Malcolm X

Born Malcolm Little, he endured a traumatic childhood marked by racism and violence. He spent his early years struggling with poverty and crime before being imprisoned at age 20. In prison, Malcolm discovered the Nation of Islam and underwent a profound spiritual awakening, emerging as Malcolm X—a powerful voice for Black independence and self-defense. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he became the most visible representative of the Nation of Islam, challenging the Civil Rights Movement's nonviolent approach and advocating for Black self-determination. In 1964, he left the Nation of Islam and founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was assassinated on February 21, 1965, at age 39.

Malcolm X's legacy is one of uncompromising moral clarity and Black self-determination. His insistence that Black Americans have the right to defend themselves became a foundational principle of Black Power movements. The Autobiography of Malcolm X remains required reading in schools, continuing to inspire young people to think critically about racism and justice.