On This Day: February 21, 1965 - Black nationalist Malcolm X is shot dead

[MenInG]

1965: Black nationalist leader shot dead
Controversial black leader Malcolm X, who once called for a "blacks-only" state in the US, has been assassinated.
He was shot several times as he began a speech to 400 of his followers at the Audubon Ballroom just outside the district of Harlem in New York.

Malcolm X, who was 39, was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Two men believed to have carried out the shooting were cornered outside the ballroom by a crowd and badly beaten.


Malcolm knew he would be killed

Percy Sutton, Malcolm X's lawyer

It took 10 police officers several minutes to rescue them.

One of the arrested men, Thomas Hagan, 22, had a bullet wound to his leg and was taken to hospital.

It is believed the men are members of the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam (NoI).

Malcolm X had long been tipped to take over from the NoI's ageing leader, Elijah Muhammad.

He gave up his "slave" family name of Little when he joined the black Muslim group while serving a jail term.

But he broke away from the NoI acrimoniously two years ago to set up his own organisation which he said was for "***** intellectuals who favoured racial separation but could not accept the Muslim religion".

However, after a recent trip to Mecca he appeared to be taking a more conciliatory approach to white people.

Firebombs

Sanford Garelick, assistant chief of New York police said Malcolm X's death could most probably be put down to rivalry between the two groups.

"This is the result, it would seem, of a long-standing feud," he said.

Only last week Malcolm X and his family survived the firebombing of their home in the Queen's district of New York.

Malcolm X's lawyer, Percy Sutton, said he was aware his life was in danger.

"Malcolm knew he would be killed," Mr Sutton said.

Police said they were investigating reports that some of Malcolm X's followers were planning a revenge attack.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/21/newsid_2752000/2752637.stm

 

[faraz39]

He was fiercely black nationalist in the earlier parts of his life while with the NOI but after this conversion to Sunni Islam and the hajj, his views changed considerably. He didn't stop advocating against racial injustices but he did go back on many of his extreme views.

I am amazed at how many people continue to be inspired by his life. I recently met an aboriginal film maker who had X in his last name. He saw the movie on Malcolm X's life at the age of 9 and saw parallels between the struggle of the blacks in US and the aboriginals in Canada. He was greatly inspired and moved by it and includes x as the last letter in his last name.

 

[s28]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Malcolm X died 53 years ago today, just as he was moving toward revolutionary ideas that challenged oppression in all its forms. <a href="https://t.co/0eeb8q9y4I">https://t.co/0eeb8q9y4I</a></p>— Jacobin (@jacobinmag) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobinmag/status/966337865184632832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">21 February 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thinking of and praying for the daughters of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MalcolmX?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MalcolmX</a> today, the 53rd anniversary of the day he was assassinated. He was a leader to millions, an activist, a prolific speaker, and a man of great faith and transformation. To them, he was father. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BettyShabazz?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BettyShabazz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackHistoryMonth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackHistoryMonth</a> <a href="https://t.co/9Ry5XmEfcr">pic.twitter.com/9Ry5XmEfcr</a></p>— Be A King (@BerniceKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/BerniceKing/status/966354204142039040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[finalfantasy7]

Who would you regard as more influencial him or Dr Martin Luther king

 

[Firebat]

Malcolm X's 1965 assassination: Convictions of two men quashed

Two men convicted of the murder in 1965 of the US civil rights leader Malcolm X have had their convictions quashed.

Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam did not get the justice they deserved, the Manhattan District Attorney said.

The State Supreme Court said a reinvestigation found "significant evidence that was not known at the time of the trial" and which would likely have seen the men acquitted.

Malcolm X was shot dead at a New York City ballroom in front of his family.

Aziz and Islam - along with a third man, Thomas Hagan - were convicted of the murder, and sentenced to life in prison.

The three men - members of the Nation of Islam political and religious movement - have all since been paroled. Islam died in 2009.

State Supreme Court Justice Ellen Biben said if the newly uncovered evidence had been presented at trial, it would have created a probability that the "verdict would have been more favourable".

