Malcolm X was a prominent civil rights activist who joined the Nation of Islam (NOI) while in prison. The NOI followed traditional Muslim customs but also promoted black supremacy. After his pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm began rejecting the NOI's racist ideologies. He was assassinated in 1965 by three members of the NOI after withdrawing from the group due to ideological differences. Despite their later divergence, Malcolm's involvement with the NOI greatly influenced the African American civil rights movement during a time of racial tensions in the U.S.

1. By Candice Kerestan Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam