Name: Class:

Malcolm X
By Barrett Smith
2017

Malcolm X was an African American Muslim minister and civil rights activist. His contributions to
the Civil Rights Movement and the enthusiasm with which he pursued rights for African
Americans continue to be admired today. In this informational text, Barrett Smith discusses
Malcolm X's life and his various contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. As you read, take
notes on what Malcolm X’s goals were as an activist, and how his goals changed throughout his
life.

[1] Malcolm X was one of the most prominent,

controversial, and influential leaders of the
Civil Rights Movement. As a spokesperson for
the Nation of Islam,1 he spread their message
of black pride, a free black nation, and the
need for a revolution against racism to
thousands. Through the best-selling book The
Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex
Haley and the 1992 Hollywood film Malcolm X,
he became a cultural icon for his importance
in the Civil Rights Movement.

Early Life

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha,

Nebraska, on May 19, 1925. His father was a "malcolm_x" by Ricardo Cardenas is licensed
Baptist minister who was known for speaking under CC BY-SA 2.0.
up about civil rights for African Americans.
Because of his father’s activism, the family received death threats from white supremacist2
groups like the Ku Klux Klan3 and the Black Legion.4 They had to move twice before Malcolm

1. an African American political and religious organization

2. an advocate of the supremacy of a particular group, especially one determined by race or
sex
3. one of the oldest and most infamous hate groups in America, known for promoting the
belief that white people are superior to other races
4. a secret terrorist group that was originally a part of the Ku Klux Klan

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 turned four to hide from these groups. Despite their efforts to escape trouble, their house was
burned down when Malcolm was four years old, and two years later his father’s lifeless body
was discovered lying on trolley tracks. The police ruled that both were accidents, but Malcolm
and his family believed the Black Legion had murdered his father. Malcolm’s mother suffered
an emotional breakdown shortly after her husband’s death and was placed in a mental
institution. Malcolm and his siblings were split up into different foster homes and orphanages.

Malcolm was one of a very small number of African American students at the high school he
attended. He overcame this obstacle and his tragic past and excelled in school. He was, by then,
already a charismatic5 person and very good at speaking to people. These skills would serve
him well in the future. His classmates voted him class president. But, in spite of his success,
when Malcolm told his class that he wanted to be a lawyer, his teacher told him that his dream
was unrealistic. He suggested that he think about carpentry, a job that he thought was more
suited for a black man. Malcolm felt that there was no point in going to school if he could not
work toward his dreams, and he dropped out the next year.

He went to live with his sister in Boston where he worked a number of different jobs, from
shining shoes to working in a kitchen on a train. Through these jobs and nightlife on the streets,
he was introduced to a world of crime. He was arrested in 1946 for robbery and sentenced to
ten years in prison.

Nation of Islam

[5] While he was in prison, Malcolm decided to continue his education by reading a lot of books.
His brother, Reginald, regularly visited and told him about a religious group called the Nation of
Islam (NOI), headed by the spiritual leader, Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm started to study Elijah
Muhammad’s teachings. The NOI was a Muslim group, but they differed from traditional
Muslim organizations because of their emphasis on black pride and empowerment.

After seven years, Malcolm was released from prison in 1952. By then, he was a devoted
follower of the NOI and had changed his name from Malcolm Little, which he called his “slave”
name, to Malcolm X. The “X” would represent the tribal name of his ancestors, lost over
generations of African American slavery. Just like in high school, Malcolm was articulate and
smart, and so he was appointed the national spokesperson of NOI. Malcolm worked hard,
created a newspaper called Muhammad Speaks, and talked about the NOI on the radio and
television. He also helped open new mosques for members of the NOI to worship in different
cities around the country. Because of Malcolm’s work, membership in the NOI increased from
500 people in 1952 to 30,000 people in 1963.

Malcolm became very famous, arguably even more famous than his teacher Elijah Muhammad.

5. Charismatic (adjective) the ability to attract the attention and admiration of others

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 One of his most famous sayings is that black people would have a revolution “by any means
necessary,” which meant even violence. Though Malcolm did not agree with Martin Luther King,
Jr. — another popular civil rights leader of the time — and his philosophy of nonviolence, he
encouraged people only to use violence for self-defense. He did not think people should allow
themselves to be attacked and killed for the sake of being respectable and keeping the peace.

Break with the NOI

In 1963, Malcolm found out that Elijah Muhammad had fathered children from outside his
marriage. Malcolm had loyally followed all of Elijah Muhammad’s teachings, and felt
disappointed and betrayed by Elijah Muhammad’s actions. The tensions in his relationship with
Elijah Muhammed were growing. Shortly after this, Malcolm X got a lot of attention for an
insensitive comment he made about President Kennedy’s assassination. Elijah Muhammad
“silenced” Malcolm for 90 days. This was the last straw for Malcolm. He decided to leave the NOI
and start his own group called Muslim Mosque, Inc.

