FBI Investigation of Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam (1963)
In 1963 the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched a coordinated inquiry into Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, monitoring speeches, rallies, and alleged links to civil‑rights unrest. Declassified memos and reports reveal extensive surveillance, attempts to shape events, and the use of FOIA exemptions that initially concealed details later released to the public.
Try these questions
- What key events or operations involving Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam are documented in these files?
- Which individuals, agencies, or organizations are identified as participants or targets in the FBI’s investigations?
- What information was initially redacted or withheld and later disclosed, and what does it reveal about the FBI’s surveillance methods?
- How did the FBI’s actions influence the civil‑rights movement and the public perception of Malcolm X?
FBI Vault — COINTELPRO Files
Federal Bureau of Investigation