She told the men she regretted the court could not fully undo the "serous miscarriage of justice... and give you back the years that were lost".

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance apologised for what had been "serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust" and said the men had not got the justice they deserved.

A review of the convictions was launched in 2020, after the District Attorney met representatives of the Innocence Project, a non-profit legal group campaigning for justice for individuals it said had been wrongly convicted.

Earlier this year Malcolm X's daughters requested that the murder investigation be reopened in light of new evidence.

They cited a deathbed letter from a man who was a policeman at the time of the 1965 killing, alleging New York police and the FBI conspired in the murder.

Malcolm X was a charismatic advocate for black empowerment. After years as the prominent spokesman for the Nation of Islam - which advocated separatism for black Americans - his views later became more moderate. He was 39 when he was killed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59327673

 

[Robert]

So if those two are not guilty, who shot him?

 

[daytrader]

Malcolm X's family plan to sue FBI, CIA, NYPD for his death

A daughter of murdered black civil rights activist Malcolm X says she is suing New York City Police Department and other agencies for his 1965 murder.

Ilyasah Shabazz says US officials fraudulently concealed evidence that they "conspired to and executed their plan to assassinate" her father.

She announced the planned legal action at the site where he was fatally shot in New York exactly 58 years ago.

The FBI and CIA were also named in the legal filing, a lawyer said.

Mrs Shabazz, 60, was two years old when she saw her father gunned down. Three armed men shot him 21 times as he was preparing to speak at a Harlem auditorium.

"For years, our family has fought for the truth to come to light concerning his murder," she said on Tuesday at the venue, which has since been converted into a memorial site, as she filed notices of claims, a precursor to a lawsuit.

At the news conference, Benjamin Crump - the lawyer who is representing the family - alleged that powerful figures in the American government had conspired to kill Malcom X.

He mentioned former FBI Director J Edgar Hoover throughout his remarks.

Mr Crump said Malcolm X's family intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking damages in the range of $100m (£83m).

"It's not just about the triggermen," he said. "It's about those who conspired with the triggermen to do this dastardly deed."

The NYPD told the BBC it would not comment on pending litigation. The FBI and CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Malcolm X was a lead spokesman for the Nation of Islam - which advocated separatism for black Americans - before his acrimonious split from the organisation. He was 39 when he was killed.

One man, a Nation of Islam member, confessed to killing him.

In 2021, two other men convicted of killing him had their convictions thrown out after a New York state judge declared there had been a miscarriage of justice.

The two men were later fully exonerated after New York's attorney general found prosecutors had withheld evidence that would have probably cleared them of the murder.

Family of the wrongly convicted men sued and won $26m from New York City and $10m from New York state.

BBC

 

[The_KING]

Malcolm X is one of the most inspirational people of all time. The way he changed his life from a black supremist to a person advocating for unity between races is nothing short of extraordinary. I am glad that he embraced Sunni Islam before he passed away.

I recommend everyone to watch the 1992 film titled "Malcolm X." I would also recommend his 1965 autobiography. Both are a must watch/read for anyone who is a fan of Malcolm X.

 

[Robert]

Malcolm X is one of the most inspirational people of all time. The way he changed his life from a black supremist to a person advocating for unity between races is nothing short of extraordinary. I am glad that he embraced Sunni Islam before he passed away.

I recommend everyone to watch the 1992 film titled "Malcolm X." I would also recommend his 1965 autobiography. Both are a must watch/read for anyone who is a fan of Malcolm X.

The film is excellent.

Mrs Robert says the autobiog is excellent too.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I read the autobiography in my 20's and then the film which came out later. Both were excellent. Someone ( might have been KKWC) posted a quote of his about Uncle Toms and the difference between a field ***** and a house ***** recently, and I was struck by how relevant it still is today. Always one of my iconic figures from history.

