Malcolm X's Journey to Greatness - Episode 2: School of Hard Knocks

Alright, fellas, we’re back with more of Malcolm’s story, and let me tell you, things get real.

In 1931, Malcolm’s world got turned upside down. His old man ended up dead, allegedly in a streetcar “accident.” But Malcolm wasn’t buying it. He believed the local white supremacist group had a hand in it. With his dad gone, the family struggled hard, even having to go on public assistance.

As if that wasn’t enough, in 1938, Malcolm’s mom got diagnosed as mentally ill and was shipped off to a state hospital. Talk about a one-two punch to the gut.

With his family scattered to the wind, Malcolm bounced around foster homes. He was a smart kid, but the system wasn’t exactly set up for a young black man to succeed. By 1939, he’d been kicked out of school in the seventh grade.

But our boy Malcolm wasn’t about to let the world keep him down. He took to the streets, learning the hustle and flow of city life. Little did he know, this was just preparing him for the next chapter of his life.

Next episode, we’ll see how Malcolm went from street smart to book smart in the most unlikely of places. Keep it locked, bros!