The road to equal rights for African Americans has been a long, hard and treacherous road and even still similar occurrences plague the American Nation. Several prominent African Americans have historically become strong leaders in the fight to bridge the racial gap. Malcolm X is one of the most celebrated of these, a controversial leader dubbed as either a hero or "racial monster" . This report aims to evaluate impact of Malcolm X by exploring key aspects of his life and character. A brief biography is included however the examination mainly focuses on his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement in America during the 1950"s and 1960"s concerning the oppression of blacks. Delving in his ideology as a leader and political and public influences will surface the strengths and weaknesses of his leadership and draw out an overall assessment of his own and the movement"s success.

             Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska, as Malcolm Little. Malcolm's father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister, and an outspoken follower of Marcus Garvey, a Black Nationalist leader of the 1920s. When Malcolm was four, the family moved to Lansing, Michigan, where his father intended to run a store and continue his preaching and organise the black community in Lansing. However, this did not stand well with the white supremacists that called themselves the Black Legion. Malcolm"s family was harassed and forced to move to a farmhouse outside town. Two years later Malcolm"s father was found dead on a trolley track in East Lansing. The police claimed it was an accident, however, Malcolm believed he was murdered by the white men. The death of his father stood out in Malcolm"s head through aging and it affected the way he thought of the white race. Malcolm's mother, unable to cope with loss, suffered a nervous breakdown two years later and the welfare department took the eight children. Malcolm was sent first to a foster home and then to a reform school.