Today in History: Malcolm X’s Assassination and Its Lasting Impact
On this day, February 21, 1965, Malcolm X—one of the most electrifying voices of the civil rights movement—was gunned down inside Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. He was just 39 years old.
The human rights activist had spent years advocating for Black empowerment, first as a prominent figure within the Nation of Islam and later as the leader of his own organization, the Organization of Afro-American Unity in 1964.
His message was unfiltered, unapologetic, and at times controversial, but his impact was undeniable. He challenged systemic racism head-on and called for Black people to claim their rights “by any means necessary.”
That Sunday afternoon, Malcolm stood before a crowd of supporters, preparing to speak, when gunfire erupted. He was struck multiple times and pronounced dead shortly after. The attack shook the nation, leaving a movement without one of its most powerful leaders.
Three members of the Nation of Islam—Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Khalil Islam, and Thomas Hagan—were convicted of his murder and sentenced to prison. However, decades later, doubts over their guilt lingered.
In a stunning turn of events, the convictions of Aziz and Islam were overturned in November 2021. Prosecutors acknowledged that new evidence had come to light, undermining the case against them and raising even more questions about who was truly responsible.
Though Malcolm X’s life was cut short, his influence never faded. His words continue to resonate in conversations about racial justice, self-determination, and the ongoing fight for equality. Today, his legacy lives on in the streets of Harlem, in classrooms across the country, and in the voices of those who refuse to be silenced.
