Malcolm X was a Muslim minister for the Nation of Islam and activist. He was a prominent thinker in the ideology of Black Nationalism in the United States. He believed in Black Separatism, because in his view the white society would never accept people of African descent. Creating a self sustaining community was the only way that African Americans could liberate themselves from white supremacy. Integration would not stop racism or limit the damage it had caused. He was a vocal critic of US foreign policy and imperialism. Malcolm X was also a supporter of Pan-African unity.
Malcolm X became familiar with the Nation of Islam while in prison. He was arrested for burglary in 1946 and sentenced to ten years. His early life was filled with struggle, which led him to a path of crime. Malcolm changed his way of life when converting to Islam. During his prison term he read a large amount of literature and history books. This process of self education gave him direction and developed his skills as an orator.
When Malcolm formally joined the Nation of Islam, he rose quickly in the organization. He became minister of Harlem's Temple No.7 in 1954 and served has minister in temples in Philadelphia as well as Detroit. Membership increased in the Nation of Islam when Malcolm X became the Nation of Islam's spokesperson. His speeches preached self-reliance, black pride, and the need for human rights.
Malcolm X was an opponent of US foreign policy. US involvement in Vietnam became a serious political issue. This intervention was not designed to save the Vietnamese people from Communism, but to expand US geopolitical dominance . Malcolm repudiated all forms of imperialism, because it was an extension of racial supremacy. The Nation of Islam had a policy in which members and ministers were not allowed to engage in political activity. Malcolm X broke this rule. He visited Ghana, Egypt, Sudan, and Nigeria in 1959 as a show of political support for countries attempting to challenge European hegemony. Elijah Muhammad leader of the Nation of Islam disagreed with Malcolm's view on political mobilization. The tension continued to rise between the two and got worse after Malcolm's statement on the Kennedy assassination. Eventually, Malcolm X resigned as a minister for the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm X after leaving the Nation of Islam went on to find the Organization of Afro-American Unity and Muslim Mosque Inc. His last campaign was to submit a petition to the United Nations exposing America's human rights violation against the African American population. This may have been a catalyst for his assassination. Simultaneously, the Nation of Islam made numerous attempts on his life. The FBI was also keeping him under intense surveillance. Malcolm X was assassinated at the Audobon Ball Room in New York in 1965. Yet, even in death his influence continued. He has become a popular icon of resistance and Black Power.
Further Reading
Appiah, Kwame and Gates, Henry. “Malcolm X”. Africana Encyclopedia.
New York :Perseus Books Group,1999. 1233-1234
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