Malcolm X, African-American Human Rights Activist

Malcolm X (1925 -1965) was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He was an advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. Detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism, and violence. He has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. Malcolm X's father was killed by white supremacists, one of his uncles was lynched and when he was thirteen, his mother was placed in a mental hospital. In 1946 he went to prison for breaking and entering. While there he became a member of the Nation of Islam and after his parole in 1952 he quickly rose to become one of its leaders. For years Malcolm X was the public face of the controversial group, but disillusionment with it's leader Elijah Muhammad led him to leave the Nation in 1964. After a period of travel in Africa and the Middle East, he returned to the United States, where he founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Malcolm X's beliefs changed over time. As a spokesman for the Nation of Islam he taught black supremacy and advocated separation of black and white Americans. After breaking with the Nation of Islam and becoming a Sunni Muslim, he disavowed racism and expressed willingness to work with civil rights leaders. On February 21, 1965, as Malcolm X prepared to address the Organization of Afro-American Unity in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, a disturbance broke out. A man rushed forward and shot him in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun. Two other men charged the stage and fired semi-automatic handguns, hitting Malcolm X several times. He was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm, shortly after he arrived at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. According to the autopsy report, Malcolm X's body had 21 gunshot wounds. The three assassins were member of the Nation of Islam. He is credited with raising the self-esteem of black Americans and reconnecting them with their African heritage. He is largely responsible for the spread of Islam in the black community in the United States

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