Assassination of Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a Muslim African American minister and human rights activist who became well-known during the civil rights movement. On February 21, 1965, he was shot and killed in Manhattan, New York City, while preparing to speak at the Organization of Afro-American Unity in the Audubon Ballroom in the Washington Heights neighborhood. He was only 39 years old at the time.

Three members of the Nation of Islam—Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Khalil Islam, and Thomas Hagan—were charged with the crime and later convicted. In 2021, two of them were officially cleared of the charge.

The killing of Malcolm X remains an important event in history. It happened during a time of big changes in the United States and was one of several high-profile assassinations in the 1960s, including those of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. Many people have wondered over the years whether others were involved in planning the assassination.

Death threats and intimidation from Nation of Islam

In 1964, Malcolm X faced many threats because he disagreed with the Nation of Islam and its leader, Elijah Muhammad. These disagreements started when Malcolm X made comments about the assassination of John F. Kennedy and criticized Elijah Muhammad. Because of this, Malcolm X decided to leave the Nation of Islam in March 1964.

The threats kept growing. In February, someone tried to bomb Malcolm X’s car. A leader in the Nation of Islam also made harsh statements suggesting harm might come to Malcolm X. By the end of 1964, Malcolm X said he knew his past ties with the Nation of Islam could be dangerous. He told people in interviews that he felt his life was at risk.

Assassination

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was getting ready to speak at a meeting in New York City. During his speech, several people in the audience shot him. He was taken to the hospital, but he died from his injuries. Three men were arrested and sent to prison for what happened.

Many people have wondered who was really responsible. Some thought secret government programs might have been involved, while others believed it was related to disagreements within the groups Malcolm X worked with. Even today, the full story of his death is still not completely known.

Lawsuit in federal district court

On November 15, 2024, Malcolm X’s family filed a lawsuit in a court in Manhattan. They said that the New York Police Department, the CIA, and the FBI knew about plans to harm him but did not stop it. The lawsuit also said these agencies did not share important information with his family after his death.

Portrayals in popular culture

The death of Malcolm X has been shown in many movies and TV shows. One example is an episode from the 1979 TV series Roots: The Next Generations. In 1992, a film called Malcolm X starred Denzel Washington as Malcolm X. Another film, Death of a Prophet from 1981, focused mainly on his death and featured Morgan Freeman. In 2020, Netflix released a docuseries called Who Killed Malcolm X?. The death was also shown in the 2001 film Ali, with Will Smith playing Muhammad Ali and Mario Van Peebles portraying Malcolm X.