When and where was Malcolm X born?
Malcolm X was born on the 19th of May 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born with the name Malcolm Little, which represented the white slavemaster who had owned his ancestors.
Common questions about Malcolm X
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Malcolm X change his name and join the Nation of Islam?
Malcolm X changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X in 1950 after writing to Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. He adopted the name X to symbolize his unknown African ancestral surname and began signing it after joining the religious movement.
Why did Malcolm X leave the Nation of Islam in 1964?
Malcolm X publicly announced his break from the Nation of Islam on the 8th of March 1964 after discovering that Elijah Muhammad had engaged in sexual misbehavior with young Nation secretaries. This revelation, combined with an assassination attempt on his life, led him to reject the organization's rigid teachings.
What happened during Malcolm X's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964?
Malcolm X flew to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in April 1964 to perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca obligatory for every Muslim. During the rituals, he witnessed Muslims of all colors interacting as equals, which convinced him to rearrange his thinking about race and toss aside some of his previous conclusions.
Who killed Malcolm X and when did the assassination occur?
Malcolm X was assassinated on the 21st of February 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. He was shot by three gunmen, including Nation of Islam member Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler, and Thomas 15X Johnson, who were all convicted of murder in March 1966.
What evidence exists regarding the FBI and police involvement in Malcolm X's death?
In 2021, Malcolm X's co-defendants Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam were exonerated after a review found the FBI and the New York Police Department withheld key evidence during the trial. In early 2023, members of Malcolm X's family filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the CIA, the FBI, and the NYPD for concealing evidence related to the assassination.