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Malcolm X was both charismatic and feared, and he advocated black power as a response to white racism. On February 21, 1965 he was assassinated while on stage giving a speech in Harlem. Thirty-nine year old Malcolm X was shot by three gunmen from the Nation of Islam, a group he had left the previous year. For the 50th anniversary of his killing, listen to this story about the life and legacy of this influential black leader.
Story Length: 7:45
© 2005 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
AIR DATE: 02/21/2005
January 19, 2015
5:04
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we remember this icon through the eyes of his eldest son. Martin Luther King III shares childhood memories of a segregated amusement park, forging his own path while honoring his father’s legacy, and more. This public radio story features audio from the civil rights era and Martin Luther King III himself.
Read MoreNovember 28, 2014
8:16
In 1961 the FBI targeted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be wiretapped because of his affiliation with a former communist leader. Their efforts became personal when Dr. King spoke badly of the FBI. Wiretapping of Dr. King’s motel rooms exposed that he was unfaithful to his wife and this led to an effort by the FBI to expose his extramarital affairs by going to the press. But the media didn’t bite, and Dr. King remained unscathed and able to lead the Civil Rights Movement.
Read MoreMay 29, 2014
5:42
Maya Angelou, celebrated poet, writer of I know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Civil Rights Activist, passed away at the age of 86. She was a celebrity and an iconic figure in the African-American community. Listen to this radio story with your students to learn the extent of her impact.
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