Earl Little: The Life and Legacy of Malcolm X’s Father

Earl Little was a civil rights and Pan-African activist in Omaha and Lansing, best known as the father of Malcolm X. A devoted follower of Marcus Garvey and leader in the local Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), he organized boycotts and advocated racial pride, economic independence, and reparations for slavery. His outspoken activism and confrontations with white supremacist groups drew repeated threats and violence, culminating in his death in 1931. This profile explains Earl Little’s background, affiliations, death, and enduring influence on Malcolm X’s political consciousness.