Who was Malcolm X?

Summary

Malcolm X, born in 1925, faced early hardship and became a prominent voice against racism. Initially involved in criminal activities, his transformation began in prison where he joined the Nation of Islam. After a public fallout and a pilgrimage to Mecca, he embraced Sunni Islam and founded organizations promoting black unity and Pan-Africanism. Despite threats, he continued advocating for black liberation until his assassination in 1965. His legacy endures, inspiring activism against racism and imperialism.

Takeaways

• 👶 Malcolm X was born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, and faced significant hardship and racial violence in his early life.
• 🔥 His family was targeted by the Ku Klux Klan, leading to the burning of their home and the death of his father under suspicious circumstances.
• 🏫 Malcolm was a good student but dropped out of school after a teacher discouraged his aspirations to become a lawyer due to his race.
• 🚫 At 18, he moved to Harlem and became involved in criminal activities before being arrested and sentenced to prison.
• 📚 In prison, he underwent a transformation, embracing the teachings of the Nation of Islam and its leader, Elijah Muhammad.
• 🔄 After his parole, he became a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, advocating for black independence and self-defense against white aggression.
• 🔍 The FBI began surveillance on Malcolm X due to his rising profile and influence within the Nation of Islam.
• 💬 He was critical of the civil rights movement's approach, advocating for a more assertive stance against racial injustice.
• 🌍 Malcolm X's views evolved after performing Hajj in Mecca, where he experienced a more inclusive interpretation of Islam and began to globalize his perspective on black liberation.
• 🔗 He founded new organizations promoting unity among Afro-Americans and worked towards internationalizing the struggle for black rights.
• ⚰️ Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, with the involvement of the Nation of Islam members, and his legacy continues to inspire activism against racism and imperialism.

Q & A

Who was Malcolm X and what was his significance?

Malcolm X was a prominent Muslim leader, human rights activist, and a symbol of black liberation in modern history. He inspired generations with his journey from a petty criminal to a global voice against racism.

What were the circumstances of Malcolm X's early life?

Malcolm X was born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His family faced constant harassment from the Ku Klux Klan, leading to the burning of their home when he was four. His father's death was suspicious, and his mother was committed to a mental institution when he was 13, after which Malcolm was sent to foster homes.

How did Malcolm X's time in prison influence his life?

Malcolm X's incarceration marked the beginning of his transformation. It was during this time that he was introduced to the Nation of Islam by his siblings, which eventually led to his conversion and a significant change in his life's direction.

What was the Nation of Islam's stance on race and its teachings?

The Nation of Islam promoted black independence and rejected the notion of white superiority. It taught its followers a form of separatism from whites, whom they considered 'devils' inferior to black people, who were seen as the original inhabitants of the earth.

Why did Malcolm X change his last name from Little to X?

Malcolm X abandoned his given family name, Little, as it was the name of former slave owners. The 'X' represented the loss of his African name and heritage, which had been stripped from him and his ancestors during the slave trade.

What was the FBI's role in monitoring Malcolm X?

The FBI had Malcolm X under surveillance due to his rising profile and influence. They were concerned about his outspoken criticism of the U.S. government and society, and they infiltrated the Nation of Islam to gather information.

How did Malcolm X's views evolve after his Hajj pilgrimage?

After performing Hajj, Malcolm X's views on race and integration evolved. He experienced a sense of unity among Muslims of different races and began to advocate for a more inclusive approach to civil rights, moving away from some of the Nation of Islam's more extreme separatist positions.

What led to Malcolm X's break with the Nation of Islam?

Malcolm X's break with the Nation of Islam was influenced by disagreements over his desire to work with civil rights organizations and other religious groups, as well as tensions over the attention he received compared to Elijah Muhammad, the Nation's leader.

What were the circumstances of Malcolm X's assassination?

Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while addressing the Organization of Afro-American Unity in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for his murder, but there are lingering questions about the involvement of law enforcement agencies.

How has Malcolm X's legacy continued to impact society?

Malcolm X's legacy has been preserved in various forms, including his autobiography, which is considered one of the most influential non-fiction books of the 20th century. His ideas continue to inspire activism against racism and imperialism, and he is remembered as a champion of black liberation and human rights.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 Early Life and Transformation of Malcolm X

This paragraph delves into the early life of Malcolm X, born in 1925 in Nebraska to parents who were followers of Marcus Garvey. The family faced relentless harassment from the Ku Klux Klan, leading to the burning of their home and the tragic death of Malcolm's father. Malcolm's mother was later institutionalized, and he was sent to foster homes. Despite being an excellent student, he dropped out after a discouraging interaction with a white teacher. Malcolm moved to Harlem at 18, where he engaged in criminal activities. His life took a turn in prison, where he was introduced to the Nation of Islam by his siblings. He embraced the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X, and rose through the ranks of the Nation of Islam, becoming a prominent figure and advocate for black empowerment and self-defense against racial injustice.

