Early Years
This page chronicles the early life of Malcolm X, highlighting significant events and transitions.
Born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm X's childhood was marked by racial violence and family tragedy. The Ku Klux Klan threatened his family, leading to their home being burnt down in 1929. In 1931, Malcolm's father, Earl, died in a street car accident, a loss that profoundly impacted the family.
Despite excelling in junior high school, Malcolm eventually dropped out. His life took significant turns as he moved to New York City's Harlem neighborhood in 1943 and then to Boston in 1945.
Example: The burning of Malcolm X's family home by the Ku Klux Klan illustrates the intense racial hostility that shaped his early experiences and later views.
Highlight: Malcolm X's early academic success, followed by his decision to drop out, foreshadows the complex journey of self-education and transformation he would undergo later in life.