Malcolm X
1925-1965Civil Rights activist
Birthplace: Omaha, NE
As a young man, Malcolm Little partook in a life of crime including robbery,
prostitution, and narcotics. He was eventually convicted and sentenced
to prison for seven years during which time he became a follower of Elijah
Muhammad. It was there that he changed his last name to "X."
After his parole, he joined the Nation of Islam. As its main spokesperson,
he shared his revolutionary political views in the early 1960s. He was
opposed to the racist oppression of blacks in America, the U.S. government,
and its imperialist policies. Malcolm’s views continued to evolve from
anticapitalism to prosocialism. During the last year of his life, Malcolm
organized the Muslim Mosque, Inc., as well as a secular political group
called the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU). He spent much of
the last year of his life meeting with political leaders in Africa and
the Middle East – he also addressed audiences in France and Britain.
Web Resources
The Official Site of Malcolm X
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/
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