Prior to the creation of one of the most influential and extremely controversial groups America has ever seen, The Black Panther Party, was its spark, Malcolm X. Malcolm X was one of the most moving leaders for the African American community, as well as the Afro-Americans Unite organization this nation had ever witnessed, and continues to be an extremely powerful person even after his death. It could even be argued that after death, Malcolm’s words and movements are far more powerful than they ever were during his lifetime.
Ever since Malcolm was born, he had been surrounded by those who were affiliated among organizations that aimed toward the reformation of America and it’s justice system. This could be seen through his father, an important factor of his growth and deeply rooted beliefs. His father, Earl Little, was an avid supporter of Marcus Garvey, a Black Nationalist Leader. From the continuous support Earl Little displayed, it resulted in multiple death threats towards him and his family, leading them to flee to Lansing, Michigan in hopes for safety. However, the plan did not work out as hoped, leading to the incineration of Malcolm’s home in 1929, along with the murder of his father two years later. Of course, knowing of America’s conditions in this era, the police filed this crime as an “incident”, and Malcolm's’ mother, Louise Little, suffered from great emotional trauma, for many years after, placing herself in a mental institution. Because of Malcolm’s tragic loss between both parents, he and his eight siblings were forced to split from one another and relocate in a variety of different orphanages and foster homes.
Eventually, Malcolm moved to Boston accompanied by his friend, Malcolm “Shorty” Jarvis. Unfortunately in the year 1946, he and his friend had been convicted of burglary charges and, hence, sentenced to 10 years in prison. As a way to pass the time during his incarceration, Malcolm was often found devouring himself in books in an attempt to make up for the education he missed from dropping out of high school. While serving time, Malcolm had also been often visited by his siblings who introduced him to the idea of NOI (Nation of Islam). NOI was a small group of Muslims who supported the ideology of black nationalism, or in other words, the idea that secured the freedom, justice, and equality, of which African-Americans so desperately needed during that day in age.
When released from prison, he was patrolled for 7 additional years. During this time, he had spontaneously came to the revelation to attend school once again since he was intrigued to study the teaching of NOI. As a result of this, he began learning from Elijah Muhammad with the hopes of expanding the movement’s following nationwide. By the year 1952, the man once referred to as Malcolm Little, then changed his surname to “X” since he considered “Little” a slave name. In the same year he has also become a devoted follower of this religion. Because of his devotion, Muhammad charged him with establishing new mosques in the cities Detroit, Michigan, and Harlem, New York. His charisma and drive led to the attraction of thousands of new members and he is credited with the increase of 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
From all this fame and constant recognition from many, he had become a well-known media magnet. Because of this, Elijah Muhammad began to have concerning suspicions that Malcolm’s growing appeal would not necessarily benefit the Muslims and suspended Malcolm for 90 days after he made a comment about John F. Kennedy’s assassination: “[Kennedy] never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon”. Since Malcolm learning of Muhammad’s corruption and betrayal, he decided to leave NOI in 1964. In the same year of his termination, Malcolm had also made a trip to the Middle East and met people of all cultures. Afterward, he returned with a more optimistic outlook on integration and new hopes for the future.
Following this, he then announced the formation of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU). This organization’s goal was to build community organizations and Black enterprises. This organization also designed a basic unity plan which involved the goals of restoration, reorientation, education, economic security, and self-defense. During the founding conference, Malcolm also insisted on escaping derogatory vocabulary aimed as those of the “inferior” race. He also rejected any donations from non-African sources for the sole reason of strictly keeping the organization in African-American hands. Not only would the OAAU reject donations from non-black applicants but they’d also refuse any membership to whites, for the safety of black superiority, a great step into the beginning of a better future.
Throughout all of the outstanding strides Malcolm was making for the purpose of bettering African-American future, he was wrongfully assassinated in the Audubon Ballroom on February 19, 1965, just as the OAAU had barely drawn up its program. From this, we are left in the ambiguity of what could have been. A vast majority during this time period were also left wondering what his admiration and overwhelming dedication to African American governments would have led him towards in later years.
Overall, I, for one, believe Malcolm X’s words and movements were not taken into a satisfactory amount of deserving gratitude then as they are nowadays. Because of his immense passion towards fixing what may have seemed to be an inevitable failure, I am led to believe that his limited life’s work had only been the beginning to a grand victory. From what he had accomplished during his lifetime, he provided a raging voice to millions and sparked the inferno that was dull and dark in many of American civilians. It could even be said that it is because of Malcolm X that more groups had formed and many others stood up to aim towards black liberation and equality. All in all, it is because of Malcolm X’s powerful words, along with many other African-American activists, that were taken into more account now than then, that we live in a newer and arguably fairer nation now than ever.