Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad was a captivating speaker
Leader of Nation of Islam that Malcolm X regarded as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad was the inspirational person responsible for Malcolm X's change in life direction. Malcolm X treated Elijah Muhammad as a father figure and respected him more than any other person. Later in Malcolm X's life, he found out about Muhammad's children out of wedlock and began to reconsider his values...More
Louis Farrakhan
Farrakhan was minister of mosques in Boston and Harlem
Louis Farrakhan, or Louis X, was one of the central figures of the Nation of Islam. It is believed by Betty Shabazz and many others that Farrakhan played an instrumental role in the assassination plot of Malcolm X. Farrakhan admitted to his role in the assassination during an interview in 2000 that can be seen here.
Thomas Hagan
Hagan spent 45 years in jail for the assassination
Thomas Hagan, or Talmadge Hayer was one of the three gunmen responsible for Malcolm X's assassination. He is the only one to have publicly admitted to shooting Malcolm X. His admission is declared in this article. He seeked revenge for Malcolm X's public criticism of Elijah Muhammad.
Norman 3X Butler
Eyewitnesses identify Butler as one of the gunmen
The second of three gunmen prosecuted for the assassination of Malcolm X. Butler was paroled in 1985 and became the head of the Harlem Mosque in 1988. To this day he insists on his innocence in the assassination....More
Thomas 15X Johnson
Johnson was released from prison in 1987
Johnson, also known as Khalil Islam, was the last person to be convicted in the assassination of Malcolm X. He, like Butler, maintains that he is innocent. Thomas Hagan also attempted to help exonerate Johnson and Butler in an affidavit which can be accessed here. While in jail, he left the Nation of Islam and converted to Sunni Islam. He was released in 1987.
Reginald Little
Reginald Little first exposed Malcolm to the Quran
Malcolm X's brother, Reginald Little was the most important figure in the turning point of Malcolm X's life. While Malcolm was in prison, Reginald introduced Malcolm to Nation of Islam and its teachings. Malcolm began to improve himself by taking English courses, reading acclaimed literature, and stopped smoking cigarettes. It is because of Reginald Little that Malcolm X began to pursue a life of Islamic faith.(1)
Betty Shabazz
Betty Shabazz left the NOI after Malcolm's assassination
Malcolm X married Betty Shabazz in 1958. Betty was tremendously inspired by Malcom's speeches, and attended many of them. She converted to the Nation of Islam in 1956. Malcolm and Betty had six daughters. After Malcolm's death, she began to resent the Nation of Islam and holds them responsible for Malcolm's assassination. In the years after Malcolm's passing, Betty Shabazz pursued higher education and also becoming part of the faculty at Medgar Evers College in New York. She adopted Malcolm's activism mentality and in many ways, carried on his legacy as a leader of civil rights. Some of her impacts in education are described in this video.