In the course of human history there will always be change. In order to bring about that change there .
must be something that is so controversial that it can break people away from the normal routine they have been .
accustomed to. Few people can raise the amount of attention needed to fuel that controversy. Malcolm X was .
one of those few that would die trying to achieve that attention.
Earl Little was a black Baptist minister and an avid civil rights activist. On May 19, 1925 in Omaha, .
Nebraska Earl and his wife Louise gave birth to Malcolm Little. Malcolm was a victim of prejudice from day .
one. Before the time Malcolm was four his family had to relocate twice to avoid death threats from the Black .
Legion (White Supremacists) regarding Earl's civil rights activism. Malcolm's family's attempts to avoid impending .
violence were unsuccessful. .
In 1929 their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground, the police ruled the fire an accident. .
The family was able to battle through until 1931 when Earl's body was found lying across the town's trolley .
tracks. The police also ruled this an accident, the Little's, however, strongly believed both instances were no .
accident. Shortly after Louise suffered an emotional breakdown and was hospitalized, the children were split up .
amongst various foster home and orphanages.
Malcolm proved to be a strong child and graduated at the top of his class in middle school. Strangely, .
Malcolm's future was forever altered when his favorite teacher told him that his dream of becoming a lawyer was .
"no realistic goal for a nigger." Dismayed, Malcolm dropped out of school and spent time in Boston working .
various jobs. He traveled to Harlem and began a criminal life where he organized narcotic, prostitution, and .
gambling rings. He moved back to Boston and was eventually arrested for burglary in which he earned seven .
years in prison.
Malcolm used his time in prison to further his education.