05:01

🌟 Malcolm X's Public Profile and Break with the Nation of Islam

The second paragraph details Malcolm X's rise to national prominence, his marriage to Betty, and his increasing public profile through media appearances. It discusses his critical views on the civil rights movement and its leaders, particularly Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whom he viewed as advocating for a passive approach to racial injustice. The paragraph also covers the growing tensions between Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad, leading to Malcolm's 90-day silence following controversial statements about President Kennedy's assassination. Malcolm's break from the Nation of Islam is highlighted, along with his exposure of Elijah Muhammad's misconduct and his subsequent founding of new organizations promoting Sunni Islam and Afro-American unity.

10:02

🌍 Global Perspective and Enduring Legacy of Malcolm X

This paragraph explores Malcolm X's transformation following his pilgrimage to Mecca, where he experienced a spiritual awakening that led to a more inclusive view of humanity. It discusses his travels across Africa, his meetings with prominent leaders, and his efforts to internationalize the struggle for black liberation. Despite his evolving views, Malcolm remained a staunch black nationalist, advocating for self-defense and the global struggle against racial injustice. The paragraph concludes with the tragic assassination of Malcolm X, the suspected involvement of the Nation of Islam and law enforcement, and his enduring legacy as a symbol of resistance against racism and imperialism, influencing generations of activists worldwide.

15:03

🎶 The Eulogy and Cultural Impact of Malcolm X

The final paragraph, though brief, captures the essence of Malcolm X's eulogy and his cultural impact. It conveys the deep respect and honor felt by those who knew and understood him, contrasting with the negative perceptions held by others. The eulogy, delivered by actor and activist Ossie Davis, highlights Malcolm's significance as a symbol of black manhood and his unwavering commitment to his people. The paragraph serves as a poignant reminder of Malcolm's influence on culture, particularly in Harlem, and his posthumous recognition as a 'black shining prince' whose legacy continues to inspire and challenge the status quo.

Keywords

💡Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a prominent civil rights activist, Muslim minister, and a leading figure in the Nation of Islam. The video script details his life, transformation, and his impact on the fight against racism. His journey from a troubled youth to a global voice against racism is central to the video's theme, illustrating his evolution from a criminal to a preacher and revolutionary.

💡Nation of Islam

The Nation of Islam is a religious and political movement among African Americans, founded in Detroit in the 1930s. It promotes black independence and self-sufficiency. In the video, Malcolm X's involvement with the Nation of Islam is pivotal, as it shapes his early activism and his teachings on racial separation and self-empowerment.

💡Elijah Muhammad

Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam when Malcolm X joined. He is depicted in the video as a mentor to Malcolm X, whose teachings greatly influenced Malcolm's early views on race and religion. However, a falling out between them led to Malcolm X's eventual departure from the organization.

💡Black Liberation

Black Liberation refers to the social, political, and economic freedom of Black people from systemic oppression and racism. The video highlights Malcolm X's role as a symbol of black liberation, emphasizing his efforts to empower Black communities and his critique of white supremacy.

💡Pan-Africanism

Pan-Africanism is a political ideology that encourages unity and solidarity among all people of African descent. The video script mentions Malcolm X's advocacy for Pan-Africanism, particularly in his later years, where he sought to connect the struggle of African Americans with that of other African and oppressed peoples globally.

💡Hajj

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that every Muslim is expected to make at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. The video describes Malcolm X's Hajj experience as transformative, leading him to a more inclusive view of humanity and a softening of his earlier separatist views.

💡Assassination

Assassination refers to the deliberate killing of a person, especially a public figure, for political or religious reasons. The video recounts the tragic assassination of Malcolm X, suggesting possible involvement by state and religious organizations, reflecting the contentious nature of his activism.

💡Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a struggle for social justice and equal rights for African Americans in the mid-20th century. The video contrasts Malcolm X's approach with that of the mainstream Civil Rights Movement, particularly the non-violent approach advocated by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

💡Black Nationalism

Black Nationalism is a political ideology that advocates for the self-determination and self-government of Black people, often in opposition to white supremacy. The video shows how Malcolm X's early teachings were rooted in Black Nationalism, though his views evolved over time.

