-Friday World – February 22, 2026
Bitter Beginnings of Childhood: The First Lesson in Hatred Born as Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, this child's early life was never ordinary. His father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister and supporter of Marcus Garvey's Back-to-Africa movement. But white supremacist groups targeted the family. Fearing threats from the Ku Klux Klan, they moved to Michigan, yet the danger persisted.
In 1931, his father died – officially reported as a streetcar accident, but most believe it was a racially motivated murder. His mother, Louise Little, succumbed to mental strain and was institutionalized. The eight siblings were scattered across foster homes. Malcolm was an excellent student, but racial discrimination shattered him. A teacher told him, "You can't become a lawyer; become a carpenter." In eighth grade, he dropped out of school.
From the Streets of Crime to Prison: The Era of "Detroit Red" In his teens, Malcolm moved to Boston and then Harlem, New York. The glamour drew him in, but poverty and racism pushed him toward the wrong path. Drugs, gambling, theft, pimping – he did it all. People called him "Detroit Red." In 1946, convicted of burglary, he received a 10-year sentence. Prison became the turning point of his life.
The Light of Islam: Nation of Islam and a New Birth In prison, his siblings introduced him to the Nation of Islam (NOI). The teachings of Elijah Muhammad touched him deeply. He converted to Islam, learned to read and write extensively, and mastered debate. Released in 1952, he changed his name to Malcolm X – the "X" symbolizing the lost African surname erased by slavery.
Rising rapidly in the NOI, he became Elijah Muhammad's chief spokesperson. His powerful oratory and fiery speeches grew the organization's membership from hundreds to thousands. He declared: "The white man is the devil." "We will live separately, for integration is impossible." "By any means necessary"
– secure your rights through any method required.
He disagreed with Martin Luther King Jr.'s non-violence, believing self-defense was essential and non-violence alone could not end racism.
The Hajj Pilgrimage: A Revolutionary Shift in Thinking** In 1964, differences arose with Elijah Muhammad, leading Malcolm to leave the NOI. That same year, he performed Hajj in Mecca. There, he witnessed people of all races – white, Black, yellow – praying together in true brotherhood, without discrimination.
This experience transformed him completely. In a letter, he wrote: "I have never witnessed such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as practiced by people of all colors and races here... We were truly all the same (brothers) – because their belief in one God had removed the ‘white’ from their minds, the ‘white’ from their behavior, and the ‘white’ from their attitude."
He embraced Sunni Islam, adopting the name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. Now, he spoke not only for Black people but for all oppressed humanity. He founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU).
Final Days: Bullets and an Immortal Legacy On February 21, 1965, while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York, he was shot dead. At just 39 years old, his life was ended. The main accused were NOI members, but many conspiracy questions linger to this day.
Why Malcolm X Remains Relevant Today
- His autobiography, The Autobiography of Malcolm X (co-authored with Alex Haley), ranks among the most influential books of the 20th century.
- Terms like Black Power, Black Pride, and self-respect are forever linked to him.
- His voice echoes in today's Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
- He teaches us: Turn anger not into mere bitterness, but into the power for change. *
Malcolm X was no saint. He was angry, furious, yet honest. He admitted his mistakes, evolved, and stood by truth until the end.
"I have seen much in my life. I have seen hatred, I have seen love. But the greatest lesson is this – before humanity, race and color mean nothing."
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World – February 22, 2026
