American History II Unit 7 Two-Page Essay and Powerpoint Presentation (CATHERINE OWENS Only)

Outline for Malcolm X

1. Birth: Born to Earl Little in Omaha, Nebraska. Father Earl Little was a follower of Marcus Garvey and a Baptist Church Minister. Malcolm Little’s home was burnt in 1929 and his father Earl Little’s dead body found after two days. The local police called it an accident but X knew it was not. White supremacists of the black legion did it. A good student with lawyer’s ambitions disputed by his teacher. He disappeared,

2. Childhood and Youth: Went to Boston and Harlem where he was a thug. He changed his name to Red, started partying, taking alcohol. He dyed his hair to woo white women. Was arrested and locked up for a decade for burglary.

3. Conversion to Islam: In jail X heard of Elijah Muhammad and Islam. He converted and upon exiting prison in 1952 he took the name Malcolm X. A great orator, he hastily rose as a national prominent figure and earned rapid fame. He began setting up churches.

4. Discontentment with NOI: X would learn in 1963 that Elijah Muhammad was a promiscuous man with children. Elijah’s jealousy of X’s fame led to problems for X. Malcolm earned huge following for supporting the Assassination of J.F. Kennedy. Elijah would silence X for three months. X severed ties with NOI and formed Muslim’s Mosque Inc in ‘64

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca: Malcolm X went to Mecca where he was enlightened and reawakened in the Faith. He was also renamed El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and returned to America a changed man.

6. The return of X: Back in America X faced several attempts on his life. Death threats were not uncommon. The NOI was also after Malcolm X alongside other white supremacists. X’s home was bombed on February 14, 1965. Fortunately, he wasn’t there and none of his family members was badly injured. Malcolm would later be assassinated by the Noi in Manhattan at the Audubon Ball Room.