Button - Truth Is On the Side of the Oppressed

Malcolm X was a major theoretician and advocate for Black pride and liberation.

He rose to national prominence as a leader in the Nation of Islam (NOI) where his powerful speeches attracted many thousands of followers. He parted ways with NOI in 1964 as the contradictions within that organization became intolerable for him.

He became El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz that year, traveled in Africa and made the traditional Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. When he returned to the US, he started the Organization of Afro-American Unity with a broader political agenda. Less than a year later, he was assassinated while lecturing on behalf of the new organization.

One of the most influential people of the 20th century, his words and legacy continue to inspire freedom fighters across the globe. The true architects of his assassination have yet to be brought to justice.