Black Power Malcolm X

From the mid 1960s the Civil Rights movement took a new directions Protests took place in the north Protest changed from non-violent to violent Blacks wanted Black Power and they were prepared to use violence A new leader emerged called Malcolm X

Who was Malcolm X? Born Malcolm Little Father murdered by KKK School drop out, became small time criminal & spent time in prison In prison he heard the ideas of the Nation of Islam Joined the Nation of Islam Started to call himself Malcolm X (Little was a slave name)

What was the Nation of Islam? Followers of the Nation of Islam were called Black Muslims Malcolm X was the Black Muslims most effective speaker….

What were the ideas of Malcolm X? Did not agree with the aims and methods of Martin Luther King... The goal of Dr King is to give Negroes a chance to sit-in segregated restaurants beside the same white folks who have persecuted, beaten and lynched black people for years. Dr King seems to want black people to forgive the people who have beaten, bought, sold and lynched our people for four hundred years. We don’t go for desegregation. We go for separation. Separation is when you have your own. You control your own economy, you control your own politics, you control your own society. I don’t go along with any kind of non-violence unless everybody’s going to be non-violent. If they make the Ku Klux Klan non-violent I’ll be non-violent. You get freedom by letting your enemy know that you’ll do anything to get your freedom... It’s the only way to get it... Fight them, and you’ll get your freedom.

What was the Nation of Islam? Followers of the Nation of Islam wanted nothing to do with ‘white devils’ They started their own shops, businesses, schools and churches They wanted a separate black nation on land given to them by the USA. Many blacks were attracted to the ideas of the Black Muslims

Malcolm X - A Threat to the USA? Seen as threat to Federal Government Followed everywhere by FBI Conversations recorded and phones bugged Why? Government feared he was building up racial hatred which could erupt into riots and revolution

Malcolm X leaves the Black Muslims... Malcolm had serious arguments with the leader of the Nation of Islam He was suspended from the movement in 1963 He then travelled to Africa and the Middle East Spring 1964 his views changed after a visit to Mecca

In a few weeks in Africa I saw what I had never seen in thirty-nine years here in America. I saw all races, all colours, blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans in true brotherhood... In the past yes, I have made sweeping indictments (criticisms) of all white people. I never will be guilty of that again as I now know that some whites are truly sincere and are capable of being brotherly towards a black man.

Assassination of Malcolm X 14 Feb 1965 several of Muhammad’s followers firebombed Malcolm’s home 21 Feb 1965 Malcolm X was murdered in mysterious circumstances His bodyguards usually present day and night were ‘absent’