The role of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement
I can describe the role of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement, including his changing attitudes.
The role of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement
I can describe the role of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement, including his changing attitudes.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In his early life, Malcolm X belonged to the Black Muslims (Nation of Islam).
- Malcolm X did not agree with the involvement of white Americans in the civil rights movement.
- In his later life, Malcolm X changed his views and left the Black Muslims (Nation of Islam).
Keywords
Black Power - Black Power is the political name for groups aiming for self determination for black Americans
Orator - An orator is a public speaker
Separatism - Separatism is the belief that keeping people separate is the right thing to do; the Black Muslims believed in separating white and black Americans
White supremacists - white supremacists are people who believe that those identified as 'white' are superior to all other races
Pilgrimage - A pilgrimage is a religious journey to a place of significance; Muslims go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives
Common misconception
Malcolm X's main philosophy was the use of violence in order to fight racial injustice.
Malcolm X supported Black Nationalism and encouraged black Americans to defend themselves by any means necessary, although this did endorse violence, Malcolm X spent much of his time with the Black Muslims supporting black Americans in poorer areas.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The role of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The role of Malcolm X in the civil rights movement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the USA: how did the civil rights movement change after 1965? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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