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Generational tragedies that shaped Malcolm X’s life, family and activism

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New York, N.Y. The story of Malcolm X’s family, what became the Shabazz family, is marked by numerous personal tragedies across generations, deeply influencing his life and his views on race, justice, and society. Here are some of the tragic events that befell Malcolm X’s family, both in the generations prior and in his immediate family. These dates provide a rough historical context for Malcolm X’s ancestry, helping to frame the generational experiences that influenced his life and activism. These tragic events across generations set the stage for Malcolm X’s own experiences and deeply influenced his radical critique of American society. His family’s history of enduring racism, violence, and systemic oppression fueled his lifelong fight for justice and equality:

1800-40: Malcolm X’s paternal great-grandparents, who were enslaved Africans in the South, would have been born in the early 19th century based on the estimated birth years of their children (John and Ella Little). These dates are approximate, as detailed records of enslaved individuals were rarely kept.

1815: Earl Little’s grandfather, Malcolm X’s Great-great grandfather Ajar, was brought to South Carolina from West Africa as slave in 1815.

??? – Ajar had a son named Tony, born in S.C., who was sold to Allen Little family of S.C. that then moved to Georgia.

1860’s: Malcolm X’s paternal grandparents, John and Ella Little (née Gray), were born into slavery between 1860-65. Though specific incidents are not well-documented, the mere fact of their enslavement and the traumas that accompanied such an existence—physical violence, the potential of being separated from family members, and enduring dehumanization—would have left lasting scars on their descendants.

1865: Ajar’s son Tony became “Tony Little” following Emancipation, named after his master. Tony was Malcolm X’s great grandfather. Ella Gray, Malcolm X’s great grandmother, was born in Georgia the same year.

1890: Earl Little born in Georgia.

1890’s: Lynching of Earl Little’s Brothers. Earl reportedly lost three of his brothers to violence at the hands of white supremacists. These lynchings were common in the southern United States during this period, and such violence would have profoundly impacted the Little family, contributing to Earl Little’s later involvement in Black nationalist movements

1894: Louise Little born in Grenada, during British colonial rule in the Caribbean. Louise Little’s parents (Malcolm X’s maternal grandparents) were part of the Grenadian population that suffered under British colonial rule. Though specific tragedies are not well-documented, the experience of colonization often included economic hardship, social instability, and systemic discrimination, which likely affected Louise Little’s upbringing and outlook.

1897: Louise Helen Norton (née Langdon) born in Grenada of English-Scottish roots.

1925: Malcolm Little born in Omaha, NE to Louise Helen Little and Earl Little.

1926: KKK threats force family to leave, relocate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1927: White racist group “Black Legion” threats force family to relocate to Lansing, MI.

1929: Family home burned, probably by White racist group “Black Legion.”

1930: Ella Gray, Malcolm X’s great grandmother, dies in Georgia, age 65.

1930’s: Malcolm X’s family lived in a time of pervasive racism, segregation, and violence against Black people. This systemic oppression led to economic hardship, fear, and the constant threat of violence, shaping the worldview that Malcolm X would later express so forcefully in his activism.

1931: Earl Little, a Baptist minister and active supporter of Marcus Garvey’s UNIA, was a vocal advocate for Black self-reliance. His outspokenness made him a target of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. In 1931, Earl was found dead, his body mangled by a streetcar in Lansing, Michigan. While officially ruled an accident, many, including Malcolm X and his family, believed he was murdered by white supremacists who had previously threatened him.

1932: Earl Little’s life insurance payments end to his wife Louise as “accident” ruled “suicide.”

1930’s: Louise Little and her son Wilfred were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

1937: Man Louise had been dating‍—‌possibly marriage—‌vanished when she became pregnant with his child.

1938: Louise had nervous breakdown and was committed to Kalamazoo State Hospital for 24 years.

1938: After Earl Little’s death, Malcolm X’s mother, Louise Little, struggled to keep the family together amid severe economic hardship and harassment by welfare agencies. Louise was eventually diagnosed with a mental illness and committed to the Kalamazoo State Hospital in 1938, where she remained for 24 years. Her commitment was seen as a tragic result of the immense pressure and grief she endured, including racism and the loss of her husband.

1931-39: Little children sent to foster homes and orphanages during late 1930s. Malcolm X was sent to a foster home in 1939. This breakup of his family was a significant personal tragedy for Malcolm X, who would later speak about the emotional and psychological impact of being separated from his siblings and losing the stability of a family home.

