Human Rights Advocate Exploring Malcolm X's Legacy
- il y a 5 mois
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925. The 'X' in his name is not a given name but a self-assumed moniker upon joining the Nation of Islam in 1952. Little rejected the surname given by his white slave ancestor's master and opted for the letter 'X' to signify his unfamiliarity with his true name, that of his African ancestors (similar to the 'x' used in mathematics for an unknown variable). It may also have served as a reminder of the cross marking carried by black slaves. His father died in 1931, having been assaulted and placed on tram tracks, likely by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
In 1943, he moved to New York, briefly returning to work for the New Haven Railroad. Malcolm X even found employment as a shoe shiner at the Lindy Hop Nightclub. Shortly thereafter, in Harlem, where he was known as "Detroit Red," he became involved in activities such as drug dealing, gambling, racketeering, and burglaries.
In 1943, he moved to New York, briefly returning to work for the New Haven Railroad. Malcolm X even found employment as a shoe shiner at the Lindy Hop Nightclub. Shortly thereafter, in Harlem, where he was known as "Detroit Red," he became involved in activities such as drug dealing, gambling, racketeering, and burglaries.