The Black Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century pushed for and achieved different levels equality through its many prominent activists. Prior to the movement, millions of Black Americans faced brutal abuse and segregation with little to no government action taking place against such wrongdoings. The movement included passionate advocates for black equality such as Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These civil and human rights activists inspired millions of Americans to join in the cause for justice and equality for all through their many unique styles. Malcolm X was one prominent civil rights activist known for his fiery demeanor and controversial beliefs. The underlining aspect in Malcolm's life was that he adamantly believed in was the importance to the devotion of Islam. Through the religion Islam Malcolm X identified himself as a human being and used his knowledge to inspire others. Malcolm X's relationship with Islam advanced him as a civil rights activist among black Americans, which promoted social change. .
In his childhood, Malcolm X experienced blatant racism towards his family. Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha Nebraska on May 19, 1925. He was the son of Baptist Minister Earl Little and his mother Louise Norton Little and one of four children. Malcolm Little's father preached that black Americans deserved the same rights as white Americans, but as a result of the times blacks made less money and were persecuted by the KKK. Malcolm Little would attend his father's sermons and recalled being very proud of his father for standing up for racial equality. While Malcolm Little agreed with his father's belief about equality he could not grasp the spiritual aspects of the sermons as a child. Malcolm Little later looked back at this moment in his life saying, "Even at that young age, I just couldn't believe in the Christian concept of Jesus as someone divine, and no religious person, until I was a man in my twenties and then in prison could tell me anything" (Haley, The Autobiography of Malcolm X1).
