Malcolm X forms the Organization of Afro-American Unity.

Malcolm X was one of the most influential and controversial figures of the American civil rights era. Born Malcolm Little in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, he experienced racism and hardship from an early age, including the murder of his father and the institutionalization of his mother. After serving time in prison for burglary, he underwent a profound personal transformation, joining the Nation of Islam and adopting the name Malcolm X to symbolize the loss of his African ancestral identity through slavery. As a minister and spokesperson, he became known for his powerful speeches advocating Black pride, self-reliance, and the right of African Americans to defend themselves against racial violence.

Unlike many leaders of the mainstream civil rights movement, Malcolm X initially rejected integration and criticized nonviolent protest as ineffective in the face of systemic oppression. He argued that African Americans should achieve equality “by any means necessary” and urged Black communities to gain economic and political independence. His outspoken criticism of racism, segregation, and injustice made him a prominent national figure during the early 1960s. However, after leaving the Nation of Islam in 1964 and making a pilgrimage to Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Malcolm X’s views evolved. He embraced a more inclusive vision of human rights and believed that people of all races could work together to combat injustice.

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while preparing to address a meeting in New York City. Although his life was cut short at the age of 39, his influence has continued to grow. His autobiography, written with Alex Haley, remains one of the most important works on race and identity in the United States. Today, Malcolm X is remembered as a passionate advocate for dignity, equality, and self-determination, whose ideas continue to shape discussions about civil rights, social justice, and racial equality around the world.