MALCOLM X
(Civil Rights Leader)

Charismatic. Fearless. Fierce. Eloquent. Intelligent. Honest. These are the best words to describe one of the most prominent figures in our history. Malcolm X can be thought of the first ever real Muslim leader in States. He was in prison before he was anything else.

It was there when he started to reform himself and became acquainted with Nation of Islam version of Islam. It was in this organization that he was first acknowledged by the world and became the front runner for the Black Muslims movement in States. He appeared in times when blacks can not even go in the same restaurant or use the same restroom with Whites. In some parts of the country, even the lynching of blacks was still going on! During this time, he was under the influence of Elijah Muhammad, who believes in the blacks brotherhood using Islam instead of Muslims brotherhood, as well as complete separatism between Blacks and Whites. He also condemns whites in general for the treatments blacks received. However, in his later life, after realizing that Nation of Islam is not the true Islam, he is the champion of human rights regardless of colors after returning from his first and last pilgrimage in Mecca. And he changed his name to El Malik Shabazz.

When he returned to the United States, he stopped advocating separatism, and instead relayed the message of integration and world brotherhood. However, upon his return he discovered that the Nation of Islam wanted to assassinate him. On February 14, 1965 his home was firebombed, but no one was hurt. A few days later on February 21, 1965, while Malcolm was on stage at the Manhattan Audubon Ballroom, three gunmen shot him to death. The gunmen were arrested and convicted. It was later discovered that they were members of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm was buried on February 27, 1965 in Hartsdale, New York. He was quoted to say these two days before his death, "It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it will be for the cause of brotherhood. That's the only thing that can save this country."

May Allah accepts whatever good he’s done, and forgives whatever wrong he’s committed.

The Top Ten Quotes

10. "We don't believe Afro-Americans should be victims any longer. We believe we should let the world know, the Ku Klux Klan know, that bloodshed is a two-way street, that dying is a two-way street, that killing is a two-way street. Now I say all this in as peaceful a language as I know."

9. “It doesn't mean that I advocate violence, but at the same time, I am not against using violence in self-defense. I don't call it violence when it's self-defense, I call it intelligence.”

8. "Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks."

7. “You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”

6. “Anytime you see someone more successful than you are, they are doing something you aren't.”

5. “We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.”

4. “If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.”

3. “Don't be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn't do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn't know what you know today.”

2. “If you're not ready to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary.”

1. "There is nothing in our book, the Quran that teaches us to suffer peacefully. Our religion teaches us to be intelligent. Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery. That’s a good religion."