However, Malcolm's family was told by the authorities that their father had committed suicide, but most people knew, including the Little family, that it was an act of violence against the reverend's determination to obtain civil rights for the black community, which they felt they were entitled to. This ordeal of losing his father was too much for his mother to handle and she was taken and placed in a mental institution. This tragic milestone broke up his family and for a number of years Malcolm lived in state institutions and boarding homes. When he finally went to school he made good marks, but lost interest. Malcolm dropped out of school at the age of 15 and moved to Boston with his half sister Ella. While in Boston, Malcolm got a job as a dishwasher hoping that he would be able to save enough money to go to New York. Once in New York he resorted to the underworld where he became a hustler, pimp, drug pusher and later a drug user. In 1946, Malcolm Little was arrested in Massachusetts for stealing so that he could support his drug addiction. This event landed Malcolm in the Charleston prison for 10 years. After one year at Charleston, Malcolm was transferred out to Concord Reformatory prison where he converted to the Black Muslim faith, known as the Nation of Islam. In prison Malcolm began to educate himself and teach himself how to improve his reading and writing skills. Being able to read opened a whole new world, as a result Malcolm learned more and more about the black nation and the hate they endured throughout history. This experience in prison was the initial turning point that began the voyage of Malcolm Little and created a man with a mission who wanted to fight for black rights and allow black people to have a voice in their country.
The journey began at the age of 27 when Malcolm Little was released from prison as a changed man. He set out for the headquarters of the Nation of Islam in Chicago, where he met his mentor, the leader Elijah Muhammad.
