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Non-fiction: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
Famous African Americans
Malcolm X
In 1925, a boy was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His name was Malcolm
Little. At his birth, no one realized that he would grow up to be one of the most
influential 1 African-American leaders of all time. The little boy would become an
important defender of African-American rights.
Malcolm was inspired by his father and by his own experiences. Malcolm’s
father was heavily involved in fighting racism. In 1931, he was found dead on
some streetcar tracks. Malcolm strongly believed that his father was murdered by
white racists.
After his father’s death, Malcolm’s mother couldn’t cope. 2 Eventually, she
was committed to a mental hospital. He was forced to spend the rest of his
childhood in foster homes.
In his late teens, Malcolm moved to Boston and New York. He turned to a
life of crime. When he was twenty, he was put in prison for stealing.
While in prison, Malcolm found his calling in life. He joined a group called
the Nation of Islam. This meant he became a Muslim. He decided to fight for the
rights of African Americans. He read all he could to educate himself about the
world.
1
2
influential: having the power to produce effects on others
cope: to manage something difficult
1
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Non-fiction: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
Malcolm was released from prison in 1952. He adopted the last name “X.”
The “X” stood for the unknown African names of his slave ancestors. From then
on, he was known as Malcolm X.
Malcolm spent the next 13 years fighting to end racism. He remained a
Muslim, but left the Nation of Islam. This caused problems with the group’s
leaders. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm was assassinated. His death was
mourned 1 by many people around the country.
1
mourn: to feel or show grief or sorrow
2
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
Name: ____________________________
Date:______________________
1. Why did Malcolm change his last name to X?
a. because his old last name was too hard to pronounce
b. he never explained to the public why he changed his name
c. to represent the unknown names of his African ancestors
d. because he did not want to go by his father’s last name
2. Why does the author describe how Malcolm X’s father died?
a. It had an important effect on his views of racism.
b. It convinced Malcolm to leave the Nation of Islam.
c. It caused Malcolm to join the Nation of Islam.
d. It led to Malcolm moving away from New York.
3. Based on the passage, the most important effect of Malcolm X’s time in prison
was probably
a. that he was punished for his crime of stealing.
b. that he realized that he had been bad.
c. that he decided to fight racism when he got out.
d. that he gave many important speeches there.
4. Read the sentences: “Malcolm was inspired by his father and by his own
experiences. Malcolm’s father was heavily involved in fighting racism.”
The word inspired most nearly means
a. coached in sports
b. abandoned
c. got in trouble
d. given ideas by
5. This passage is mostly about
a. how Malcolm X got along with his foster parents.
b. Malcolm X’s life and how he became an activist.
c. why Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam.
d. the most important speeches given by Malcolm X.
3
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
6. How did Malcolm Little believe his father was killed?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. Based on the passage, explain why Malcolm X was mourned by many people.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.
Malcolm X was forced to spend the rest of his childhood in foster homes
________ his father died and his mother was admitted into a mental hospital.
a. before
b. although
c. after
d. so
9. Read the following sentence.
Malcolm’s mother was committed to a mental hospital after the murder of
Malcolm’s father because she couldn’t cope with his death.
Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence
you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you.
1. Who? Malcolm’s mother
2. What? _____________________________________________________
3. When? _____________________________________________________
4. Why? ______________________________________________________
4
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
10. Vocabulary Word: ancestors: family members who came before you.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 630
Featured Text Structure: Sequence – the writer provides an order of events or
steps in a process
Passage Summary: This passage describes the life of Malcolm X, an influential
African-American leader who fought to end racism.
1. Why did Malcolm change his last name to X?
a.
b.
c.
d.
because his old last name was too hard to pronounce
he never explained to the public why he changed his name
to represent the unknown names of his African ancestors
because he did not want to go by his father’s last name
2. Why does the author describe how Malcolm X’s father died?
a.
b.
c.
d.
It had an important effect on his views of racism.
It convinced Malcolm to leave the Nation of Islam.
It caused Malcolm to join the Nation of Islam.
It led to Malcolm moving away from New York.
3. Based on the passage, the most important effect of Malcolm X’s time in prison
was probably
a.
b.
c.
d.
that he was punished for his crime of stealing.
that he realized that he had been bad.
that he decided to fight racism when he got out.
that he gave many important speeches there.
4. Read the sentences: “Malcolm was inspired by his father and by his own
experiences. Malcolm’s father was heavily involved in fighting racism.”
The word inspired most nearly means
a.
b.
c.
d.
coached in sports
abandoned
got in trouble
given ideas by
6
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
5. This passage is mostly about
a. how Malcolm X got along with his foster parents.
b. Malcolm X’s life and how he became an activist.
c. why Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam.
d. the most important speeches given by Malcolm X.
6. How did Malcolm Little believe his father was killed?
Suggested answer: Malcolm believed his father was murdered by white
racists.
7. Based on the passage, explain why Malcolm X was mourned by many people.
Suggested answer: Malcolm X was mourned by African Americans and
others because he had worked to end racism. The passage also states
that he was an important defender of African-American rights.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.
Malcolm X was forced to spend the rest of his childhood in foster homes
________ his father died and his mother was admitted into a mental hospital.
a. before
b. although
c. after
d. so
9. Read the following sentence.
Malcolm’s mother was committed to a mental hospital after the murder of
Malcolm’s father because she couldn’t cope with his death.
Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence
you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you.
1. Who? Malcolm’s mother
2. What? was committed to a mental hospital
3. When? after the murder of Malcolm’s father
4. Why? because she couldn’t cope with his death
7
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Famous African Americans – Malcolm X
10. Vocabulary Word: ancestors: family members who came before you.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
8
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.