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| El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz |
The posthumous publication in 1965 of The
Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley, the acclaimed author of
Roots, instantly recast Malcolm X as one of the great political and spiritual
leaders of modern times. Named by TIME magazine one of 10 "required
reading" non-fiction books of all-time, The Autobiography of Malcolm X has
truly enshrined Malcolm X as a hero to subsequent generations of radicals and
activists.
It has been said that perhaps Malcolm X's greatest
contribution to society was underscoring the value of a truly free populace by
demonstrating the great lengths to which human beings will go to secure their
freedom. "Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of
tyranny and oppression," he stated, "Because power, real power, comes
from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action." It is a
message we must hold on to today.
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in
North Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker with eight
children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid
supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earl's civil rights
activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black
Legion, forcing the family to relocate twice before Malcolm's fourth birthday.
In 1929, their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to
the ground. Two years later, Earl's body was found lying across the town's
trolley tracks. Police ruled both incidents as accidents. Louise suffered an emotional
breakdown several years after the death of her husband and was committed to a
mental institution, while her children were split up among various foster homes
and orphanages. |
| Malcolm Little |
After dropping out of school at age 15, Malcolm Little fell into
a life of drugs and crime in Boston where he lived with his sister. He embraced
a lavish lifestyle, supported by his criminal activities. In 1946, he was
arrested on charges of larceny and sentenced to ten years in jail. While in
prison, Malcolm read books to make up for the education he lacked. Visits from
his siblings who had joined the Nation of Islam spurred his interest in the
organization. By the time he was paroled in 1952, Malcolm was a devoted
follower with the new surname "X" (He considered "Little" a
slave name and chose the "X" to signify his lost tribal name.).
Intelligent
and articulate, Malcolm was appointed as a minister and national spokesman for
the Nation of Islam (NOI). His charisma, drive, and conviction attracted an
astounding number of new members, increasing membership from 500 in 1952 to
30,000 in 1963. As the organization grew, Malcolm captured the government's
attention. FBI agents infiltrated the NOI and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps,
cameras, and other surveillance equipment to monitor the group's activities. One
undercover agent even acted as Malcolm's bodyguard.
The crowds and controversy surrounding Malcolm X
made him a media magnet. He established a national newspaper Muhammed Speaks to further the
organization’s message. He was featured in a week long television special with
Mike Wallace in 1959, called The Hate That Hate Produced. After the T.V.
special, Malcolm’s fame had eclipsed that of his mentor Elijah Muhammad.In 1963, a new discovery dealt Malcolm's faith a crushing blow at the height of the civil rights movement. He learned that his mentor and leader, Elijah Muhammad, was secretly having relations with as many as six women within the Nation of Islam organization. As if that were not enough, Malcolm found out that some of these relationships had resulted in children.
Shortly after his shocking discovery, Malcolm
received criticism for a comment he made regarding the assassination of
President John F. Kennedy. "[Kennedy] never foresaw that the chickens
would come home to roost so soon," said Malcolm. After the statement,
Elijah Muhammad "silenced" Malcolm for 90 days. Malcolm, however,
suspected he was silenced for another reason. In March 1964, Malcolm terminated
his relationship with the NOI. Unable to look past Muhammad's deception,
Malcolm decided to found his own religious organization, the Muslim Mosque,
Inc.
That same year, Malcolm went on a pilgrimage to
Mecca, which proved to be life altering for him. When he returned, Malcolm said
he had met "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers."
He returned to the United States with a new outlook on integration and a new
hope for the future, and a new name, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. This time when
Malcolm spoke, instead of just preaching to African-Americans, he had a message
for all races.
After Malcolm resigned his position in the Nation of
Islam and renounced Elijah Muhammad, FBI informants warned officials that
Malcolm had been marked for assassination--one undercover officer had even been
ordered to help plant a bomb in Malcolm's car. After repeated attempts on his
life, Malcolm rarely traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14,
1965, Malcolm’s home in East Elmhurst, NY was firebombed. Luckily, the family
including Betty Shabazz, his wife, and four daughters escaped physical injury.
One week
later, however, Malcolm's enemies were successful in their ruthless attempt. At
a speaking engagement in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965,
three gunmen rushed Malcolm onstage. They shot him 15 times at close range. The
39-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's Columbia Presbyterian
Hospital.
Fifteen hundred people attended Malcolm's funeral in
Harlem on February 27, 1965. Malcolm X is buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in
Hartsdale, New York.
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| Malcolm X - Denzel Washington |
Malcolm's assassins were convicted of first-degree
murder in March 1966. The three men were all members of the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm X’s legacy has moved through generations as the subject of numerous
documentaries, books, and movies. A tremendous resurgence of interest occurred
in 1992 when director Spike Lee released the acclaimed movie, Malcolm X. The
film received Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Denzel Washington) and Best Costume
Design.
Malcolm X leaves a legacy dedicated to equality and freedom for African Americans. His words are as meaningful today as they were during his lifetime.
Malcolm X leaves a legacy dedicated to equality and freedom for African Americans. His words are as meaningful today as they were during his lifetime.
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