Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was a Baptist minister and a member of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm's family moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's involvement with the Black Nationalist movement. Malcolm dropped out of school at age 15 and turned to crime, eventually being sentenced to prison for burglary. While incarcerated, he converted to the Nation of Islam and adopted the surname X, symbolizing the loss of his African ancestral name. After his release from prison in 1952, Malcolm became a prominent figure within the Nation of Islam, serving as a minister and spokesperson. He advocated for black nationalism and self-defense against racism. In the early 1960s, Malcolm began to question the teachings of the Nation of Islam and eventually broke away from the organization. He converted to orthodox Islam in 1964 and changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Malcolm was assassinated on February 21, 1965, at the age of 39.
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