After the eighth grade, Malcolm moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked at various jobs and eventually became involved in criminal activity. One of the most important events in Malcolm"s life was when his eight-grade teacher told him to be realistic in life and in effect shattered his dreams of becoming a lawyer. With an unbearable feeling of worthlessness, Malcolm turned to "street life" .

             .

             In 1946, Malcolm was sentenced to prison for burglary. While in prison, Malcolm spent his time educating himself and grew a strong interest in the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Black Muslims, also called the Nation of Islam. Consequently, he joined a Black Muslim temple in Detroit upon his release from prison in 1952 , and took the well-known name of Malcolm X, the X representing the name given to Negroes by white slave masters. In 1958 he married Betty Shabazz, and together they had four daughters .

             .

             In 1964 Malcolm made a hajj (pilgrimage) to the Islamic holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia . Based on this trip, and other travels to Africa and Europe, he renounced his previous teaching that all whites are evil, and he began advocating racial solidarity, and adopted the Arabic name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. On February 21, 1965, in New York City, men allegedly connected with the Black Muslims sadly assassinated Malcolm .

             Despite his bitter and traumatic past, Malcolm X became one of the most influential person of his time and also one of the greatest activists in history. In the beginnings of his chosen path as a "Minister of Justice" , Malcolm was a supporter of the Garvey Movement. This was a movement led by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which essentially believed in the impossible equality of races and the need for Africans to return to their homeland . This was of strong influence to Malcolm and in combination with his newfound Muslim faith, he soon progressed through the Nation of Islam and by 1961 became known as the leading spokesman for the Muslims , as well as one of the most prominent speakers of the Civil Rights Movement, alongside the great Martin Luther King Junior.