💡Autobiography

Malcolm X's autobiography, co-authored with Alex Haley, is a significant work that details his life and transformation. The video mentions the book as a key part of his legacy, influencing generations of activists and being named one of the most influential non-fiction books of the 20th century.

💡COINTELPRO

COINTELPRO refers to the FBI's covert program aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, and disrupting domestic political organizations. The video implies that COINTELPRO's surveillance of Malcolm X and other civil rights figures may have contributed to the climate leading up to his assassination.

Highlights

Malcolm X's early life was marked by racial violence and family tragedy, shaping his later activism.

His parents were followers of Marcus Garvey, influencing Malcolm's early views on racial pride and independence.

Malcolm's family faced relentless harassment from the Ku Klux Klan, leading to the burning of their home.

The death of Malcolm's father under suspicious circumstances further radicalized his family's beliefs.

Malcolm's educational aspirations were curtailed by racial discrimination, reinforcing systemic inequality.

His early adulthood was characterized by criminal activity, reflecting a period of personal struggle.

Incarceration became a catalyst for Malcolm's intellectual and spiritual transformation.

The Nation of Islam provided Malcolm with a platform to articulate his views on black empowerment and separatism.

Malcolm's charisma and oratory skills quickly elevated his status within the Nation of Islam.

His public profile grew, with his speeches advocating for self-defense and criticizing white supremacy.

Malcolm's response to the Kennedy assassination highlighted the racial tensions of the era.

His break with the Nation of Islam marked a significant shift in his political and religious beliefs.

Malcolm's pilgrimage to Mecca led to a more inclusive view of race and humanity.

His evolving views on racial integration and his critique of the civil rights movement were complex and multifaceted.

Malcolm's assassination was a tragic end to a life dedicated to fighting for racial equality.

His legacy continues to inspire activism and discussions on race and social justice.

Malcolm X's autobiography is celebrated as a significant work of 20th-century non-fiction.

