In his earlier years he choose a life of crime. He could have ruined his life. Instead he changed his ways and choose to educate himself. He became one of the most racial and respected civil right leaders of his time. Although anti-white at first, he came to believe that all people should work together.
Malcolm was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on may 19 , 1925. He was the fourth child of eight born to Earl and Louise Little. His mother was from the west Indies, his father a Baptist Preacher. Whom followed the teachings of the famous Marcus Gravery. Gravery believed that blacks should organize as a nation and be independent. Rev. Little followed in his same footsteps and because of his teaching a white mob forced the family out of there home in Nebraska. The family then moved to Lansing, Michigan, where Malcolm spent most of his early childhood. When he was six his house was set on fire, and his father was beaten to death. The family believed that a white raciest group was the cause of Earls death. As a result Malcolm began to dislike and hate all of the white race.
After Earls death the family moved to Detroit, because his mother could not support the family they were forced to split. Malcolm was placed in a foster home of a kind white family. Although a good student he quit school after the eight grade. He ran away to Boston, and then to New York where he began his life of crime. At the age of 20 he committed a crime of burglary. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. While in prison he decided to change his life around. He began to educate himself by regularly reading books from the prison library and studying the entire dictionary. He also joined the nation of Islam a very religion group known as the black Muslims. They firmly believed in black pride and were cautious of whites. Dropping his slave name little he became Malcolm X. In 1964 he had an argument with Elijah Muhammad, he was kicked out of the Nation of Islam.
In February 21, 1965 while speaking to a small group in New York city he was assassinated . Over 20,000 people attended his funeral. This goes to show he was one of the most respected leaders of his time. He will be in our hearts forever