Malcolm X's time spent in prison was one of the longest and most lasting impacts on his life. While incarcerated he met fellow prisoner John Bembry, a self educated man who would later describe himself as "the first man i had ever seen command total respect with words". While with Bembry, Malcolm developed a hunger for reading and knowledge. While in prison his relatives and family members sent him multiple letters about the nation of Islam, a newly formed religious cult preaching black self reliance and ultimately, the return of African Diaspora. After receiving a letter from his older brother about the religion and not being able to eat pork or smoke, Malcolm quickly gave up those habits and was informed by his brother by letter of the awful relationship the whites had laid upon him. through distrust and disloyalty for his white partners, Malcolm quickly gave up hope for whites and was quickly protesting against them.
in 1948, little wrote to the Nation of Islam leader, Elijah Muhammad. When Elijah wrote back he told Malcolm that in order to be part of the Nation of Islam he had to pray to Allah and give up his destructive pasts. Though in his bibliography he talked about the struggle he had when he bent down on his knees to pray for the first time. He soon became a member of the nation of Islam.
In 1950 Malcolm would write a letter to President Truman talking negatively about the Korean War and stated "I am a Communist". because of the harsh nature of his letter the FBI opened a file on him. After this incident he began calling and signing his name as Malcolm "X". He changed it because he stated in his biography "For me, the 'X' replaced the white slave master name of 'Little'. it made me feel more free and disconnected to that of my ancestors white torturer".
"If your not ready to die for it. Put 'Freedom out of it" - Malcolm X
in 1948, little wrote to the Nation of Islam leader, Elijah Muhammad. When Elijah wrote back he told Malcolm that in order to be part of the Nation of Islam he had to pray to Allah and give up his destructive pasts. Though in his bibliography he talked about the struggle he had when he bent down on his knees to pray for the first time. He soon became a member of the nation of Islam.
In 1950 Malcolm would write a letter to President Truman talking negatively about the Korean War and stated "I am a Communist". because of the harsh nature of his letter the FBI opened a file on him. After this incident he began calling and signing his name as Malcolm "X". He changed it because he stated in his biography "For me, the 'X' replaced the white slave master name of 'Little'. it made me feel more free and disconnected to that of my ancestors white torturer".
"If your not ready to die for it. Put 'Freedom out of it" - Malcolm X