On this day in 1964, Malcolm X announced his separation from the Nation of Islam

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Black Muslim leader Malcolm X, recently separated from the Nation of Islam, is seen at the Capitol in Washington, March 26, 1964, after he observed the Senate's debate on civil rights. (AP Photo/Henry Griffin)
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On March 8, 1964, activist Malcolm X announced his separation from the Nation of Islam (NOI), a religious sector advocating for Black self-determination. This decision came after a disagreement with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of NOI.

Despite parting ways with the organization, Malcolm X retained his adherence to Islam and went on to establish the Organization of African Unity, embodying a vision of broader inclusivity and unity among African descendants. 

Black Muslim leader Malcolm X, recently separated from the Nation of Islam, talks to reporters in a Capitol corridor after watching the civil rights debate from the Senate visitors’ gallery, March 26, 1964. (AP Photo/Charles Gorry)

However, his journey was tragically cut short on February 21, 1965, when he was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, just as he was about to deliver an address. His untimely death, at the age of 39, marked a profound loss for the civil rights movement.


Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

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