Malcolm X is shot and killed while addressing the Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. He was 39.
At a Glance
- Date
- 21 February 1965
- Location
- New York, New York
- Key people
- Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz)
- Category
- Civil Rights Movement
- Source
- Contemporary press accounts; later legal review · Britannica
What It Meant Then
His death cut short an evolving leader who had become a global voice for Black self-determination.
What It Means Now
His autobiography and speeches remain foundational to Black political thought.
Also on 21 February
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Assassination of Malcolm X.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-assassination-of-malcolm-x/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Assassination of Malcolm X. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-assassination-of-malcolm-x/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Assassination of Malcolm X.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-assassination-of-malcolm-x/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.