1965 - Black nationalist leader, Malcom X, assassinated

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X, a prominent African American nationalist leader and civil rights activist, was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, had been a key figure in the Nation of Islam, a religious and political movement advocating for the empowerment of Black Americans. However, he had recently broken away from the Nation of Islam and founded his own organization, the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which focused more on Pan-Africanism and cooperation among all African-descended people worldwide.

Malcolm X's assassination was a significant event in the civil rights movement and had a profound impact on the struggle for racial equality in the United States. His advocacy for Black pride, self-defense, and self-determination, as well as his critiques of systemic racism and oppression, inspired many to continue the fight for justice.