Malcolm X: Civil Rights Activist

Image source:

https://sites.duke.edu/malcolmx/files/2014/12/421311.jpeg

“I think they [my family] would rather have a father or brother or whatever the situation may be who will take a stand in the face of any kind of reaction from narrow-minded people rather than compromise and later on have to grow up in shame and in disgrace.” From his speech, “After the Bombing.” [February 14, 1965].

Malcolm X, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, spoke the words above after his home was bombed, and a week before he was assassinated on February 21, 1965. Born to Earl and Louise Little, in 1925, Malcolm came from a family that worked for civil rights. Malcolm’s father supported the activist Marcus Garvey and died under suspicious circumstances. Malcolm changed his name to Malcolm X in 1952, because he no longer wanted to bear the name of someone who had enslaved his ancestors.  Today, a museum in New York City exists where visitors can learn more about Malcolm X and his wife, Dr. Betty Shabbaz.

Sites to visit:

The MalcolmX and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center

Malcolm X on Biography.com

The Sullivan University Library has Malcolm X’s biography and you may borrow it if you want.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (323.119 X1a) by Malcolm X.  

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Sources:

Malcolm X. (2010). After the Bombing. In P. Finkelman. (Ed.), Milestone Documents in African American History, v. 4 (pp. 1379-1384). Dallas, Texas: Schlager Group. 

Shabazz, I. (2018). Malcolm X. Retrieved from: http://www.theshabazzcenter.org/www.theshabazzcenter.org/page/malcolm_x.html