. Muhammad did this because
he recognized that they needed to be careful with the handling of public
relations and the press. But Malcolm was anything but that. He said what
he felt never thinking of consequences. Malcolm was all but quiet in two
separate events that stirred many blacks. First the assassination
of the leader of the N.A.A.C.P, Medgan Eves. Then the killing of
the little girls in Birmingham.
Malcolm made
Muhammad uneasy at many times because not only the statements he made and
the pressure that he brought through them. He also felt intimidated by
Malcolms great mind. One day Malcolm went to visit Muhammad in his Arizona
house and brought up the idea of teaching that a man’s accomplishments
are greater than his weakness. There were many other things that Muhammad
found intimidating. When Kennedy was assassinated the news reached New
York later that day and all the blacks wanted to know if a black man was
being blamed and they found it was a white man they fell into a state of
grief after they knew they had nothing to be mad about since there was
no black man being accused. He was the favorite president among blacks
since Roosevelt. The NOI was told not to comment. Muhammad had an interview
scheduled the next Monday and he knew that all that he would be asked now
is about Kennedy and he knew that he wouldn’t be able to say all the right
stuff. So he canceled out and Malcolm took his place. Malcolm was told
to answer completely conservative and he did very well during the interview,
but after it he made a remark saying, ”The violence has been tolerated
too long by the US, too long, and now it has finally claimed the life of
the President.” although not meant like this, it was interpreted by the
Nation and the Press as saying that he was glad that Kennedy had been killed.
After this, Muhammad officially silenced Malcolm. He was not allowed to
speak for 90 days. After this Malcolm felt hurt and betrayed. Muhammad
didn’t even try to stand up for him. But he just moved in with the rest
of the country and basically disallowed Malcolm to defend himself. Because
he wasn’t able to talk, he couldn’t say what he meant.
Malcolm was
invited to a fight later that month, he accepted. He took his family and
himself and went down to Florida where the fight was to take place. The
fighter that had invited him was a man by the name of Casious Clay and
Malcolm new that he had expressed interest in the NOI. Malcolm went there
and saw Clay defeat the world heavy weight champion, Sonny Liston. Later
that night Clay announced that he was going to become a member of the NOI
and now is known all over the world by the name that he adopted, Muhammad
Ali.
When Malcolm
returned to New York he was hearing many different rumors and he knew what
they were all saying. They were saying that the Nation of Islam was done
with him. They didn’t want anything to do with him. He decided that he
wanted to make the cleanest break that he could and on March 8, 1964
he announced his split from that NOI. 4 days later he announced that he
was going to begin a new organization, the Muslim Mosque Inc.
Malcolm Announcing his split from the Nation of Islam
Malcolm conferring with Elijah Muhammad while still with the NOI
Hajj-
After Malcolm’s
separation from the NOI he founded the Muslim Mosque Inc. This organizations
purpose was dedicated to helping African Americans. Malcolm had heard many
bad things happening in the ranks of the NOI. He heard of it being infiltrated
and many other things. He never really knew if he was hearing what the
cops told Muhammad to say or what Muhammad felt. Malcolm never was going
to let this happen he took this news and what he felt about it and made
sure that he was going to try to prevent it. He wanted his organization
to have a completely clean record. In the NOI he was always doing stuff
like writing books and things but the royalties always went to the NOI.
So Malcolm had made nearly no money off of his time with them. He released
this and knew that he had to start over and to begin to make money. But
nearly anyone that heard of this was really willing to help him and give
him some money. This always helped him but he couldn’t live on this his
whole like so he decided that he would do something about it and to make
profit some how he had to write many books and he made most all of his
money off of this. When he had really got his life kind of moving
again after his split he went to Boston to talk to his sister Ell and he
told her that he wanted to make the Hag. This Pilgrimage is one of the
five requirements of being an Muslim. Malcolm’s Hajj was really a symbol
of two things one his separation from that NOI and two the devotion he
had for Islam. The NOI couldn’t make this trip because mostly anyone in
this group was considered non Muslims by the Islamic officials and you
are required to be considered a real Muslim to enter the holy city. And
second most of them couldn’t afford the trip.
On April
13,1964 Malcolm left with his family to go to Saudi Arabia where the city
of Mecca is located. He made a few speeches on his way. He was amazed at
how many people not only recognized him but really wanted to talk to him.
In his speeches on the way to Saudi Arabia he announced that he was no
longer under the restrictions of the NOI. But that the split had still
been painful for him. He met a man on one of his flights that offered Malcolm
to travel with him and a group to make the rest of the Hajj together. When
Malcolm arrived he was rejected by the officials that you had to be allowed
in by. He was put in a place to rest and was put in front of the high court
the net morning. But the night that he was staying in the board houses
he was very embarrassed because he didn’t know any of the rituals and prayers.
When he went in front of the Mahgama Sharia, the high court, he was found
to be a full Muslim. He was even told by the judge that he hoped that he
would help to promote Muslim in America by preaching and teaching it. He
was driven to Mecca and did every single ritual that was required to complete
the Hajj.
