Malcolm X

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He played a prominent role in the civil rights movement, serving as a spokesperson for the Nation of Islam until 1964. Malcolm X was known for his advocacy of Black empowerment and the promotion of Islam within the Black community. In collaboration with Alex Haley, he authored a posthumous autobiography that was published in 1965. Malcolm X spent his adolescence in foster homes and with relatives after his father's death and mother's hospitalization. He joined the Nation of Islam while in prison and became one of the organization's most influential leaders upon his parole in 1952.