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Chapter Twelve 

Where: Massachusetts
Time : 1953
Malcolm had gotten parole release out of prison in the custody of his brother Wilfred. He was given a little money to spend. He bought three things that he used more than anything else: a suitcase, a wrist watch, and a new pair of eye glasses. Right after, he departed for Detroit to his brother Wilfred's house.

Where: Detroit
Time: 1953
Malcolm was given a job by the Jewish store owner that his brother Wilfred worker for. Malcolm stayed with his brother in Detroit. The household was different because it had a Muslim home's atmosphere. There, Malcolm had a chance to go to his first Nation of Islam meeting and he was very excited. Malcolm learned a lot of different things that the followers of the Nation of Islam do in their rituals. Later, Malcolm went ot see the messenger Elijah Muhammad. At this meeting in Temple number one, many people were there, but there were empty seats too. Later, Malcolm had a chance to talk with Elijag Muhammad about the amount of pepole that were on the street a the time. This upset Malcolm. Malcolm was enlisted as a recruiter for Temple number one in Detroit. Malcolm had very little luck influencing a couple of neighborhood youths to visit the temple. Over several months the temple's outcome of people tripled. It was at this time when Malcolm decided to change his lst name
from Little to X becuase he felt that the X represented his true African name which was unknown due to his ancestores being enslaved. Malcolm began talking at meetings and became more comfortable being a public speaker. Elijah Muhammad appointed Maclolm as the assistant minister at the Detroit Temple number one. later Malcolm learned background information on Elijah Muhammad. Elijah Muhammad was never confrontational while growing up. He was then converted to the Nation of Islam by Wallace D. Fard, who later disappeared, leaving Elijah Muhammad one of the few leaders of the Natin of Islam.Elijah Muhammad did spend time in prison as well. As soon as he was out of prison in the 1940's, he reclaimed his positon as the head of the Nation of Islam.