May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965
Originally born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm X became a prominent human rights activist and gained numerous followers and enemies during the height of the civil rights movement. Malcolm X was assassinated while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City, just about three months shy of his 40th birthday.
In 2011, The New York Times reported on the decade long feud over the estates of Malcolm X and his deceased wife, Betty Shabazz. You can read the full story here. Most recently, in 2012, documents surfaced from the lives of Malcolm X and his friend, Malcolm Jarvis, with whom he served time in prison. The collection of artifacts were bought at an auction of a storage unit that had gone into default in Connecticut. Various items will be displayed at the Malcolm X Center.
It has been 47 years since Malcolm X was murdered. In 2010, the last of the three men sentenced for assassinating the activist leader was released on parole in New York City. While Malcolm X was a controversial figure of his time, and remains so to this day, it is unquestionable that he had passion for freedom and a love for humanity. It was said in his eulogy:
Consigning these mortal remains to earth, the common mother of all, secure in the knowledge that what we place in the ground is no more now a man – but a seed – which, after the winter of our discontent, will come forth again to meet us. And we will know him then for what he was and is – a Prince – our own black shining Prince! – who didn’t hesitate to die, because he loved us so.
You can read the full eulogy here.
