Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, was a prominent Black nationalist and civil rights activist in the United States. He was a powerful and influential advocate for Black empowerment, self-determination, and liberation. Malcolm X was a key figure in the Nation of Islam, a religious and political organization that advocated for the rights and self-reliance of Black Americans.

Malcolm X rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s through his powerful oratory and radical approach to challenging racial inequality and oppression. He famously called for Black Americans to assert their rights "by any means necessary," advocating for self-defense and challenging the nonviolent approach of other civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1964, Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam and embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he experienced a transformation in his beliefs and adopted a more inclusive and universalist approach to Islam and the fight for justice. He began working towards building coalitions with other civil rights organizations and speaking out against racial discrimination on a broader scale.

Tragically, Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Despite his untimely death, his legacy as a fearless advocate for Black empowerment and liberation continues to inspire generations of activists and leaders in the fight for racial justice.