The famous lawyer known as Malcolm X was once called Malcolm Little. Malcolm Little grew up in a small farming town near Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm Little was his slave name, so after his freedom he dropped little and added the X. The X was associated with an unknown identity. The book goes into detail using his own words and Alex Haley's elaborate writing. The book goes into detail about Malcolm's life and how his childhood shaped him for his future as an advocate for equal rights. Malcolm was the third youngest child of eight other brothers and sisters. Malcolm X's father was an inspiration in his life. Earl Little shaped Malcom's thinking of equality. He was a minister of a Baptist church and leader/organizer of the Marcus Garvey Universal Negro Improvement. He studied and spoke little about equality and the rights of his fellow men. He didn't know it would affect his son so much. Malcolm grew up in Lansing, Michigan on a farm for most of his life. Malcolm's life of crime began when he began stealing goods for his family. He felt the need because his family was so poor. Malcolm lived with his mother, Mrs. Little, who was also not as stable. She was bombarded with bills and tax collectors which eventually led to depression and extreme anxiety. She later became so bad that she was committed to a mental institution and Malcolm was now a child of the state. This was his first real resentment towards the white authorities after he had blamed them for Mrs Little's imprisonment and for being a child of the state. Malcolm was transferred to Boston where he remained in upper-class Roxbury society with Ella. Malcolm began to turn to crime because he often favored the ghettos of Boston. ... half of the document ... Olm was even evicted from his home after the Nation of Islam sued him, claiming it was their property. They had won the case and Malcolm had to leave his house, which later burned to the ground. At the age of 39 Malcolm was threatened for the last time. In a speech at the Organization of African American Unity in Harlem, Malcolm was shot and killed by a member of the Black Muslims on February 21, 1965. The book is written with both autobiographical features and portions narrated by Malcolm himself. Sections are important to the book because they add integral parts to the book. These sections add a sense of connection to what Malcolm experienced. He paints a picture from his point of view and the people around him. The biggest contribution the epilogue made was the story and insight into his assassination and the effects it had on his health.