Transcripts

who taught you to hate your own kind

who taught you to hate the race that you

belong to

so much so that you don't want to be

around each other

no before you come asking mr muhammad

does he teach hate you should ask who

yourself who taught you

to hate being what god gave you

how did one man go from petty criminal

to becoming a global voice against

racism

he's one of the most prominent muslims

in modern history and a symbol of black

liberation who has inspired generations

a gangster a preacher and a

revolutionary this is the extraordinary

journey of malcolm x

malcolm x was born in 1925 in omaha

nebraska his parents earl and louise

little were followers of the pan-african

activist marcus garvey

as a result their family was subjected

to constant harassment by the ku klux

klan who burned down their home when

malcolm was just four years old

the family moved to michigan where they

were threatened by the black legion an

offshoot of the kkk

four of malcolm's uncles were also

murdered by white racists

malcolm's father died when he was six

the incident was officially ruled a

street car accident although his mother

believed he had ultimately been murdered

by the black legion

when malcolm was 13 his mother was

committed to a mental institution her

children were split up and sent to

different foster homes malcolm was an

excellent student but dropped out of

school after a white teacher told him it

was unrealistic for a young black boy to

have aspirations of being a lawyer

after a few years in michigan and boston

he moved to harlem at the age of 18

where he was involved in gambling

robbery drug dealing and pimping

at the age of 21 after committing a

string of robberies with a small gang in

boston malcolm was arrested sentenced to

eight to ten years of charlestown state

prison

incarceration was the beginning of

malcolm's transformation while in prison

his siblings began writing to him about

the nation of islam and its leader

elijah muhammad the nation of islam

promoted black independence and rejected

the notion of the superiority of white

people instead elijah muhammad taught

his followers a form of separatism from

whites who were actually considered

devils inferior to black people who were

the original inhabitants of earth

malcolm initially hostile to the idea of

any religion eventually became a member

of the nation

he read books constantly and began

writing regularly to elijah muhammad

muhammad's followers were taught to

abandon their given family names as they

were actually the names of former slave

owners

so malcolm little became malcolm x

after being paroled malcolm visited

elijah muhammad in chicago

in june the next year he was named

assistant minister of the nation of

islam's temple number one in detroit he

later established boston's temple number

11 and expanded temple number 12 in

philadelphia

and those of you who think that

you perhaps came here to hear us

tell you to turn the other cheek to the

brutality of the white man i say again

you came to the wrong place

finally he was selected to lead temple

number seven in harlem where he was

responsible for a huge surge in

membership

we don't teach you to turn the other

cheek

we don't teach you to turn the other

cheek in the spouse and we don't teach

you to turn the other cheek in the knot

we teach you to obey the law

we teach you to carry ourselves in a

respectable way

but at the same time we teach you that

anyone who put this hand on you do your

best to see that he doesn't put it on

anybody else

the fbi now had him under surveillance

due to his sudden profile as the

nation's rising star malcolm's rise to

national prominence happened in 1957

when he intervened at a police station

to arrange for medical assistance and

legal help for members of the nation who

had been beaten and arrested by new york

police the crowd of protesters outside

grew to almost four thousand witnessing

malcolm's control of the crowd shook the

new york police department within weeks

they had him under surveillance and

officially began infiltrating the nation

in 1958 malcolm married his wife betty

with whom he would have six daughters

malcolm's profile continued to grow via

print and television appearances and he

began to gain international exposure who

is it that controls the prostitution in

harlem it's the white man

who controls the lives not a fail of

whiskey in line just the right man who

gives you the deck of cards in the

zeitgeist that you used to gamble with

it's the right man and after he sell

them to you he kept you with him and

pushing him in jail for using him

he was deeply critical of the growing

civil rights movement and its leaders

like dr martin luther king who preached

integration

that's what you mean by non-violence be

defenseless be defenseless in the face

of one of the most cruel uh beasts that

has ever taken the people into captivity

that's just this american white man 100

years ago they used to put on a white

sheet and use a bloodhound against negro

today they have taken off the white

sheet and put on police uniforms they've

traded in the bloodhounds for police

dogs and they're still doing the same

thing and just as uncle tom back doing

slavery used to keep the negroes from

resisting the bloodhound or resisting

the ku klux klan by teaching them to

love their enemy or luke the king is

just a 20th century or modern uncle tom

or a religious uncle tom who was doing

the same thing today

malcolm's message was being heard louder

than ever but his relationship with the

man who had transformed his life was

about to fracture

tensions were growing within the nation

over the amount of attention malcolm was

receiving compared to his mentor elijah

muhammad an unprovoked raid on a nation

of islam mosque by police in los angeles

led to one member being paralyzed and

another being killed

no charges were laid against the police

the white man believes you when you go

to him with that old sweet talk because

you've been sweet talking to him ever

since he brought you here

stop sweet talking

tell him how you feel

tell him how what kind of hell you've

been catching and let him know that if

he's not ready

to clean his house up

if he's not ready to clean his house up

he shouldn't have a house

it should catch on fire

and burn down

malcolm was reportedly stunned by elijah

muhammad's refusal to allow any form of

response or retaliation for the incident

the two also disagreed over malcolm's

desire to begin working with civil

rights organizations black politicians

and other religious organizations

then suddenly

here is a bulletin from cbs news three

shots were fired at president kennedy's

motorcade in downtown dallas president

kennedy has been seriously wounded

malcolm's response to the kennedy

assassination led to him being

officially silenced for 90 days

malcolm x you were involved in the

controversy some months ago with your

leader is that over well i've been i've

been silent for the past 90 days because

of uh some statements i made concerning

the president of the united states uh

which were distorted they were destroyed

and yes what did you say malcolm well i

said the same thing that everybody says

that uh his assassination was the result

of the climate of hate but

only i said the chickens came home the

roof and which means the same thing

in march of 1964 malcolm publicly

