"I realized racism isn't just a black and white problem. It's brought bloodbaths to about every nation on earth at one time or another". These are the words of Malcolm X, a man who went from being a drug dealer and burglar to one of the most prominent black nationalist leaders in the United States.

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska as Malcolm Little. After his father was killed, (he had been run over and the police decided it was suicide, although the Little family believed otherwise), his mother suffered emotional breakdown, and Malcolm and his siblings were split up into orphanages. Malcolm graduated from his junior high school at the top of class, but he lost his interest in schoolwork when was told by his teacher that his dream was "no realistic goal for a nigger". His dream was to become a lawyer. He went on to spend some time in Boston and then New York, where he got involved in crime. After returning to Boston, he was arrested for burglary. Whilst serving time, Malcolm furthered his education. About this time, Malcolm's brother, Reginald, visited Malcolm and discussed his conversion to Islam. Reginald belonged to the religious organisation the Nation of Islam, which Malcolm began to look into. Among the Nation of Islam goals, was their wish to have a state of their own, separate from white people. When Malcolm got parole in 1952 he was a Nation of Islam follower. He dropped his name "Little" and replaced it with "X". (Many black people consider their surnames as 'slave' names, and therefore dropped them in favour of letters such as Malcolm did).

Malcolm was appointed as a minister and national spokesman for Nation of Islam. From membership of 500 people in 1952, the Nation of Islam went to 30,000 people in 1963. This increase was mainly believed to be thanks to Malcolm, who had become a popular figure in the media. Malcolm did however leave Nation of Islam, after discovering that their leader Elijah Muhammad was having affairs.

In that same year, 1964, Malcolm went on Hajj. Here he met people of different races, all stood and praying side by side. In his own words he met "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers". Up until that point Malcolm would probably never have considered a white man as a brother. He went back to America with a whole different outlook on life. He no longer viewed white people as the enemy.

However things had become quite tense between Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad. There were several assassination attempts, and in 1965 his enemies finally succeeded. Even though Malcolm never traveled anywhere without bodyguard, whilst onstage in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, on February 21, Malcolm X was shot at close range 15 times. He was taken to the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York, where he was pronounced dead, at just 39 years old. He left behind his pregnant wife, and four daughters.

Malcolm X's funeral took place in Harlem, at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ on February 27. His friends took the shovels away from the gravediggers present there, and buried Malcolm themselves. Malcolm X is buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in New York. Later on in the year, his wife Betty gave birth to their twin daughters. In March 1966, three men were convicted of Malcolm's assassination. All three were members of the Nation of Islam.

"We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary", Malcolm X.

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