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Born as Malcolm Little in University Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska.
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• Malcolm's brother, Reginald, is born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Enrolled in Pleasant Grove Elementary School (kindergarten).
• Malcolm's father, Earl Little, is run over by a streetcar and is killed. -
• Enrolled in West Junior High School, in Lansing.
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Malcolm's mother, Louise Little, is committed to the State Mental Hospital in Kalamazoo, consequently placing Malcolm in a juvenile home.
• He tells a teacher that his goal is to one day become a lawyer, the teacher recommends becoming a carpenter instead, as being a lawyer is not a realistic goal for a "nigger."
• Enrolls in Mason High School in Mason, Michigan. -
• Lives in various foster homes.
• Goes to Boston to visit his half-sister, Ella Collins, notices her strong and independent character. -
Moves to Boston to live with Ella.
• Acquires various jobs, including shoe shining, dishwashing, and soda jerking, also occasionally works for the New Haven Railroad.
• He is now exposed to the criminal world. -
• Malcolm moves to New York, specifically Harlem.
• Becomes a waiter at Small's Paradise.
• The U.S. Army finds him unsuitable for the service on account of mental problems (apparently, he behaved in unsuitable manner on purpose, in order to avoid the draft).
• Known as "Detroit Red.
• Involved in criminal activities. -
• Indicted for larceny, he goes back to Boston, given a three month suspended sentence and one year on probation.
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• Returns to Harlem, New York.
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• Convicted of larceny, breaking and entering, and carrying a weapon. Malcolm is sentenced to eight to ten years in prison. He starts to serve the term in Charlestown Prison.
• Here he begins reading as many books as possible and educating himself. -
• Transferred to Concord Reformatory for fifteen months.• Influenced by some family members and impressed by letters from Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm converts to the Nation of Islam (not to be confused with actual Islam).
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• Transferred to Norfolk Prison Colony, Massachusetts, where there is a great library.