Happy Birthday, Malcom X! A look at the life and legacy of Malcolm X, who was born 100 years ago [View all]
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A look at the life and legacy of Malcolm X, who was born 100 years ago
May 19, 2025 4:35 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition
By
Hosts
On this day 100 years ago, the man who would become Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Neb. His message and legacy continues to outrage some and inspire many.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
One hundred years ago today, Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska. In his youth, he moved around a lot, and it was in Boston in his early 20s that he got into trouble and ended up in prison for burglary and theft. Behind bars, he spent his time reading and learning. Those readings included works on the history of Black enslavement and the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Those teachings brought him to the Nation of Islam. He dropped his last name Little and became Malcolm X. Here he is explaining why.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MALCOLM X: The last name of my forefathers...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Yeah.
MALCOLM X: ...Was taken from them when they were brought to America and made slaves. And then the name of the slave master was given, which we refuse. We reject that name today.
FADEL: That's Malcolm X in 1963, from The Independent video archive. His charisma and sharp public speaking skills quickly made him one of the most prominent figures in the Nation of Islam. And as a spokesman at the time, he explained its policy against racial integration.
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https://www.npr.org/2025/05/19/nx-s1-5400438/a-look-at-the-life-and-legacy-of-malcolm-x-who-was-born-100-years-ago
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