Writing Resources
In his early life Malcolm became an influential leader of the Nation of Islam which combined Islam with black nationalism and helped to empower disadvantaged blacks searching for equality in segregated America Starting in 1946 at the age of twenty Malcolm X was sentenced to ten years in prison for burglary after becoming involved in hustling and other criminal activities in Boston and New York While in prison he began to transform his life educating himself by reading books on history philosophy and religion In prison his brother Reginald visited him and informed Malcolm about the Black Muslims The Black Muslims were an Islamic religious organization whose leader was Elijah Muhammad at the time X took interest in the religion and converted putting himself on a course to become a minister He was released from prison at age 27 after serving 6 years Soon after Malcolm joined the fellowship of the Nation of Islam Community in Detroit and began going on recruiting expeditions X has been said to have single handedly tripled membership in Temple Number One within a few months of his efforts In December 1953 a little more than a year after he was paroled from prison Malcolm was named the minister at the NOI s Boston mosque Temple No 11 The following year he also became the minister at Temple No 12 Philadelphia and Temple No 7 New York Malcolm then began traveling to the West Coast to head more temples
