Some African Americans felt that King's pacifist, nonviolent mentality was too weak to effectively deal with racial discrimination, and so they started the Black Power movement. Malcolm X was one of its first leaders. Malcolm X soon became the most prominent minister for the Nation of Islam. He believed that blacks could only achieve equality and freedom through radical change. He also famously said,"We declare our right on this earth. . . to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."

In 1964 Malcolm broke with the Nation of Islam. A few months later he took a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, a religious journey known as the hajj. In Mecca he experienced a kind of spiritual rebirth that caused him to reconsider many of his views toward white people. He came back to the United States with a much softer message, still advocating for civil rights, but offering a more conciliatory view toward whites.

Before 1964, Malcolm X believed