Malcolm X was a prominent Muslim civil rights activist and spokesman for the Nation of Islam until 1964. A controversial figure accused of preaching racism and violence, he is also a widely celebrated figure within African American and Muslim American communities for his pursuit of racial justice. On February 21, 1965, he was assassinated in New York City.
Malcolm X is described as one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. He helped raise the self-esteem of Black Americans and reconnected them with their African heritage. He is also responsible for spreading Islam in the Black community and many African Americans felt that Malcolm X articulated their complaints concerning inequality better than the mainstream civil rights movement.