Malcolm X's early life was marked by racial discrimination and violence, which profoundly shaped his views on race. Growing up in a segregated environment, his father was murdered by white supremacists, and his mother was institutionalized, leaving him in foster care. The constant exposure to racism, alongside his later experiences in prison, radicalized him. He adopted the teachings of the Nation of Islam, promoting black empowerment and self-defense against systemic oppression. His struggle against injustice and his journey towards becoming a prominent civil rights leader were deeply influenced by these formative experiences of his youth.