In the mid-1950s in Harlem,NY,certain blacks began to notice a young black man preaching a message of black pride;the importance of having a sense of racial self-esteem and learning the value of black self-empowerment rather than feeling dependent on the larger white world for their subsistence. His views seemed controversial and radical particularly in those racially backward times,especially the view that white people were oppressor of blacks and were even considered to be "blond-haired,blue-eyed devils." Strong words those were considering the time period,when a black person's openly speaking out against white people was considered bold,daring,and in some places in America at that time could cost a black person their life.

But by the time of his death,this young man had become a powerful voice in the African American Community,a voice that America-particularly White America-had to reckon with. His birth name was Malcolm Little,who later became known as the controversial figure Malcolm X.

Malcolm Little was born on May 19,1925,in Omaha,Nebraska. He was four of what would be seven children from his father Earl Little Sr.'s second marriage to Louise Nee' Helen Norton(Earl Little had three children from a previous marriage). Earl Little was a proud black man who was an ardent believer of Black Nationalism,being a devout follower of Marcus Garvey,the Black Nationalist leader of the early 20th Century. Earl Little was also known to be a strict disciplinarian who demanded exacting obedience from his children. As a result,the Little Family was disciplined and well-behaved and a model family in the community. In 1926,the family moved to Milwaukee,Wisconsin and later in 1931 to Lansing,Michigan,where Malcolm would spend some of his formative years.

That same year, Earl Little was suddenly killed by a streetcar under what has been considered questionable circumstances. Initially his death was ruled a suicide by the authorities, but it was believed that Earl Little was murdered by the Black Legion, a white supremacist group;who had previously harrassed the Little Family because of Earl's affiliation with the UNIA(Universal Negro Improvement Association), the group associated with Marcus Garvey,its founder.

After the father's death,the Little Family fell apart,the family was separated and sent to live with different foster families. The strain of family dysfunction took a toll on his mother,who had to be committed to an insane asylum because of a nervous

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