Malcolm X, originally known as Malcolm Little was an African American civil rights activist whose aggressive stance on issues of right of black people made him an equally popular and controversial figure during the civil rights movement. He was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, a coming together of Islamic ideologies with black nationalist ideas. A vocal supporter of violence against the whites, his way of demanding justice often had him chided by his contemporaries like Martin Luther King Jr who were peace loving. Malcolm X is a hugely popular figure amongst the African American and Muslim communities for his fiery speeches and ability to fight for the cause of the oppressed.