Malcolm was the seventh of eight children. Macolm's father was killed after been run over by a car. Malcolm believed white racists were responsible for his father's death. When malcolm was 12 years old his mother was sent to a mental hospital. Malcolms spent the rest of his childhood in foster homes. In 1946 he was arrested for robing and was sent to jail. When Malcolm was released from jail in 1952 he change his last name to "X". Malcolm X was a smart, focused student and graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However when a favorite teacher told malcolm his dreams of becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal a niggar," Malcolm lost interest in school. When he was older he had a bunch of "odd jobs" he was a shoeshiner and shinned shoe for famous people. He was comitted for bruggley.