MALCOLM X
1925 - 1965

Malcolm started out as Malcolm Little.

When Malcolm converted to the Nation of Islam he exchanged his family name with an X, because the name had been received from white slave owners back in the days.

In 1958, Malcolm married Betty Sanders, who had previously also converted to the Nation of Islam.

In 1964, Malcolm leaves the Nation of Islam more or less voluntarily and becomes a Sunnite Muslim. He receives death threats. One week before his assassination his home gets firebombed.

Malcolm's Muslim name was el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz.

THE ASSASSINATION OF MALCOLM X
February 21, 1965 - Audubon Ballroom, Harlem, New York.

Civil rights leader Malcolm X delivers a speech when somebody throws a smoke bomb.

Thomas Hagan shoots Malcolm with a double-barreled sawed-off shotgun. Malcolm falls to the floor. Normal Butler and Thomas Johnson approach and shoot Malcolm several times with a .45 pistol and a 9mm Luger.

Malcolm's bodyguards return fire and hit Hagan in the leg. The other two shooters escape but were later captured. All three shooters belonged to the Nation of Islam.

Malcolm died two hours later in surgery. He suffered 16 bullet wounds.

His wife Betty, while pregnant with twins, and his four daughters had to witness Malcolm's assassination.

Check out Assassinations in History.