THE WARRIOR: EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZ MINISTER MALCOLM X Today is the 41st anniversary of the death of our dear beloved brother Minister Malcolm X. As spokesperson for The Black Fist, General Nikki X would like to pay tribute to our great Black Strong Shining Prince, cut down in a vicious hail of bullets on February 21,1965. in New York. His life and his legacy will continue as long as we never forget to remember the man who loved us black people so much he put his very life on the line. Let's take a look at the life of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, The man we know and love as Bro. Minister Malcolm X: Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker occupied with the family's 8 children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earl's civil rights activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black Legion, forcing the family to relocate twice before Malcolm's 4th birthday. Regardless of the Little's efforts to elude the legion, in 1929 their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground and 2 years later Earl's mutilated body was found lying across the town's trolley tracks. Police ruled both accidents, but the Little's were certain that members of the Black Legion were responsible. Louise had an emotional breakdown several years later after the death of her husband and was committed to a mental institution. Her children were split up amongst various foster homes and orphanages. Malcolm was a smart, focused student and graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However, when a favorite teacher told Malcolm his dream of becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a nigger," Malcolm lost interest in school. He dropped out, spent some time in Boston Massachusettes working various jobs, and then moved to Harlem, New York where committed petty crimes. By 1942 Malcolm was coordinating various narcotic, prostitution and gambling rings. Eventually Malcolm and his buddy Malcolm "Shorty" Jarvis, moved back to Boston, where they were arrested and convicted on burglary charges in 1946. Malcolm placated himself by using the 7 year prison sentence to further his education. It was during this period of self-enlightenment that Malcolm's brother Reginald visited and discussed his recent conversion to the Muslim religious organization the Nation of Islam. Intrigued, Malcolm studied the teachings of the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep Blacks from empowering themselves and achieving political, economic and social success. Among other goals, the Nation of Islam fought for a state of their own, separate from one inhabited by white people. By the time he was paroled in 1952, Malcolm was a devoted follower with the new surname "X". He considered "Little" a slave name and chose the "X" to signify his lost tribal name. Intelligent and articulate, Malcolm was appointed a minister and national spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad also charged him with establishing new mosques in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Malcolm utilized newspaper columns, radio and television to communicate the Nation of Islam's message across the United States. His charisma, drive and conviction attracted an astounding number of new members. Malcolm was largely credited with increasing membership in the Nation of Islam from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963. The crowds and controversy surrounding Malcolm made him a media magnet. He was featured in a week-long television special with Mike Wallance in 1959, The Hate That Hate Produced, that explored fundamentals of the Nation of Islam and Malcolm's emergence as one of its most important leaders. After the special, Malcolm was faced with the uncomfortable reality that his fame had ecliped that of his mentor Elijah Muhammad. Racial tensions ran increasingly high during the early 1960s. In addition to the media, Malcolm's vivid personality had captured the government's attention. As membership in the Nation of Islam continued to grow, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agents infilrated the organization (one even acted as Malcolm's bodyguard) and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps and cameras surveillance equiptment to monitor the group's activities. Malcolm's faith was dealt a crushing blow at the height of the civil rights movement in 1963. He learned that Elijah Muhammad was secretly having relations with as many as 6 women in the Nation of Islam, some of which had resulted in children. Since his conversion Malcolm had adhered to the teachings of Muhammad, including remaining celibate until his marriage to Betty Shabazz in 1958. Malcolm refused Muhammad's request to keep the matter quiet. He was deeply hurt by the deception of Muhammad, whom he had considered a prophet, and felt guilty about the masses he had lead into what he now felt was a fraudulent organization. When Malcolm received criticism after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy for saying, ""[Kennedy]" never forsaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon," Muhammad "silenced" him for 90 days. Malcolm suspected he was silenced for another reason. In March 1964 he terminated his relationship with the Nation of Islam and founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc. That same year, Malcolm went on a pligrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The trip proved life altering, as Malcolm met "blonde-haired, blue-eyed men I could call my brothers." He returned to the United States with a new outlook on intergration. This time, instead of just preaching to Blacks, he had a message for all races. Relations between Malcolm and the Nation of Islam had become volatile after he renounced Elijah Muhammad. Informants working in the Nation of Islam warned that Malcolm had been marked for assassination (one man had even been ordered to help plant a bomb in his car). After repeated attempts on his life, Malcolm rarely traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14, 1965 the home where Malcolm, Betty and their 4 daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York was firebombed (the family escaped physical injury). At a speaking engagment in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965. 3 gunmen rushed Malcolm onstage and shot him 15 times at close range. The 39 year old was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. 1500 people attended Malcolm's funeral in Harlem at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ on February 27, 1965. After the ceremony, friends took shovels from the gravediggers and buried Malcolm themselves. Later that year, Betty gave birth to their twin daughters. Malcolm's assassins, Taladge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson were convicted of first-degree murder in March 1966. The 3 men were all members of the Nation of Islam. The legacy of Malcolm X has moved through generations as the subject of numerous documentaries, books and movies. A tremendous resurgence of interest occurred in 1992 when director Spike Lee released the acclaimed Malcolm X movie. The film received Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Denzel Washinton) and Best Costume Design. Malcolm X is buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale. New York. (That biography is released exclusively by The Estate of Malcolm X) The Black Fist honor the memory of our dear brother El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Malcolm X for the strong warrior that he was and the fearless leader of black people he will continue to be. We must always never forget to remember what those black devils took away from us when they took our beloved brother on that fateful wicked day, exactly 41 years ago today! Malcolm X was a strong, proud, Black man who stood on his own in the face of racism and adversity. He didn't hide, he didn't run. He stood up in a time when the white man and his imps would've and could've killed a black person on sight without reason and without fear of prison. ON THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006. WE, THE MEMBERS OF "THE BLACK FIST" HONOR, REMEMBER AND PAY OUR TRIBUTE AND RESPECT TO OUR SHINING BLACK PRINCE...EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZ, BROTHER MINISTER MALCOLM X! Malcolm X 1925-1965 A Militant Warrior, A Fearless Soldier, A Beautiful Black Man BLACK FIST, BLACK POWER, BLACK NATION!!!