Malcolm X was an activist who fought for the rights of the African American community, during the 1950s and 1960s, in the era of civil rights movements in the United States. A follower of Islam, he was part of an African American organization called the Nation of Islam between the years 1952 and 1964.
Malcolm's father was a reverend Baptist who served as an activist for the African-American community in an organization called the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
The performance of Malcolm's father in the struggle for African Americans caused his family to suffer intense persecution by white supremacists, especially members of the Ku Klux Klan. The chase caused Malcolm's family to move to the city twice: first from Omaha to Milwaukee and then to Lansing, Michigan.
However, even in Lansing, the persecution of Earl and his family continued: first, with his house being burned and, second, with the murder of Earl Little in 1931. The murder of Malcolm's father was never quite clear, but it is speculated that he was probably murdered by white supremacists.
After his father's murder, Malcolm's mother developed psychiatric problems and needed to be hospitalized. Malcolm and his brothers were sent to adoption centers in Lansing. Malcolm lived in Lansing until 1941, when he then moved to the city of Boston, living with his sister.
Malcolm started to work as a shoeshine boy and, based on some local friendships, he discovered bohemia. He started going to bars and consuming alcoholic beverages and drugs and soon started committing minor crimes. In one of these crimes, he was arrested by the police and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Malcolm's sentence was handed down in 1946 and he was sent to a prison in Norfolk, Massachusetts. During his time in prison, Malcolm was influenced by his brother Reginald Little to get to know the Nation of Islam, an organization that championed African American rights and the idea of forming a black society separate from that of whites.
From there, Malcolm X developed the habit of reading, using the existing library in his prison. In addition, he came into contact with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Mohammad, who claimed to be the messenger chosen by Allah. Malcolm's approach to Elijah resulted in Malcolm's conversion to Islam and adherence to the Nation of Islam in 1952.