Malcom Little was born on May 19, 1925 and came from an underprivileged home. He was a self-taught man who received little schooling and rose to greatness on his own intelligence and determination. The early background of Malcolm X was a large factor responsible for the distinct different responses to American racism. During his childhood, He was raised in a harsh a

Malcolm was first sent to a foster home and then to a reform school. After the 8th grade, Malcolm moved to Boston where he worked various jobs and eventually became involved in criminal activity. (Malcolm X, pg.1) In 1946 he was sentenced to prison for burglary. While in prison, Malcolm became interested in the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the black Muslims also called the Nation of Islam. Malcolm spent his time in jail educating himself and learning more about the black Muslims, who advocated racial separation. When Malcolm was released in 1952, he joined a Black Muslim temple in Detroit and became the most prominent spokesperson for the Nation of Islam by the early 1960's. It was then that he took the name of Malcolm X. Ultimately he became a towering icon of contemporary African-American culture and had a great influence on Black Americans. (Pg.254, Reflecting Back) Malcolm X's despair about life was reflected in his angry, pessimistic belief that equality is impossible because whites have no moral conscience. He promoted nationalist and separatist doctrines for most of his life and believed that only through revolution and force could blacks attain their rightful place in society. ("Malcolm X" Encarta)

Malik El-Shabazz had once said, "My whole life has been a chronology of Changes". When he was Malcolm Little, he was a drug addict, a thief, and an all around criminal. As Malcolm X, he went from a low life hoodlum to a very inf

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