Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio

Courtesy of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center. After several racial tragedies and setbacks in his youth, Malcolm Little changed his name to Malcolm X and later found the Islamic religion. It was in 1954, when Malcolm X was appointed the chief minister of Harlem’s Temple No. 7 by Elijah Muhammad.   The next several years were filled with racial discrimination including the police beating of member Johnson Hinton where he was refused medical attention.  Malcolm joined the contingent of Muslims at the 28th Precinct headquarters in Harlem, where he demanded Hinton receive medical attention. Media coverage of the Hinton incident brought national attention, and  as a result the FBI considered Malcolm X a "key figure" meriting  surveillance and increased harassment. 

This poster advertises a speech that took place in Harlem on June 29, 1963. One year before Malcolm X’s pilgrimage to Mecca changing his worldview and fundamental understanding of race relations, religion, and the world at large. "And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America — then all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine."  -Malcolm X

Malcolm X addresses a rally in Harlem in New York City on June 29, 1963. (AP)

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