1925
On May 19, Malcolm Little is born in Omaha, Nebraska |
1929
The family's home i Lansing Michigan is burned down. |
1931
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1939
• Malcolm's mother, Louise Little, is committed to the State Mental Hospital in Kalamazoo, consequently placing Malcolm in a juvenile home. • He tells a teacher that his goal is to one day become a lawyer, the teacher recommends becoming a carpenter instead, as being a lawyer is not a realistic goal for a "nigger." • Enrolls in Mason High School in Mason, Michigan |
1940
Malcolm drops out of school at the age of 15 and moves to Boston. |
1943
• Malcolm moves to New York, specifically Harlem. • Known as Detroit Red • Involved in criminal activities. |
1944
• Indicted for larceny, he goes back to Boston, given a three month suspended sentence and one year on probation. |
1946
• Convicted of larceny, breaking and entering, and carrying a weapon. Sentenced to eight to ten years in prison. He starts to serve the term in Charles town Prison. • Here he begins reading as many books as possible and educating himself. |
1947
• Transferred to Concord Reformatory for fifteen months. • Influenced by some family members and impressed by letters from Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm converts to the Nation of Islam (not to be confused with actual Islam). |
1952
• Malcolm is released from prison after six years (instead of eight to ten) and meets Elijah Muhammad in Chicago. It is here that he receives the legendary 'X' from the Nation of Islam. |
1953
• The FBI opens a surveillance file on Malcolm. • He moves to Chicago to live with Elijah Muhammad. • Becomes the Minister of the Nation of Islam's Temple Number Eleven, located in Boston. |
1955
• Becomes the Minister of Temple Number Twelve, located in Philadelphia. • First hears rumors of Elijah Muhammad's adultery. |
1958
• Attracted to Betty Sanders, a nurse, he marries her in January. • Their first child, daughter Attallah, is born in November. |
1960
• Meets with Fidel Castro for half and hour in Hotel Theresa, Harlem. • His second daughter, Qubilah, is born in December. |
1964
• Begins collaboration on his autobiography with Alex Haley. • Visits Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)• Meets Martin Luther King, Jr. for the first and only time. • Breaks away from the Nation of Islam and forms the Muslim Mosque, Inc. • Travels to Makkah and Africa as Malik El-Shabazz. • He comes back to the U.S. thinking differently about white people. • He returns to Africa and meets with African leaders. • His fourth daughter, Gamilah, is born in December. |
1965
• House is firebombed in the early morning of the 14th day of February. •Right after beginning an address at the Audubon Ballroom, at 3:10 pm, he is shot several times...he is pronounced dead on arrival at Vanderbilt Clinic, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.... • Body moved to Bishop Alvin A. Child's Faith Temple Church of God in Christ for funeral services, eulogy by actor/playwright Ossie Davis, over 20,000 people attend. • Twin daughters, Malaak and Malikah are born. |
1997
• Betty Shabazz (formerly Betty X, born Betty Sanders), wife of Malcolm X, the only person he would trust with his life, dies in a fire allegedly set by grandson, Malcolm, named after Malcolm X. |