How much do you know about the minister and the human rights activist, Malcolm X? Well, the only way to find out is by taking this quiz and do not worry, the answer to each question is only a couple of spaces away.
Good luck!
1. What political, religious movement was he apart of?
A. Protestant
B. Baptist
C. Nation of Islam
D. American Buddhism
Answer: C
While in prison for burglary, Malcolm’s Brother, Reginald, came to visit and told him about Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. Soon after, he began speaking to Elijah Muhammad through letters.Once he was released, he converted and became the leading spokesperson for the “Black Muslims.”
2. What inspired him to make the letter, X, apart of his name?
A. Given to him by the Nation of Islam
B. Nickname as a child
C. X was a symbol representing fight back and resist white supremacy
D. It stands for the lost of African American culture
Answer: D
While in prison, he took the time to educate himself by reading books on his heritage. Feeling a connection to his ancestors, he changed his last name to X, as a representation of how slavery stripped away Black culture.
3. Fill in the blank: Malcolm X was an advocate for_________
A. Black Nationalism
B. Peaceful Protests
C. Black Muslims
D. Civil Disobedience
Answer: A
He refused to settle down
in a world full of white superiority. He wanted to create an environment where
black pride was not only celebrated, but encouraged.
4. What group did he create?
A. Black Panthers
B. Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU)
C. Black Pride Organization
D. End of White Supremacy movement
Answer: B
The OAAU was founded after Malcolm X came back to New York from a trip
to Africa where he meet the heads of state in Egypt and Ghana. The purpose of
the organization was to bring together African heads of state in order to create
schools, black enterprises, etc.
5. True or False? He believed in provoking violence against racist White Americans.
Answer: False
Violence was a recurring topic in his
speeches, but he did not believe in taking the first swing. However, he
strongly promoted the idea of self-defense for African Americans who were often
discouraged from defending themselves and their families whenever physical harm
came their way. This idea made him very controversial and often caused him to
be compared to Dr. Martin Luther King who always chose peace over violence.
Here is how he explained it: “Be
peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts a
hand on you, send him to the cemetery. That’s a good religion. In fact, that’s
the old-time religion. . . . Preserve your life, it’s the best
thing you’ve got. And if you’ve got to give it up, let it be even-steven.”
6. After leaving the Nation of Islam in 1964, he…
A. Became a Sunni Muslim
B. Converted to Christianity
C. Refused to acknowledge the Nation of Islam
D. Stayed away from religion all together
Answer: A
After discovering his mentor and teacher, Elijah Muhammad, was involved in affairs with women of whom he was not married to, meaning he was breaking a Nation of Islam rule that prohibits sex before marriage, Malcolm X perceived him in a negative light. Elijah Muhammad also suspended Malcolm X from public speaking after he made an insensitive comment about the assassination of President John. F Kennedy. Of course he obeyed, but once those 90 days were over he decided to leave the Nation of Islam. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, leading to his decision to drop the “Black Muslim” title to be a Sunni Muslim.
7. What was his dream career when he was a junior in high school?
A. Writer
B. Doctor
C. History Teacher
D. Lawyer
Answer: D
Before his life took off, he really wanted to become a lawyer. But, one day a teacher, ironically his favorite teacher, stated that becoming a lawyer was, “no realistic goal for a nigger.” As a young man it discouraged him and influenced his decision to drop out of school. He did not think he would become much so he indulged in illegal activities like gambling and drugs. Little did he know that he would become one of the most prominent figures in Black History.
8. Who were the Black Legion?
A. White supremacist group responsible for killing Malcolm X's father
B. A group of Black Nationalists
C. An earlier version of the Black Panthers
D. A group of White politicians who tried to take down Malcolm X
Answer: A
The Black Legion was a unit of the KKK whose goal was to terrorize People of Color. They were most active in the 1930’s around the time of the Great Depression. Malcolm X and his family were forced to relocate twice from Nebraska due to the Black Legion’s death threats when he was still a toddler. They ended up in Michigan, but it
only got worse because Earl Little, Malcolm X’s father, was murdered and the
family was certain that the Black Legion were responsible. His mother, Louise
Norton Little, had a mental breakdown in response to the loss which lead to her
being committed to Kalamazoo, Michigan mental hospital. Six year old, Malcolm X and his siblings were split up into different foster homes and orphanages.
9. Who was responsible for his assassination on February 21st, 1965?
A.White Supremacist
B. It is unknown
C. Members of the Nation of Islam
D. A minister
Answer: C
The assassination took
place in Manhattan at Audubon Ballroom while he was giving a speech. He did not
have any bodyguards near him so there was no one around to quickly stop the
three gunman who rushed on stage and shot him 15 times. It was devastating for
the 1,500 people who attended his funeral, but especially for his wife, Betty
Shabazz, who had to give birth to their twin daughters without him. Thankfully
justice was served on March 1966, when all three men, later discovered to be
members of the Nation of Islam, were charged with first degree murder.
10. Which city celebrated Malcolm X day first?
A. Berkeley, California
C. Washington D.C
D. Nebraska City
Answer: C
Although some people associate Malcolm X day with Berkeley, Washington
D.C actually started celebrating the holiday in 1971 while Berkeley began
celebrating it in 1979. The day is on May 19th, the day he was born,
though not a lot of people know about it since it is not an official holiday
throughout the United States like Martin Luther King Day. The state of Illinois
made it an official holiday in 2015 so hopefully other states will eventually
follow.
Happy Black History Month!
I hope you learned something.
I'll shall leave you with his words.
