Malcolm X - originally Malcolm Little when he was born in 1925 - changed his name in 1952 after he moved to Chicago. The reason driving his change of name was the fact that he joined the Nation of Islam. African American followers of Mohammed knew that their family names were not their true last names, but a name that had been given to their ancestors when they were shipped as slaves to America - the custom at that time was for white slave owners to give their own last name to their slaves as a sign of ownership. Therefore, Islamist African Americans changed their last names to 'X' as a sign that they repudiated the actions of the former slave owners, and as a mark for 'unknown' since their real family name was not recorded. Later in his life, Malcolm earned the Muslim name El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, after the required hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.
He joined the Nation of Islam
He changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X because he felt that his former old name, Malcolm Little, was a slave name. He changed it to X when he converted to Islam.
when Malcolm little was 27 and in prision he changed his name to Malcolm x because he felt that little was a name placed upon him by his slave masters.
He was born Malcolm Little, but had his name legally changed to Malcolm XMalcolm Little
He was born Malcolm Little, but had his name legally changed to Malcolm XMalcolm Little
He was born Malcolm Little, but had his name legally changed to Malcolm XMalcolm Little
Malcolm was born Malcolm Little. He considered Little to be a slave name and changed it to X to represent his lost tribal name.
Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little. When he was older he was told that "Little" was his slave name so he changed it to "X" because he believed it showed strength. He later changed him name again, becoming Malcolm Malik al-Shabbaz.
Malcolm X's name wasn't always Malcolm X. His original name was Malcolm Little. He considered "Little" a slave name so he had it changed to Malcolm X.
His birth name is Malcolm Little. His real name is Malcolm X because he allowed it to be changed.
Malcolm Little was his birth name but then he changed it to X when he was older cause it was a slave name.
His real name is Malcolm X because it was changed to that. His birth name Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 - February 21, 1965.
Malcolm Little change his name to Malcolm X