 

[ElRaja]

honestly have a platonic intellectual man crush on the dude, was a total bad a55, lived, spoke and thought like a warrior sage. denzel extemporised some of his speech during the film, its one of the most iconic moments in film history for mine

 

[Bewal Express]

Brother Malcolm was and always will remain an inspiration to millions of us. May Allah Grant him Jannat

 

[KingKhanWC]

I read the autobiography in my 20's and then the film which came out later. Both were excellent. Someone ( might have been KKWC) posted a quote of his about Uncle Toms and the difference between a field ***** and a house ***** recently, and I was struck by how relevant it still is today. Always one of my iconic figures from history.

honestly have a platonic intellectual man crush on the dude, was a total bad a55, lived, spoke and thought like a warrior sage. denzel extemporised some of his speech during the film, its one of the most iconic moments in film history for mine

]

Interesting a thread on the Great Malcolm X bumped up today.

Yesterday it was the 58th anniversary of his death/murder. His family have filled a new lawsuit against the FBI, Police , CIA for covering up and hiding evidence. The two chaps who were wrongly convicted (Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam) had their convictions overturned , sadly spent many a year behind bars.

Malcolm was on 39 years old when he was murdered but was wiser than any leader in American history.

This is case will be very interesting, many truth will be revealed.

Imagine if X was alive today ,these fake BLM and other liberal backed organistions would be torn apart by the great man.

Im really suprised after Malcolm gave up his Slave surname, the vast majority of blacks still carry the slave masters name. I dont know how they can live with it knowing where it came from.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I read the autobiography in my 20's and then the film which came out later. Both were excellent. Someone ( might have been KKWC) posted a quote of his about Uncle Toms and the difference between a field ***** and a house ***** recently, and I was struck by how relevant it still is today. Always one of my iconic figures from history.

This is the speech. Not only genius, truthful but Malcolm had an incredible sense of humour. I would advise all to listen to this if they have not. This type of slavery still exists but just in another form.

We also have brown , blacks, Muslims living in the west who carry the mentality X was talking of. Evidence on this forum is not hard to find either.

 

[ElRaja]

Interesting a thread on the Great Malcolm X bumped up today.

Yesterday it was the 58th anniversary of his death/murder. His family have filled a new lawsuit against the FBI, Police , CIA for covering up and hiding evidence. The two chaps who were wrongly convicted (Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam) had their convictions overturned , sadly spent many a year behind bars.

Malcolm was on 39 years old when he was murdered but was wiser than any leader in American history.

This is case will be very interesting, many truth will be revealed.

Imagine if X was alive today ,these fake BLM and other liberal backed organistions would be torn apart by the great man.

Im really suprised after Malcolm gave up his Slave surname, the vast majority of blacks still carry the slave masters name. I dont know how they can live with it knowing where it came from.

Malcolm's politics was black nationalism, initially, but he preached self accountability over everything else, he pointed out the injustice of the whites at the time but he pointed out the weaknesses of the exploited individual too. these are ideals of a moral code beyond his politics, and regardless of politics, anyone can learn much about striving to learn, speak, and argue for what they believe by studying him.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Malcolm's politics was black nationalism, initially, but he preached self accountability over everything else, he pointed out the injustice of the whites at the time but he pointed out the weaknesses of the exploited individual too. these are ideals of a moral code beyond his politics, and regardless of politics, anyone can learn much about striving to learn, speak, and argue for what they believe by studying him.

He also wanted others to be held accountable. X exposed the other so called 'civil rights leaders' as mere puppets, paid very well by the state. X could have been paid much more than them as he far more articulate and powerful in speech but never sold his soul to the devil.

His visit to Mecca changed him so much, it must have been a shock not only to his followers but to him that me must accept its not the colour of someone's skin which makes them bad but their conduct. His one message alone on his return reduced racial hatred/tensions more than most civil rights leaders in their entire lives.

 

[Firebat]

One of the most inspiring men to walk the Earth. His autobiography is fantastic.

 

[SalimBhai]

Another great book in BIKO and also long walk to freedom by Nelson Mandela

 

[PakLFC]

It always amazes me that no one murdered Muhammad Ali after he refused to be inducted in to the US army.