Before Malcolm became a great activist he endured many low points in his life. He was into drugs, hustling, women and money. He later then broke into the house of a white man attempting to rob the house with his friends. They were all caught for this crime and were not only charged with burglary but also charged with having sex with white women. Malcolm was then sentenced to six years in prison. This is where he completed his first transformation. There he met a man called Elijah Muhammad who was a follower of the nation of Islam. Malcolm learned a great deal from him. He then became a member of the nation of Islam and a leader for many years after he was released.
With Malcolm’s transformation and dedication to the Nation of Islam he followed the Elijah Muhammad and his teachings. Malcolm started preaching to followers and it did not take long for the word of Malcolm’s preaching to spread. Soon he had packed services and prayers. Malcolm’s participation in the Nation of Islam gave him a sense of direction. It made him feel like he was doing something. Malcolm then became a spokesperson and leader for the nation of Islam. This gave him power that Malcolm thrived off of. At this point he was becoming a nationally known figure in the struggle for equal rights for blacks. During Malcolm’s time in the Nation of Islam he believed and taught black supremacy. He believed that white people where the devil. During this time he felt more that blacks and whites couldn’t live together. Malcolm then starts to realize that maybe the teachings of the Nation are not the best way to solve