1939: Malcolm attended Junior High School in Lansing and then High School in Mason, Michigan.

1941: Malcolm, age 14, drops out of High School after told by teacher his law school dream was “no realistic goal for a nigger.” He then lived with his half-sister in Roxbury, a largely African American neighborhood of Boston.

1943: Malcolm moved to Harlem for job with railroad, with drug dealing, gambling, robbery, and pimping on the side. Biographer Bruce Perry claims Malcolm also had sex with other men, usually for money, as a male hustler. Male hustlers are are not necessarily gay. His family strongly disputes this possibility.

1944: Malcolm states to WWII Draft Board: “I want to… organize nigger soldiers… to steal guns… and kill crackers.” He was rejected.

1944: Malcolm was declared “mentally disqualified for military service” after what Wikipedia says was a ‘feigned’ mental disturbance.

1945: Malcolm returned to Boston, committed a series of burglaries targeting wealthy White families with four accomplices.

1946: Malcolm was arrested and sentenced to 8-10 years for burglary.

1948: Malcolm’s brother Reginald wrote him, convincing him to join new Nation of Islam (NOI). Malcolm gives up pork and tobacco.

1948: Malcolm wrote NOI leader Elijah Muhammad who tells him to renounce his past, pray to God, and avoid destructive behavior.

1949: Malcolm adopts idea White people are considered devils; he reflected on past relationships with Whites marked by dishonesty, greed.

1950: Malcolm’s growing hostility to Christianity earns him prison nickname “Satan.”

1950: Malcolm wrote President Truman to express opposition to Korean War and declared himself a Communist. FBI began to follow him.

1950: Malcolm begins to sign his name “Malcolm X.” The “X” replaced “Little,” which had been given to his family by slave masters.

1952: Malcolm paroled from prison, visited Elijah Muhammad, founder of Nation of Islam, in Chicago. Malcolm joins Nation of Islam.

1953: Malcolm named assistant minister of Nation’s Temple #1 in Detroit. Later that year he established Boston’s Temple #11.

1954: Malcolm expanded Temple #12 in Philadelphia and then selected to lead temple #7 in Harlem.

1955: Malcolm established NOI temples in Springfield, Mass. (#13); Hartford, Conn. (#14), and Atlanta (#15).

1955: Malcolm met Betty Sanders at his lectures.

1956: Betty joined NOI, changed name to “Betty X” and began to see (not date, as was forbidden) Malcolm on group excursions.

1958: Malcolm and Betty married. Daughter #1 Attallah born.

1959: Malcolm featured in NYC television broadcast about the Nation of Islam, The Hate That Hate Produced.

1960: Daughter #2 Qubilah born.

1960: Malcolm invited to U.N. General Assembly where he meets word leaders Nasser of Egypt, Touré of Guinea, and Castro of Cuba.

1960‘s: Malcolm grow disillusioned with NOI and its leader Elijah Muhammad.

1961: Malcolm stated antisemitic text The Protocols of the Elders of Zion was authentic and trivialized the Holocaust.

1961: Malcolm spoke at a NOI rally with head of American Nazi Party, seeing overlap between Black nationalism and White supremacy.

1962: Daughter #3 Ilyasah born.

1963: Malcolm criticizes civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, and March on Washington as to “White.”

1963: Malcolm advocated separation of African Americans from Whites and proposed Black should return to Africa.

1963: Malcolm rejected civil rights movement’s nonviolence, arguing Blacks should defend themselves “by any means necessary.”

1963: Malcolm mentored Louis X (later known as Louis Farrakhan) who eventually became the leader of the Nation of Islam.

1963: Malcolm concerned Elijah Muhammad had affairs with young NOI secretaries‍ as well as child rape charges, against Islamic teachings.

1963: Malcolm comments after Kennedy assassination, “Chickens coming home to roost never did make me sad; they make me glad.”

1964: Daughter #4 Gamilah Lumumba born.

1964: Malcolm X blocked by Elijah Muhammad when he advocating NOI work with civil rights organizations and religious groups.

1964: Malcolm completes Hajj after Prince Faisal designated him a state guest, becomes “el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz.”

1964: Malcolm said seeing Muslims of “all colors” interacting as equals led him to see Islam as means by which racism could be overcome.

