Malcolm X, one of the leaders who left his mark on American political history as well as his contributions to Islamic thought, was born in 1925. Born as Malcolm Little, this human rights activist later changed his name to Malcolm X. His choice of "X" as his surname was an act of defiance. By the late 1950s, he was using the name Malik al-Shahbaz. He encouraged blacks in the U.S. to connect with their roots in Africa, worked for their rights and became a spokesperson for Islam. On February 21, 1965, he died in an armed attack and thousands attended his funeral.

Malcolm X: A Life in Search sheds light on the facts and unknowns of this legendary leader's life. Written by American historian Manning Marable, the book was named one of the ten best books of the year by the New York Times at the time of its publication and won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2012.