Malcolm X

1
Malcolm X

• By
• Cadet Valencia

2
Malcolm X was a compelling public speaker, and
was frequently sought after for quotations by the
print media, radio, and television programs from
around the world. In the years between his
adoption of the Nation of Islam in 1952 and his
split with the organization in 1964, he always
espoused the Nation's teachings, including
referring to whites as "devils" who had been
created in a misguided breeding program by a
black scientist, and predicting the inevitable
(and imminent) return of blacks to their natural
place at the top of the social order.
3
Malcolm X was soon seen as the second most
influential leader of the movement, after Elijah
Muhammad himself. He opened additional temples,
including one in Philadelphia and was largely
credited with increasing membership in the NOI
from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963. He inspired
the boxer Cassius Clay to join the Nation of
Islam and change his name to Muhammad Ali.
4
By the summer of 1963, tension in the Nation of
Islam reached a boiling point. Malcolm believed
that Elijah Muhammad was jealous of his
popularity. Malcolm viewed the March on
Washington critically, unable to understand why
black people were excited over a demonstration
"run by whites in front of a statue of a
president who has been dead for a hundred years
and who didn't like us when he was alive."
5
Later in the year Malcolm delivered a speech as
he regularly would. He stated that the violence
that Kennedy had failed to stop had come around
to claim his life. Most explosively, he then
added that with his country origins, "Chickens
coming home to roost never made me sad. It only
made me glad."
This comment led to widespread public outcry and
led to the Nation of Islam's publicly censuring
Malcolm X. Although retaining his post and rank
as minister, he was banned from public speaking
for ninety days by Elijah Muhammad himself.
Malcolm obeyed and kept silent.
6

• Malcolm publicly announced his break from the
  Nation of Islam on March 8, 1964 and the founding
  of the Muslim Mosque, Inc. on March 12, 1964.

At this point, Malcolm mostly adhered to the
teachings of the Nation of Islam, but began
modifying them, explicitly advocating political
and economic black nationalism as opposed to the
NOI's exclusivist religious nationalism
7
Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City on
February 21, 1965 on the first day of National
Brotherhood Week.
8
During his life, Malcolm went from being a young
street-wise Boston hoodlum to becoming one of the
most prominent black nationalist leaders in the
United States, and when murdered became
considered by some as a martyr of Islam, and a
champion of equality.
Malcolm went from being a young street-wise
Boston hoodlum to becoming one of the most
prominent black nationalist leaders in the United
States, and when murdered became considered by
some as a martyr of Islam, and a champion of
equality.
As a militant leader, Malcolm X advocated black
pride, economic self-reliance, and identity
politics. He ultimately rose to become a world
renowned African American/Pan-Africanist and
human rights activist.