announced his break from the nation of

islam

he also expressed the desire to work

with other civil rights leaders saying

that elijah muhammad had prevented him

from doing so

then came a bombshell well in reality i

never even left the muslim movement they

put me out and they put me out because

of what i knew and what i knew was told

to me by mr muhammad's son

wallace muhammad himself they put me out

and they put him out who is the father

of all of these various children whom

you have enumerated uh the first one to

tell me who the father was was wallace

mohammed and he told me that the father

was elijah muhammad himself

and how many of these illegitimate

children did he father with the sisters

well he made uh six sisters pregnant

they all had children two of those six

had two children

i am told that there is a seventh sister

who is supposed to be in mexico right

now and she's supposed to be having a

child by

are you not perhaps afraid of what might

happen to you as a result of making

these revelations oh yes i probably am a

dead man already after splitting from

the nation malcolm began learning the

tenets and practices of sunni islam

he founded the muslim mosque

incorporated a religious organization

and the organization of afro-american

unity a non-religious group promoting

pan-africanism he had softened his

position on martin luther king who he

met only once in person

and later the same year he performed

hajj the muslim pilgrimage to

mecca this was to be yet another

transformative experience for him when i

was in on the pilgrimage i had

close contact with muslims whose skin

would in america be classified as white

and with muslims who were themselves

would be classified as white in america

but these particular muslims didn't call

themselves white they looked upon

themselves as human beings as part of

the human family and therefore they

looked upon all other segments of the

human family as part of that same family

now uh they had a different look or

different air or a different attitude

than that which is uh reflected in the

uh attitude of the man in america who

calls himself white

so i said that if

islam had done this

done that for them

perhaps if the white man in america

would study islam

perhaps they could do the same thing for

him

after mecca malcolm made two trips to

africa meeting officials and speaking on

radio and television across the

continent

in cairo he attended the second meeting

of the organization of african unity and

met africa's most high profile leaders

including kwame nikuma of ghana

gamal abdul nasser of egypt and ahmed

bin bela of algeria who all offered him

official positions in their respective

governments he met with fidel castro and

was one of the first african-american

leaders to meet the newly created

palestinian liberation organization and

was one of the pioneers of a tradition

of black palestinian solidarity that

would be continued by the black panther

party and the black lives matter

movement a common misconception about

malcolm's philosophical evolution is

that his process of turning to sunni

islam softened his political positions

while it's true that malcolm abandoned

some of the nation's more extreme

separatist positions on race he remained

a staunch black nationalist i think what

a lot of people are interested in

malcolm is whether this experience has

made you feel that

that your feelings have changed that uh

that the animosity you have expressed in

the past toward all fights there's one

thing that i want to make clear

no matter how much respect no matter how

much

recognition

white

show toward me

as far as i'm concerned as long as that

same respect and recognition is not

shown toward every one of our people in

this country it doesn't exist for me

if anything malcolm's travel had led him

to globalize his perspective seeing

black liberation as something beyond the

united states and as something that was

intimately tied to struggles for

independence across the third world has

remained a domestic problem

it has remained within the jurisdiction

of the united states

and it has and as such it has been

impossible for the

afro-americans or american negroes to

try and enlist the support

of other dark-skinned

people who are being oppressed the world

over in in that struggle and the only

way this can be done is by

internationalizing the problem

if you take up arms you'll end it but if

you sit around and wait for the one

who's who's in power to make his mind

that he should end it you'll be waiting

a long time

and in my opinion the young generation

of whites blacks brown whatever else

there is you're living at a time of

extremism a time of revolution a time

when there's got to be a change

the nation of islam had not taken

malcolm's exit and public criticism of

elijah muhammad's misconduct lightly his

family was repeatedly threatened their

car was bombed and fbi surveillance

records show that law enforcement was

aware that elements within the nation

were openly discussing his death

then his house was burned out

[Music]

on february 21st 1965 malcolm was

addressing the organization of

afro-american unity in manhattan's

audubon ballroom he was shot 21 times

three nation of islam members were tried

and convicted of the murder but

questions remained at the time of his

death malcolm was under surveillance by

both the nypd and the fbi's cointelpro

operation for many there is simply no

doubt that one or both organizations had

a hand in his assassination

malcolm's legacy went on to be preserved

in hip-hop film and literature most

importantly his own autobiography which

continues to be celebrated and was named

one of the 10 most influential

non-fiction books of the 20th century

his politics continue to inspire

generations of activism against racism

and imperialism worldwide

people in power have misused it and now

there has to be a change and a better

world has to be built and the only way

it's going to be built is with extreme

methods and i for one will join in with

anyone don't care what color you are as

long as you want to change this

miserable condition that exists on this

earth thank you

malcolm's funeral was held in harlem

some estimate that up to 30 000 people

attended

actor and activist aussie davis

delivered the eulogy

harlem has come

to bid farewell to one of its brightest

hopes

extinguished now and gone from us

forever

many will ask

what harlem finds to honor in this

stormy

controversial

and bold young captain

and we will smile

many will say

turn away

away from this man for he is not a man

but a demon

a monster a subverter and an enemy of

the black man

and we will answer and say unto them

[Music]

did you ever talk to brother malcolm

did you ever touch him

or have him smile at you

did you ever really listen to him

malcolm was our manhood

our living black manhood

this was his meaning to his people

and in honoring him

we honor the best in ourselves what we

place in the ground

is no more now

a man

but a seed which after the winter of

discontent

will come forth again to meet us

and we shall know him then for what he

was and is a prince

our own

black shining prince

who did not hesitate to die

because he loved us so you now use

shabazz and drop x i'll probably

continue to use malcolm x because and

i'll probably use it as long as the

situation that produced it exists

[Music]

you