Malcolm X was a popular figure during the civil rights movement. He died back in the 1960s. However, he continues to make headline news to this day. But why?
Today, we will be discussing everything you need to know about Malcolm X, such as who he is, his family life and his famous assassination that took the world by storm.
Who Was Malcolm X?
Malcolm has become an iconic figure in the black community over the years. He was both an African American human rights activist and a Muslim minister. He quickly became a vocal about his desire for greater empowerment for the black community. He was driven to drive greater interest and understanding of Islam within the black community. Over the years, Malcolm’s work made him a popular and well-respected figure within the African American and Muslim American communities. Not only is he the founder of two iconic organizations: the Islamic Muslim Mosque, Inc. (MMI) and the Pan-African Organization of Afro-American Unity (OOAU), but he was also driven by his passion to pursue racial injustice.
Malcolm X’s Murder
The 21st of February 1969 is a day that sticks in the mind of a lot of people. It was the day that Malcolm X was assassinated in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom. He was preparing to address The Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) when a disturbance occurred in the audience. The audience was around 400 people deep when someone shouted an offensive comment towards Malcolm. As his bodyguards tried to calm down the disturbance, a man rushed forward and drew out his gun before shooting Malcolm in the chest. Two other men also charged the stage, opening fire. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Malcolm’s murder trial has still been making headline news to this day. Recently, it has been brought to light that two of the men convicted of Malcolm’s murder will be exonerated. murder trial has sparked controversy for years, with many people believing the wrong men were convicted.
Malcolm X And Jail
Although Malcolm became a hugely popular figure later in life, the same couldn’t be said for his early life. In his twenties, Malcolm was sentenced to eight to ten years in a maximum-security prison. In 1946, when he was just twenty years old, he was convicted of robbery. Malcolm, along with four other accomplices, committed a string of burglaries. Each one of the burglaries targeted wealthy, white families. He was caught whilst picking up a stolen watch that he had left at a shop to be repaired. You can learn more about Malcolm X’s imprisonment through various online resources.
Malcolm X’s Family Life
When Malcolm was young, his father died after being hit by a streetcar. He was a Baptist Minister and is believed to have been murdered by someone from the white community. After his father’s death, Malcolm’s mother struggled to feed the children as she was so poor. She was eventually committed to an insane asylum in the 1930s, which forced Malcolm and his siblings to go into foster care.
