Each year on Black History Month we highlight a Historical Black figure that has changed the world in many ways that have also had an impact on our community to this day.
Malcolm X (aka Malcolm Little) was born on May 19th, 1925, he was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and acted as a human rights activist, he first started as a minister for the National of Islam which is an American new religious movement and black nationalist organization (founded in 1930 by Wallace Fard Muhammad). It was shown as a program that focused on Black empowerment, nationalism, and self-defense. It helped operate businesses, schools, and published social interaction. He left the NOI in 1964 because he had a disagreement with another leader, Elijah Muhammad.
He also founded Muslim Mosque which aimed to represent a more traditional form of Islam, and the Organization of Afro-American Unity, an organization to fight for human rights, self-determination, and economic independence for African Americans. All of these created programs all had a goal to unite African Americans and link their struggle to human rights.
He was also remembered as a historical figure who fought for racial justice, and had ideas that influenced the Black Power movement (1960-1970).
He died February 21st, 1965 from multiple gunshot wounds, but his legacy hasn’t been forgotten. There are a lot of locations that have remembered him and the things he did that had big impacts on everyone. Like Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center that is located in Harlem, New York, and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture also located in New York. They both share a space full of education and honoring those who fought against discrimination, equal justice, and empowerment.
Malcolm X used inspirational quotes to characterize demands for the African-American culture. On June 28th, 1964 in Manhattan, New York Malcom X focused education as a tool for self-determination. “Education is our passport, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” is what Malcom wanted to change for the better. He also had ways to make young people encourage themselves to never fail and take what people say into consideration. “If you don’t have critics, you’ll likely have no success.” as in a way to make young kids succeed in their future.
Even after he died his management made sure his legacy stayed alive by keeping up with a website https://www.malcolmx.com/ it represents an archive of Malcolm’s life and how he operated throughout his time as a Civil Rights leader.
Malcolm X has changed society in many ways by addressing daily struggles that African-Americans faced, he put a different perspective in black culture. It has also impacted our community by allowing students to speak out how they feel with certain global situations.
