3+CRM+Script

I remember when I was young and heard about a man who called himself Malcolm X. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska back in May 19, 1925, under the name of Malcolm Little. I can recall reading the news about his troubled life of crime as a child and young man. He was sent to a juvenile detention home at the young age of 13, and then seven years later, at the age of 20, Malcolm was sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery. I never expected that later that same man would become such an important figure in the world.

While in jail, Malcolm turned his life around and started to read about many things, including history and religion. Also, he joined a group called the Nation of Islam. I had heard of the Nation of Islam before learning about Malcolm joining it. I knew it was a group of Muslims that consisted of not just one race, but many races. Like all Muslims, they group opposed drugs, drinking, and smoking. Also, he changed his last name from "Little" to "X" as he considered it a slave name that came from a slave owner generations earlier.

After being released from jail, I remember how quickly Malcolm's life blossomed. He was everywhere. He was a key part of the civil rights movement and was constantly traveling around giving speeches, and often getting on the news for me to watch in the process. I remember just like it was yesterday when my mother started talking to me one day about how everyone would be free and people of all races could live together in peace due to Malcolm bringing more confidence to the movement.

But, a horrible thing ended up happening. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while speaking at a rally by members of the Nation of Islam because he started to create new groups that drew people away from the Nation of Islam. I remember my parents crying that day, and it felt like everything good about our lives had come to a screeching halt. I will never forget Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam and the great impact they had on the civil rights movement.