Who was Malcolm X?

Malcolm X: A Journey from Struggle to Revolution

Malcolm X, born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, His parents, Earl and Louise Little, were followers of the pan-African activist Marcus Garvey, making their family a target of constant harassment by the Ku Klux Klan. the Little' home was burned down by the Klan, and soon after, the family moved to Michigan, Malcolm's early life was marred by tragedy when his father died in what was officially ruled a streetcar accident but believed by his mother to be an act of violence by the Black Legion.

After his mother's institutionalisation, Malcolm and his siblings were sent to different foster homes, disrupting his education. Despite being an excellent student, he dropped out of school after a white teacher discouraged his aspiration to become a lawyer. Malcolm's life took a criminal turn, involving gambling, robbery, drug dealing, and pimping. He moved to Harlem at 18, where he continued his criminal activities.

At the age of 21, Malcolm's criminal life led to his arrest and sentencing to eight to ten years in Charlestown State Prison. His time in prison became the cause for his transformation. Malcolm's siblings introduced him to the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad, which advocated black independence and rejected the idea of white superiority. Malcolm initially resisted, but he began reading extensively and corresponding with Elijah Muhammad, eventually becoming a member of the Nation. His given surname, Little, was replaced with the letter "X" to symbolise his lost African identity.

After his release from prison, Malcolm visited Elijah Muhammad in Chicago and was appointed the assistant minister of the Nation of Islam's temple in Detroit. He went on to establish temples in Boston and Philadelphia before being selected to lead Temple Number Seven in Harlem.

Malcolm's message, characterised by self-defense and criticism of non-violence promoted by leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., resonated widely. He believed in obeying the law and carrying oneself with respect but also advocated self-defense against those who used violence against black people.

As Malcolm's profile continued to grow, tensions within the Nation of Islam escalated. A police raid on a Nation of Islam mosque in Los Angeles, in which members were attacked with no repercussions for the police, strained Malcolm's relationship with Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm was shocked by Elijah Muhammad's refusal to allow any retaliation for the incident. he began advocating for global solidarity among oppressed people.

He traveled to Africa, meeting leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Ahmed Ben Bella, and to Cuba, where he met Fidel Castro. Their disagreements deepened when Malcolm expressed a desire to work with civil rights organisation, black politicians, and other religious groups, a departure from the Nation's separatist stance. Malcolm's response to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led to his silencing for 90 days within the Nation of Islam. He publicly announced his departure from the Nation in March 1964.

Malcolm went on to learn the tenets of Sunni Islam, founded the Muslim Mosque Incorporated and the Organisation of Afro-American Unity, and performed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Malcolm also pioneered black-Palestinian solidarity and continued to emphasize black nationalism and internationalism.His growing influence and respect, Malcolm's exit from the Nation of Islam led to threats and violence.His powerful messages about the need for change, self-defense, and global solidarity in the fight against racism His impact continues to inspire generations of activists worldwide, as he remains a symbol of courage, resilience, and the pursuit of justice.