Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: R. W. Hefner, The Politics of Multi-

culturalism: Pluralism and Citizenship in Malaysia, Sin-

gapore, and Indonesia (Honolulu: University of Hawaii 

Press, 2001); J. A. Nagata, The Reflowering of Malaysian 

Islam: Modern Religious Radicals and Their Roots (Van-

couver: University of British Columbia Press, 1984); 

Michael G. Peletz, Islamic Modern: Religious Courts and 

Cultural Politics in Malaysia (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton 

University Press, 2002); P. Sloane, Islam, Modernity, 

and Entrepreneurship among the Malays (New York: St. 

Martin’s Press in association with St. Antony’s College 

Oxford, 1999).

Malcolm X

 

(Malcolm Little)

 

(1925–1965)  

Black nationalist, activist, and Muslim leader who 

advocated Black pride and separatism for African 

Americans

Malcolm Little, the future Malcolm X, was born in 

Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up primarily in Bos-

ton. His father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister 

who openly supported the United Negro Move-

ment and its leader, Marcus Garvey (1887–1940). 

Consequently the family endured frequent threats 

from white extremist groups. These threats even-

tually culminated in their father’s murder. Later 

Malcolm’s mother was institutionalized due to 

stress and mental illness, and, as a result, Malcolm 

was separated from his family and went to live 

with his half-sister, Ella, in Boston. Subsequently 

he entered a phase of crime, gambling, and drug 

abuse. In 1946 he was charged with robbery and 

imprisoned in Massachusetts. It was in this con-

text that Malcolm was introduced to the n

ation

oF

  i

slam

. At the age of 22, he became a self-

avowed member of the movement, passionately 

supporting its teachings, including the perception 

of whites as a “devil race,” the need for black lib-

eration and separatism, and the goal of displaying 

personal discipline through modest Islamic dress 

and eating habits. Malcolm left prison in 1952 

and began working for Elijah Muhammad (1897–

1975), the leader of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm 

idolized Elijah and soon took a leadership posi-

tion within the Nation. During this time Malcolm 

Malcom X 

(Library of Congress)