Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
On February 21, 1965, civil rights leader and Black nationalist figure Malcolm X was assassinated while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Six decades later, his killing remains one of the most consequential and debated events in modern American history, shaping global conversations on race, justice, state power, and Black liberation movements. Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little and later known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was a prominent voice in the struggle for African American dignity and self-determination during the height of the U.S. civil rights movement. His advocacy for Black empowerment, Pan-African solidarity, and resistance to systemic racism distinguished him from more integrationist approaches of the era. The assassination and immediate aftermath Malcolm X was shot multiple times in front of his wife and children at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. Three men affiliated with the Nation of Islam were convicted in 1966 for the killing. However, decades of scrutiny and investigative reporting have cast doubt on aspects of the official account. In 2021, two of the convicted men, Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, were exonerated after nearly six decades in prison, following a joint investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys. The review concluded that law enforcement agencies had withheld critical evidence during the original trial. The exonerations renewed global debate about the role of U.S. authorities in monitoring and potentially undermining Black political movements during the 1960s. Surveillance, COINTELPRO, and ongoing controversy historical records confirm that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted extensive surveillance of Malcolm X, as it did with other civil rights leaders, under its Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO). The program targeted organizations and individuals considered subversive, including civil rights and Black nationalist groups. While some activists and scholars have long alleged direct involvement of U.S. intelligence agencies in Malcolm X’s assassination, no conclusive judicial finding has established that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) orchestrated the killing. Declassified documents have shown close monitoring of Malcolm X’s activities, but the full scope of government knowledge and actions surrounding the assassination continues to be examined by historians and investigative journalists. Reputable media organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, and Al Jazeera have reported extensively on the assassination, subsequent investigations, and the 2021 exonerations, underscoring both the historical significance and unresolved questions surrounding the case. A Global legacy of resistance and Pan-Africanism beyond the circumstances of his death, Malcolm X’s ideological evolution remains central to his enduring legacy. After breaking with the Nation of Islam in 1964, he embraced a broader internationalist perspective, founding the Organization of Afro-American Unity and advocating for human rights frameworks that linked the African American struggle to anti-colonial movements across Africa and the Global South. His pilgrimage to Mecca reshaped his views on race and solidarity, reinforcing his commitment to global justice while maintaining a firm stance against systemic oppression.Across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas, Malcolm X’s speeches and writings continue to inspire movements confronting racial inequality, police brutality, economic exclusion, and neocolonial structures. Remembering Malcolm X each year, February 21 serves as a moment of reflection for supporters who regard Malcolm X as a revolutionary voice for justice and self-determination. His life and death remain emblematic of the turbulent era of the 1960s civil rights struggle—and of the enduring quest for equality in the face of institutional resistance. While historical debate continues over the full truth behind his assassination, Malcolm X’s intellectual and political legacy stands firmly embedded in global struggles for dignity and human rights. Sources:The New York Times; The Washington Post; BBC News; Al Jazeera; Associated Press archives.
Afilawos Magana Sur is a journalist from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, currently based in Bauchi metropolis. He is known for his commitment to accurate, ethical, and responsible journalism, with a focus on reporting issues of public relevance and community development.
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