Author: Malcolm X
Malcolm X was a Muslim minister, speaker, activist, and one of the most influential African-American leaders in history. As a member of the Nation of Islam from 1952-1964, he advocated for the rights of African Americans and for racial separatism. Malcolm X broke away from the Nation of Islam in 1963, forming the Organization of Afro-American Unity and working toward African-American self-determination as well as racial integration. He was assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam on February 21, 1965. While he remains a controversial figure, Malcolm X's message of the universality of basic human rights continues to resonate today.