Malcolm X Net Worth - Pulptastic
What was Malcom X’s Net Worth?
Malcolm X, a prominent American Muslim minister and human rights activist, had a net worth of $150,000 at the time of his death in 1965. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in May 1925, and died in February 1965.
Malcolm X was a polarizing figure, with many admirers who saw him as a courageous advocate for African American rights, and detractors who accused him of preaching racism and violence. Despite this, he has been named one of the most influential African Americans in history.
Malcolm X grew up in foster homes and served prison time, during which he became a member of the Nation of Islam. He served as the face of that group for 12 years, advocating for the separation of black and white Americans, black supremacy, and rejecting the civil rights movement and integration. However, he later embraced Sunni Islam and regretted his time with the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm X founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. He passed away on February 21, 1965, at the age of 39, when he was assassinated by three members of the Nation of Islam.
Early Life of Malcolm X
Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents, Granada-born Louise Helen Little and Georgia-born Earl Little, were active in various African-American advancement movements. His father was a Baptist pastor and leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The family moved to Michigan to avoid threats from the Ku Klux Klan. When Malcolm was six years old, his father died in what was ruled an accident but believed by his mother to be a murder by the white racist group, Black Legion.
After his mother’s breakdown in 1938, Malcolm and his siblings were sent to foster homes. He attended West Junior High School and then Mason High School before dropping out due to a teacher’s discouragement of his goal to become a lawyer as a black man. Malcolm worked various odd jobs before moving to New York City’s Harlem neighborhood in 1943.
Malcolm X’s Life and Break from the Nation of Islam
Malcolm X lived a tumultuous life in New York and engaged in minor crimes. He was arrested in 1946 and began serving a sentence at Charlestown State Prison. While in prison, he met fellow convict John Bembry, who inspired Malcolm to develop a massive appetite for reading. He also became interested in the Nation of Islam, a religious movement in the Black community.
Malcolm X officially joined the Nation of Islam in 1948 and became very involved in the movement, establishing new temples in various cities on the east coast. By the late 1950s, he was extremely prominent within the community and was invited by the United Nations General Assembly to attend functions of several African nations.
However, by 1964, Malcolm X publicly announced his break from the Nation of Islam, though he remained a Muslim. He had grown disillusioned with the movement and believed that its rigidity meant it would be unable to grow any larger in the United States.
Assassination of Malcolm X
On February 19, 1965, Malcolm X told an interviewer that the Nation of Islam was trying to kill him. Two days later, while preparing to address the Organization of Afro-American United, Malcolm X was shot once in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital and the autopsy later identified 21 gunshot wounds in his body.
One of the gunmen, Talmadge Hayer, was restrained by the crowd before the police arrived, while the other two escaped. It was discovered that he was a Nation of Islam member. The other two gunmen were identified by the crowd as Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson.
A public viewing was held in Harlem of Malcolm X following his assassination, attended by as many as 30,000 mourners. Speakers at the funeral included civil rights leaders John Lewis, Andrew Young, and James Forman, among others. He was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in New York.
Malcolm X’s Life and Legacy
In 1955, Malcolm met Betty Sanders and she later joined the Nation of Islam, changing her name to Betty X. The couple married in 1958, following the Nation’s teachings. Their marriage resulted in six daughters.
Malcolm X is one of the most influential African Americans in history. He played a significant role in spreading Islam in the Black community in the United States and inspired many other Black activists. His teachings and life have gained popularity again among young people in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
