Running head: CIVIL RIGHTS DIARY

Civil Rights Diary

Nyesha Tanner
HIS 145
4/28/2014
Julie Snyder

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Civil Rights Diary

(February 21, 1965) Today is a day we will never forget. Today is the day that we have
lost a legacy to our African American community; Malcolm X (age 39). Who would ever think
that someone who was once a troubled young boy would turn out to become one of the most
powerful and educated leaders of our time? Malcom X was one of the utmost and supreme
influences on African Americans. He has done so much to make us (African Americans) feel
joined and in tuned with our African American culture. He was the man who would say the
things that we would think but kept to ourselves because we were too afraid to stand up and
speak our minds. He taught us to stand up for ourselves and fight for our rights and what we
believed in.
Malcolm Little(X) was born in 1925, in a city named Omaha located in Nebraska.
Malcolm was the son of a Baptist minister who was a supporter of Marcus Garvey. After the Ku
Klux Klan began to make threats against his father and his family, they moved to Lansing,
Michigan. Malcolm continued to see the discrimination between blacks and whites so he began
to encourage blacks to take leadership of their lives. Malcom had a troubled childhood. It was
while he was serving ten years in prison that he begun to turn his life around and he started too
educated himself. After he was released Malcom became a minister of many sanctuaries in
many cities including: Philadelphia, Boston and also New York. He also founded a newspaper
entitled Muhammad Speaks. In this paper he talked about the current controversial views and
also about his idea that blacks were superior and not minority. He began to work and eventually
became affiliated with Elijah Muhammad. After bumping heads due to different beliefs the two

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ended up going their own separate ways. Malcolm X started to focus the true beliefs and
teachings of Islam.
During the Civil Rights Movement Malcom felt as though blacks were begging the
whites for freedom, which he solely disagreed with. Outraged, he began to promote black power
even if it resulted in violence. Malcom gave several famous speeches which included The
Black Revolution, Black Mans History, and Gods Judgment of White America aka The
Chickens Come Home to Roost.
(Today) at 3:10 PM I stood in the crowed in Harlem at the Audubon Ballroom to
watch him address the Organization of Afro-American Unity. When out of nowhere we heard
gun shots! Malcolm X was shot sixteen times. I remember seeing a man who was standing in the
front row pull out sawed-off double barrel shot gun shot Malcolm X in the chest. Right after that
two more men armed with handguns also began to shoot him numerous times. We grabbed one
of the shooters and held him down until the police were able to take him into custody.
A man who we had a strong connection with, someone who we welcomed into our
homes, someone who was our friend died today fighting for what he believed in. Malcolm was
an amazing man and a very powerful leader. This world will never be the same without him.
Malcolm X had received many death threats from the Nation of Islam members. A week before
his death his house was set on fire. We are all puzzled about what happened and we want
answers!
Police were only able to obtain the sawed-off, a 12 gauge shotgun and numerous
amounts bullet shells that came from a .45 pistol and a 9mm automatic, which could have
possibly been by a Luger. The .45 caliber pistol was turned in later by one of the NOI
bodyguards, who had taken it home, cleaned it and then turned it in to the FBI. The Luger was

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never found. Some witnesses provided the police with the names of two suspects who were
involved with the assassination, 26-year-old NOI member Norman Butler; and 29-year-old
Thomas Johnson who was also an NOI member. Both of them were well known NOI enforcers,
but neither of them could have possibly gotten into the ballroom without the maximum suspicion
and without a search. Malcolms assistants and his body guards said that neither of them was
present the day of the assassination.
In the initial report made by the NYC police, and local newspapers, stated that two men
were arrested and taken to the police station. However later on the report disappeared its
existence was denied by the police.
My condolence goes out to Malcolms family. May his sole rest in peace and his legacy
live forever. He will truly be missed.

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References:
Biography. (n.d.). The Official Malcolm X. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from
http://www.malcolmx.com/about/bio.html
A Legend Emerges. (n.d.). The Assassination of Malcolm X Crime Library.
Retrieved April 29, 2014, from
http://www.crimelibrary.com/terrorists_spies/assassins/malcolm_x/index.html