INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT
Malcolm X began his childhood with an unforgettable traumatic experience when his ministerial father, Earl Little, was brutally murdered by the Black Legion on September 28, 1931, known to many as a racist terrorist organization. Malcolm was only six years old when he lost his father. However, the situation worsened for the fatherless Malcolm when his single mother, Louise Little, was diagnosed with a mental illness. The ailing mother of 7 children registered at the mental institution where she needed to stay for 26 years.
The day-to-day survival was a massive struggle for the Little family to meet end needs. Since no one was to look after them, Malcolm and his siblings lived in various foster families under the government assistance program. Malcolm did not finish school in the seventh grade and was sent to a juvenile home in the nearly all-white community of Mason, Michigan. A few years after living with foster parents, Ella Collins, Malcolm’s half-sister, gained custody of the 15-years old Malcolm and moved to Boston in 1941.
As a youngster growing up as an orphan under his half-sister’s care, Malcolm works on every possible opportunity that comes his way. As a result, there were several odd jobs on railroads, restaurants, bars, shoeshine stands, and jewelry stores.
He even ran with the courts, including breaking, entering, and possessing firearms. Yet, despite all these misguided fortunes in Malcolm’s life, he made the best of his jail time by reading and devouring books at the prison library. Malcolm’s desire to read and learn as much as possible during his time in jail was his way of making up for the education he missed when he dropped out of high school.
Malcolm’s ability to inspire Nation of Islan (NOI) members and nonmembers earned him the first minister to various temples, including the highest appointment as the Chief Minister of Harlem’s Temple 7, appointed by Elijah Muhammad, the founder of NOI, in 1961. Malcolm believes in the empowerment of black people. He thought black people should create their power, structure, and wealth and dismissed the then-dominant integration and racial acceptance ideas. Malcolm also believed strongly in the notion of self-defense as an alternative to nonviolent resistance. He was extremely vocal on certain subjects that he held dearly.
As we commemorate the auspices of International Orphan Day, the Foundation would like to pay tribute to Malcolm X. He grew up as an orphan and later became one of the prolific civil leaders of our times. Despite the distressed and turbulent environment endured by Malcolm X, he didn’t stop pursuing his agendas and sharing knowledge with everyone. He lived by his words and integrity, one of the three Mary K. Yap Foundation’s core pillars. He didn’t let complications stop him from accomplishing his personal goals and motives. With his courage and determination, he has achieved all these things.
