Black History

Malcolm: The Journey from ‘Little’ to ‘X’

It was during the early 1960s that Malcolm confirmed rumors about Muhammad’s adulterous affairs with women and girls in the Nation. Although he respected the order, the deception was painful. Malcolm soon announced his separation from the Nation and spent time on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The experience changed him. After the pilgrimage, Malcolm X developed a new energy and vision: he directed his work toward all races and ethnicities, speaking about human rights, freedom, action, and community building. But soon, rumors of his assassination spread.

Published

4 years ago

December 12, 2021

Oakland Post

Malcolm X. Library of Congress photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

Although brief, Malcolm Little’s (1925-1965) life has a storied history.

He was born in Omaha, Neb., the fourth of Earl and Louise Little’s seven children. Earl was a Baptist minister, and Louise, a secretary. The year after Malcolm was born, the family relocated to Milwaukee, Wis., and then the following year to Lansing, Mich. It was then that Malcolm began to live with the pressures of racism.

The Littles settled in an all-white neighborhood and were sued for eviction on the basis that a “restrictive covenant” prevented their home from being purchased by non-whites. The house was torched and, suspiciously, no fire wagon was dispatched. The family then built a new home in East Lansing.

In 1931, Earl was run over by a streetcar. It was murder to Malcolm, who suspected the Klan’s involvement. After, the Littles fell on hard times, forcing Louise to apply for public assistance. In 1938, she was diagnosed with a mental illness and would spend the next 26 years in a state hospital. The Little children were separated and placed in foster homes.

By age 15, Malcolm moved to Boston to live with his half-sister Ella Collins. Never having seen such a large number of Blacks in one place, he would lose himself in the rush.

Malcolm took on odd jobs including shoeshining, cooking, and bartending. But that wasn’t enough. He became a hustler, drug dealer, and a burglar in Boston, New York, and Detroit.

In 1946, he was sentenced to jail in Charlestown, Mass., for larceny. That was his home until 1952. There he was introduced to the Nation of Islam through his studies of Elijah Muhammad’s teachings on systemic oppression––a life of which Malcolm felt he’d already lived. He was also drawn to Muhammad’s position on another world: one without white people.

It was then that Malcolm Little converted to the Muslim faith, stripped away his “slave” name, and became Malcolm X. On his release, he met Muhammad, began working for the Nation of Islam, and was soon appointed a minister and national spokesperson. But Malcolm’s admiration for Muhammad would eventually crumble.

After the pilgrimage, Malcolm X developed a new energy and vision: he directed his work toward all races and ethnicities, speaking about human rights, freedom, action, and community building. But soon, rumors of his assassination spread.

The rumors became reality on Feb. 21, 1965, when Malcolm X was gunned down in the Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom in front of his wife, Betty, who was pregnant, and their children. Although three men were convicted of his murder the following year, Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, were exonerated last month.

Malcolm X’s legacy has long since inspired many in the fight for equality and social justice. His amazing story is detailed in “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.”

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Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

https://youtu.be/_k7UVhI-sN8