Why Did Malcolm X Change His Name?

Malcolm X changed his name as a symbolic rejection of the surname "Little," which he viewed as a vestige of his family's history under slavery and oppression. Embracing the letter "X" signified his lost African identity, the unknown name stripped from his ancestors by white slave owners. By adopting the name Malcolm X, he sought to reclaim his cultural heritage, affirm his autonomy, and challenge the racial hierarchy perpetuated by colonialism, aiming to inspire Black individuals to embrace their roots and challenge societal norms.

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