That same year, he went on a long trip through North Africa and the Middle East and made a
pilgrimage to Mecca.6 He met a lot of different people on his trip and learned a lot about Islam
and the fight against colonialism. He was able to connect his fight for civil rights back home with
a global struggle. He embraced socialism and pan-Africanism7 and converted to Sunni Islam. He
changed his name again to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. He also met a lot of white people that he
considered brothers and allies in the fight for civil rights, and he returned to the United States
with a different attitude. Now he was more hopeful about the future and believed that racial
integration8 was possible.

Death & Legacy

[10] Malcolm was unable to make much progress in fighting for his new beliefs because the NOI
targeted him for assassination. His home was firebombed with his four daughters inside, but
luckily they were able to escape unharmed. They tried again that same year, and on Feb. 21,
1965, three gunmen rushed on stage while Malcolm was giving a speech and shot him 15 times.
1500 people attended his funeral, and his friends took the shovels away from gravediggers to
honor him by burying him themselves.

Right after his death, the media ignored Malcolm’s recent change of beliefs and his
contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. They portrayed him as a violent troublemaker who
hated white society. Later that year, The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley was

6. a religious journey to Mecca, the most holy city for Muslims

7. the idea or advocacy for the political alliance or union of all African nations
8. the bringing together of people of different races

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published, and people started to understand the racism Malcolm lived through in America, his
spiritual journey, and his importance to the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X was one of the
most well-known leaders of his time who spread the message of black pride and a revolution
against racism.

"Malcolm X" by Barrett Smith. Copyright © 2017 by CommonLit, Inc. This text is licensed under CC BY-
NC-SA 2.0.

Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

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 Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete
sentences.

1. PART A: Which of the following identifies one of the central ideas of the text?
A. Malcolm X's violent approach to combating racism made him largely
unpopular with both black and white Americans.
B. Malcolm X provided a powerful voice to the Civil Rights Movement, but
was never able to accept Martin Luther King, Jr.'s goal of racial integration.
C. Malcolm X's positive contributions to the Civil Rights Movement continue
to be overshadowed by his promotion of violence today.
D. Malcolm X's passionate beliefs and support of violence when necessary
made him a controversial figure for many people during the Civil Rights
Movement, despite his many contributions.

2. PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. "Because of Malcolm's work, membership in the NOI increased from 500
people in 1952 to 30,000 people in 1963." (Paragraph 6)
B. "One of his most famous sayings is that black people would have a
revolution 'by any means necessary,' which meant even violence."
(Paragraph 7)
C. "He also met a lot of white people that he considered brothers and allies in
the fight for civil rights, and he returned to the United States with a
different attitude." (Paragraph 9)
D. "Malcolm was unable to make much progress in fighting for his new
beliefs because the NOI targeted him for assassination." (Paragraph 10)

3. PART A: How did Malcolm's views on civil rights change throughout his life?
A. Malcolm X's beliefs shifted to be more accepting of the opinions and help
of white civil rights activists.
B. Malcolm X's beliefs became more driven by violence as he continued to
encounter death threats for his activism.
C. Malcolm X's beliefs focused exceedingly on separatism toward the end of
his life, as he didn't believe white and black people could live peacefully
together.
D. Malcolm X's beliefs shifted to focus on nonviolent forms of protests, as he
grew more inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.

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4. PART B: Which section from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. "He met a lot of different people on his trip and learned a lot about Islam
and the fight against colonialism." (Paragraph 9)
B. "He also met a lot of white people that he considered brothers and allies in
the fight for civil rights, and he returned to the United States with a
different attitude." (Paragraph 9)
C. "His home was firebombed with his four daughters inside, but luckily they
were able to escape unharmed." (Paragraph 10)
D. "They portrayed him as a violent troublemaker who hated white society."
(Paragraph 11)

5. What early experiences contributed to Malcolm X's views on civil rights?

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 Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be
prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion.

1. How did Malcolm X overcome the obstacles of his early life and become an influential
figure in the Civil Rights Movement? What traits do you think he must have
possessed to succeed despite the adversity he faced? Describe a time when you
overcame a difficult experience. How were you affected by it?

2. How was Malcolm X able to create change during the Civil Rights Movement? What
kind of change do you think he created? How are his contributions still important
today? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or
history in your answer.

3. Why do you think many people felt compelled to follow Malcolm X and support his
ideas? What leadership qualities did he possess? What compels you to follow a
leader?

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4. How did Malcolm X's legacy immediately following his death compare to how we view
him today? Why do you think Malcolm X's legacy changed with time? Cite evidence
from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your
answer.