Malcolm X Essay, Research Paper

Malcolm X

In Our Own Image

Malcolm X, one of the most highly controversial speakers for equal rights for African Americans was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. He was his father s seventh child and his mothers fourth. His father, Earl, was a Baptist preacher who was born in Georgia. His mother, Louise, was the daughter of a Black mother and a White father and she was born in Grenada. Both of his parents were followers of Marcus Garvey.

In Earl s work he moved the family around a lot; they ended up in Lansing, Michigan were Earl died under strange circumstances. Malcolm said he was murdered. Within a few years Louise lost her children and was placed in a mental institution. Malcolm, after being shuttled around different foster homes he eventually ended up in New York City. Their, Malcolm Little was known as Detroit Red , he did and sold drugs, turned tricks, and danced with White women. In February of 1946, when Malcolm was twenty-one years old started serving an eight-year prison sentence for petty thievery. During his six and one-half years in prison Malcolm read many books and became a convert to Elijah Mohammed s Nation of Islam.

Thanks to Malcolm s recruiting efforts, the Nation of Islam grew a considerable amount in 1952. Malcolm, decided to drop his slave name and became Malcolm X. he married Betty Shabazz on January 14,1958; they had six female children.