On the afternoon of February 21, 1965, as Malcolm X stood on stage addressing a crowd in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, gunfire erupted. Within seconds, the 39-year-old civil rights leader lay dying on the floor—his body riddled with 21 gunshot wounds. Moments earlier, he had greeted the audience with a warm “As-Salaam-Alaikum.” Moments later, he was dead, assassinated in front of his wife and children.
Malcolm X was not only a charismatic orator and Black nationalist icon—he was a transformative figure whose voice helped awaken political consciousness across America and beyond. His assassination shocked the world and remains one of the most controversial and contested political killings in U.S. history.
Who Was Malcolm X?
Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925, he lived a life shaped by racism and systemic violence. His father, an outspoken follower of Marcus Garvey, died under suspicious circumstances, likely at the hands of white supremacists. His mother was institutionalized, and Malcolm drifted into crime and prison, where he encountered the Nation of Islam (NOI) and underwent a profound personal transformation.
Emerging from prison as Malcolm X, he became the Nation’s most powerful and eloquent spokesperson during the 1950s and early 1960s. He preached a message of Black self-reliance, separation from white society, and resistance to oppression “by any means necessary.” His style stood in stark contrast to the nonviolent approach of Martin Luther King Jr., and he captivated disillusioned Black youth and working-class communities.
But as his influence grew, so did tensions—with white America, the government, and even his own organization.
Breaking with the Nation of Islam
Malcolm X’s relationship with Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, began to deteriorate in 1963. Malcolm became disillusioned by:
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Elijah Muhammad’s personal scandals, including allegations of sexual misconduct
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The NOI’s reluctance to engage directly with the broader civil rights movement
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Increasing conflicts over Malcolm’s rising fame and independence
After Malcolm publicly commented on President Kennedy’s assassination, calling it “chickens coming home to roost,” the Nation suspended him. By March 1964, Malcolm officially broke ties with the NOI.
He then founded two new organizations:
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Muslim Mosque, Inc. – a religious group
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Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) – a secular, Pan-Africanist political movement modeled after the UN
Malcolm also converted to Sunni Islam and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he saw Muslims of all races worshiping together. This experience profoundly changed him. He began advocating for global human rights, Black empowerment through international alliances, and interracial unity in the struggle against oppression.
This evolution made him even more dangerous to his enemies—and more vulnerable.
Mounting Threats and Government Surveillance
After leaving the NOI, Malcolm X received frequent death threats, many of them openly from his former brothers in the Nation. His home in Queens was firebombed on February 14, 1965—just one week before his assassination.
At the same time, Malcolm was under intense surveillance by the FBI and NYPD. Declassified FBI files revealed that he was a target of COINTELPRO, the FBI’s secret program to infiltrate, discredit, and neutralize Black leaders and radical political movements.
Despite credible threats, Malcolm X received no formal protection from the city or federal government.
February 21, 1965: The Assassination at the Audubon
Malcolm arrived at the Audubon Ballroom that Sunday afternoon to speak at a meeting of the OAAU. His wife, Betty Shabazz, and their four daughters were in the audience.
Just after 3:00 PM, a disruption occurred near the front of the room. Someone shouted, “Get your hands out of my pocket!”—a classic diversion. As people turned to look, three men rose and opened fire:
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One with a sawed-off shotgun struck Malcolm in the chest
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Two others followed with semi-automatic pistols, hitting him repeatedly
Malcolm X was pronounced dead at 3:30 PM. He was just 39 years old.
Arrests, Trials, and Questions
Three men were arrested and convicted of Malcolm’s murder:
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Talmadge Hayer (a.k.a. Thomas Hagan) – apprehended at the scene
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Norman 3X Butler (later Muhammad Abdul Aziz)
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Thomas 15X Johnson (later Khalil Islam)
All three were members of the Nation of Islam, and the case was treated as an internal purge. But from the beginning, there were inconsistencies:
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Hayer confessed but maintained that the other two were innocent
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Witnesses placed Aziz and Islam elsewhere during the assassination
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The FBI and NYPD had informants embedded in the NOI and Malcolm’s circle, but withheld key information
In 2021, after a decades-long campaign by researchers, activists, and legal experts, Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam were exonerated, and their convictions vacated by a New York judge. The state acknowledged that evidence proving their innocence had been suppressed by the FBI and NYPD.
Who Really Killed Malcolm X?
While Talmadge Hayer named four co-conspirators—all NOI members from Newark—no further charges were ever filed. Many believe:
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The Nation of Islam leadership ordered the hit
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The FBI and NYPD, despite knowing about the plot, allowed it to happen
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Malcolm was a threat to U.S. imperial and racial power structures, and removing him was politically convenient
The full truth may never be known, but Malcolm X’s assassination is now seen not just as an act of intra-organizational violence, but as a state-enabled political execution.
Legacy: From Radical to Icon
In the decades since his death, Malcolm X has gone from a vilified radical to a widely revered global icon:
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His autobiography, co-written with Alex Haley, remains one of the most influential political memoirs ever written
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His ideas about Black pride, systemic racism, Pan-Africanism, and self-defense continue to inspire activists today
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He has been immortalized in films (Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee), murals, music, and university syllabi
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His transformation—from street hustler to revolutionary human rights leader—is now seen as one of the most profound in American history
Conclusion: A Voice That Echoes Through Generations
The 1965 assassination of Malcolm X was a tragic end to a life of transformation, courage, and defiance. He stood at the crossroads of race, religion, politics, and global revolution, pushing America to confront its deepest injustices.
His enemies silenced his body—but his voice, sharpened by truth and fire, still echoes across decades, reminding us that freedom is never given—it must be claimed.