1964: Malcolm becomes target of New York City Police Department surveillance; undercover officers infiltrate Nation of Islam.

1964: Malcolm splits with NOI and its leader Elijah Muhammad to practice Sunni Islam, causing NOI death threats to begin.

1964: Malcolm discovered explosive device in his car in assassination attempt and continued death threats from NOI supporters.

1964: Malcolm inspired Muhammad Ali to join NOI. When Malcolm left NOI, Ali refused to leave with him and ended their relationship.

1964: Malcolm met Martin Luther King Jr. for the first and only time‍ in Washington, D.C., as they attended debate on the Civil Rights bill.

1964: Malcolm gave a speech titled “The Ballot or the Bullet,” in which he advised African Americans to exercise their right to vote but added if government continued to prevent African Americans from attaining full equality, it might be necessary to take up arms.

1964: Malcolm poses in Ebony magazine holding a M1 carbine while peering out his living room window in defiance of these threats.

1965: Malcolm sued by NOI to reclaim home in Queens and family ordered to vacate, but then eviction postponed. Home then burned.

1965: Malcolm assassinated in New York City.

1965: Twin daughters #5 & 6 Malikah and Malaak born after his death.

1965: Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier’s wife Juanita established Committee of Concerned Mothers to raise money to support family.

1984: Malcolm Latif Shabazz, first grandson of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, born in Paris through their daughter, Qubilah Shabazz.

1987: Three-year old Malcolm Latif Shabazz set fire to his shoes.

1991: Louise Helen Norton, Earl Little’s wife and mother of Malcolm X, dies at age 94.

1992: Malcolm X film debuted, produced by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington.

1992: Alex Haley, author of Roots and Attallah Shabazz’s godfather, passes away.

1993: Malcolm Latif Shabazz often stayed with his grandmother Betty, now in Yonkers, due to the absence of his mother Qubilah.

1993: Nine-year old Malcolm Latif Shabazz set brought a knife to school in the third grade.

1994: Ten-year old Malcolm Latif Shabazz suffered from delusions and was hospitalized for a short time.

1995: Qubilah charged with trying to hire an assassin to kill Louis Farrakhan. She was required to undergo treatment for drug abuse.

1996: Malcolm moved to San Antonio to be with Qubilah in December 1996 in San Antonio, where she was undergoing treatment.

1996: Qubilah married, then husband left. Malcolm and his mother began to fight, sometimes physically.

1997: Qubilah called the police saying she wanted Malcolm committed to psychiatric hospital.

1997: Twelve-year old Malcolm was released from psychiatric hospital, set for foster care, but instead returned to New York with grandmother Betty. He started a fire in grandmother Betty’s apartment. She suffered burns over 80 percent of her body and died. Malcolm captured by police ‘wandering the streets, barefoot and reeking of gasoline.’ Described as psychotic and schizophrenic.

1998: Malcolm represented in court by Democratic leaders David Dinkins and Percy Sutton .He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months of juvenile detention in Pittsfield, MA for manslaughter and arson.

2000: Malcolm transferred to treatment center in Yonkers where he tried to escape repeatedly; transferred to Valhalla, N.Y. and escaped. He was recaptured immediately and sentenced to an additional four years.

2003: Malcolm interviewed by New York Times said he had only “made up” a story about hearing voices in childhood “to get attention”

2001: Malcolm released from prison and then arrested in 2002 for stealing $100. Sentenced to three more years in prison.

2005: Malcolm released and then arrested again for punching a hole in a store’s glass window..

2010: Malcolm made the Hajj to Mecca and later converted to Shia Islam.

2013: Malcolm arrested by the FBI while en route to Iran. Shabazz family confirmed arrest but denied FBI or Iranian involvement.

2013: Malcolm murdered in Mexico City at the age 28, probably for dispute over a $1,200 bar tab for drinks and ‘female companionship.’ Malcolm’s three Mexican killers sentenced to — and were serving — terms of 27 years for murder but then released on appeal.

2021: Two NOI gunmen conviction vacated. Three of Malcolm X’s daughters attend press conference seeking closure for assassination.

2023: Members of Malcolm X’s family said they would file a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the CIA, the FBI, the NYPD.

Anguish, Aspiration: Shabazz Family’s Journey Through Time (Aug. 10, 2024)