Malcolm X's Life and Accomplishments
by Barry Wright
Essay: Malcolm X's Life and Accomplishments
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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Malcolm X was an African American minister and civil rights leader. Unlike many activists of his time, he took a
different approach on the movement. In his lifetime, from 1925 to 1965, he was known as an advocate for the
rights of blacks, and has been named one of the greatest and most influential men in history.
Early Life
Malcolm was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska to Louise and Earl Little. His Father, Earl, was a Baptist
minister and an active member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (founded by Marcus Garvey). Due
to his involvement in civil rights, Malcolm and his family were harassed and experienced racism from an early age,
and Malcolm’s encounter before he was even born. In his own words, Malcolm said: “ When my mother was
pregnant with me, she told me later, ‘ a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped to our home, brandishing
their guns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out’.”
They later moved to East Lansing, Michigan, where harassment continued, and in 1929, their house was set on fire
by a group called the Black Legion, a white fascist group (J. Simon, 26). Two years later, Earl was found dead on
streetcar tracks. His death was ruled a suicide, even though it was very likely that he was killed by racists. Later in
1937, Malcolm’s mother Louise, who never got over her husband’s death, was admitted into a mental institution.
Malcolm and his other siblings were split up to various foster homes (Malcolm X bio, 2013).
Youth
Malcolm graduated junior high at the top of his class, with aspirations of being a lawyer, until a teacher told him
that being a lawyer was “no realistic goal for a nigger,” suggesting that he be something practical, like a carpenter
(J. Si...