Malcolm X, one of the most influential leaders of the Nation of Islam, was assassinated in New York City in 1965. He had long believed that violence might be necessary (though not always called for) in order for African-American people to achieve equality and justice, a stance that differentiated him from Martin Luther King, Jr., who believed in the use of non-violence to achieve racial equality. In 1964, he publicly broke with the Nation of...
Malcolm X, one of the most influential leaders of the Nation of Islam, was assassinated in New York City in 1965. He had long believed that violence might be necessary (though not always called for) in order for African-American people to achieve equality and justice, a stance that differentiated him from Martin Luther King, Jr., who believed in the use of non-violence to achieve racial equality. In 1964, he publicly broke with the Nation of Islam and committed himself to a more peaceful form of Islam that emphasized the use of the religion to bridge divides between people of different races and backgrounds.
After he was shot, his well-written autobiography continued to be widely read, and his belief in instilling pride in African-Americans became popular. The slogan "black is beautiful" has been attributed to him. His beliefs inspired some of the new movements of the late 1960s and 1970s, including the Black Power movement. Most influential was his belief that African-Americans should have pride in their cultural identity and their connection to Africa. He also believed in the separation of the races (though he might have been starting to backtrack from this belief at the end of his life). He was very influential in raising Black consciousness and in making African-Americans aware of and proud of their history. Some good references for more information about Malcolm X include the Duke University site in the links below and The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
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