Malcolm X Assassination

Malcolm X Assassination

El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz widely known as Malcolm X was an American Muslim human right activist was a very popular figure that fought for the rights of blacks in America. He is well-known because of his impart during the Civil right movement and for his advocacy for the right of blacks in American society. Some people believe that Malcolm X gave the American government its hardest time as regards their negligence of the fundamental human right of black people, while others considered him a controversial racist that encouraged violence by encouraging Black Americans to defend themselves with everything they have. But despite different opinions he is still considered one of the greatest African Americans in history. The history of his life and the various activities he carried out to support and his ideas and beliefs are addressed in the article below.

El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha Nebraska in America. His parents Louise Helen Little and Earl little both helped the pan- African activists in fighting for black rights in the united states. Earl Little was a local leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) while Louise served as a local branch secretary and reporter, sending the news to of the activities of the UNIA to the Negro world. Malcolm's parents ensure that they inculcated black pride and self-reliance into their children. Malcolm’s family suffered a lot of racism and abuse when he was young as even his father lost four of his brothers to white violence.

Later, the Ku Klux Klan which was a white supremacist clan threatened and accused the local Branch of UNIA of ‘causing trouble’ the family was forced to move in 1967. The family first relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later to Lansing, Michigan where they were always frequently harassed by the Black Legion which was also another white racist group. When Malcolm was six, his father was killed by what was ruled as a car accident even though his death was found severed at one side and almost removed completely from his body. His mother Earl and other family members believed that it was not an accident and that he was killed by white racists. These events brought a lot of confusion to Malcolm as a child and it also changed his perception of society.

Although Malcolm excelled in junior high school, he had to drop out after his white teacher told him that his dream of becoming a practicing lawyer was unrealistic for Niggers at that time. It was at this time that Malcolm realized that the white world offered no place for a career-oriented black man regardless of the talent processed.

In 1938, Malcolm’s mother suffered a nervous breakdown after a man she had been planning to many abandoned her when she was pregnant with his child. After this breakdown, she was sent to the Kalamazoo State hospital and her children were separated and sent to foster homes.

In 1943, Malcolm moved to New York participated in some petty crimes which consisted of smuggling drug, burgling, gambling, robbery, and racketeering. He also had sex with other men usually for money.

When Malcolm was summoned by the local draft board for military services in the world war two, he feigned ignorance and was able to avoid the war as he was declared mentally unstable for military service.

In the late 1945, Malcolm and four of his accomplices participated in series of burglaries and in 1946, they were caught ware sentenced to an Eight to ten-year prison sentence which they served at the Charlestown state prison.

Seven years after Malcolm has been arrested and sent to prison, he regained his freedom and resumed in his activities. He was made a minister in a temple in Harlem. By then, his indictment and approach issues relating to racism and self-defense was, strong and firm and this brought fear to the white people especially those that wear racist and treated black badly. He, however, received a lot of admiration and respect from black people all over the world. His method of teaching was contrasted to that of Martin Luther King Jr who whose philosophy was more at peace and did not indict violence in any way.

As Malcolm continued to fight against black oppression and racism, he became more and more popular, it became evident that the nation of Islam no longer supported him in his civil right struggle, Malcolm became convinced that Elijah Muhammad who was the leader of the Islamic nation at that time was no longer sincere with him. He was feeling threatened by Malcolm’s popularity and influence which reached the respected Student Non-Violent coordinating committee at that time. Malcolm and Muhammed clashed a number of times during his life and it is even rumored that Muhammed was responsible for Malcolm’s death. Malcolm later left the organization and traveled to mecca where he met orthodox Muslims that helped him to abandon the belief that whites were devils.

On February 19, 1965, Malcolm told an interviewer named Gordon Parks that the Nation of Islam was trying to kill him, and on February 21, 1965, as he was preparing to address the OAAU in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom, someone in the audience yelled “Nigger! Get your hand outta my pocket” and as Malcolm and his bodyguard tried to inquire about what was going on, a man rushed forward and shot him in the chest with a shotgun while two other men charged the stage firing semi-automatic guns. Malcolm was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm, shortly after arriving at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. His autopsy showed that he suffered 21 gunshots in his chest, arms, shoulder, and legs.

AS Malcolm predicted, his death brought a lot of changes and progress to his struggle. Various nations of the world recognized him as a good man who wanted the best for his people. He is still remembered as one of the greatest men to fight for black rights.