He spent some
of the time he was in Saudi Arabia staying with King Fasal. Malcolm found
himself very surprised at the number of people especially high profile
people that wanted to talk to him and ask him questions. The thing that
he really noticed in his trip to Mecca was the way that everyone got along
white, black, every color. They found it weird that we couldn’t keep better
peace. They would always ask why the blacks were treated so poorly. He
really didn’t know what to say except our civilization hasn’t come to realize
things to the extent that yours has. He says in his autobiography ”There
were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. they
were of all the colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans.
But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of
unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe
never could exist between the white and the non white.” After the Hajj
Malcolms view on race completely changed. “ Part of Malcolm’s trust for
these people , his growth, was his new willingness to accept blacks as
individuals, understanding that some were race-conscious and fighters for
human rights for all people, while others were busy emulating whites to
the detriment of other blacks. But he knew he must change.”
Malcolm talking to King Fasal,
the ruler of Saudi Arabia Malcolm enjoying the sites
on his hajj
at the time, while he is there
on his Hajj
Assassination-
Malcolm had
had enemies from all over from different things that he had done. Mostly
it was enemies that disagreed when he did the right thing. The NOI was
continuously trying to kill him. They were trying to kill him for telling
the truth of them and of other matters, not for lying. You already know
all about the NOI but they were just the followers of Elijah Muhammad.
They are also the following of which Malcolm used to be a part of. Malcolm
had started another organization the Organization of African American Unity.
There was
a long awaited rally of this group on February 21. Malcolm was planning
on speaking here for many months before. He had been receiving many death
threats lately and the word on the street was today was the day that Malcolm
would be killed. It wasn’t the kind of rumor that you would broadcast it
is the kind of thing that is solely whispered. He had always been threatened
and had just dealt with it the threats had picked up quit largely in the
resent weeks though. He even started keeping a loaded gun in his house
for protection.
The night
before this rally his house was fire bombed. But he went on showing no
fear he went on just as usual. He did according to people present seem
a little easier to anger than usual he blew up just before the talk about
30 minutes before and forced everyone to leave the room but the all thought
that this was just because of the usual stress had finally gotten to this
great man. But none the less, at 3 o’clock his introduction began and at
about 3:05 he came on stage and greeted the crowd with a Muslim greeting
“As-salaam alaiken” and began speaking with a “brothers and sisters”. The
audience was very quiet just at the sound of Malcolms voice and from his
presence. As he was still beginning his speech a man suddenly stood up
and yelled “get your hand out of my pocket”. There were angry words exchanged
between the two. Malcolm stepped from behind his podium and raised
his hand to try to calm the two. Two of Malcolms many security guards charged
at the men. They really couldn’t do anything else, they had been instructed
by Malcolm not to carry any kind or sort of weapon. The man who began the
disturbance with his yelling reached into his pocket and pulled something
out. The crowd scattered and there were people all over yelling “watch
out watch out”. There were a series of shots heard in rapid order then
a loud boom. Every one was trying to run or to hide their children or wives.
Malcolm’s wife Betty Shabazz was in the front row covering her and
Malcolms three children trying to shield them from anything that might
harm them. But there was two men standing in front of the stage firing
at Malcolm one with a pistol. There were two men firing from his right
and his left. One of these men was using a sawed off shotgun. The guards
and followers that worked for Malcolm were earlier instructed not to carry
any for of a weapon and not to frisk anyone who entered the building but
the disobeyed both frisking anyone who looked suspicious. And although
most had followed the rules one of Malcolms guards, Reuben X didn’t and
began firing back and although he didn’t do much he did hit one of the
men that had began the disturbance in the leg. With people every where
trying to escape and trying to get away from all of the gun shot were being
interrupted by the police trying to enter. The police arrested one man
that had a gun in his hand but that is the only one that they caught. In
the midst of all this confusion there was a small crowd remaining on the
stage surrounding the lifeless body. Betty Shabazz who had already broken
into tears assuming the worst walked up to the lifelessly still body of
her husband. With his head being cradled in the hands of a Chinese lady
who had brought her son to see the speech. The shirt that was now drenched
in blood was unbuttoned to see what really happened. What was seen caused
the hands that were beginning to unbutton the shirt to jump backwards.
As Malcolm was lying in a pool of his own blood drenched in his own blood,
there was finally a effort to resuscitate him but it was way too little
way too late.
Malcolm X
one of the greatest men in the world ever to live was dead. Just because
he had expressed his very legitimate opinion and had come to odds with
the wrong people. To me it really makes no sense to ever kill anyone for
any reason but such an unfounded reason goes without saying this great
man should have lived for many more years to spread the great idea’s and
good intentions that he had. He should never have been killed he should
have lived until the lord which he served so devoutly chose him to go.
This is Malcolm , right before his assassination, holding an automatic
This is a picture of Malcolm lying on the ground after he was
riffle to defend himself and his family against anyone who tried to
shot
kill him.
Some Pictures to Remember-