Malcolm X helped expand the Nation of Islam.

An intriguing detail about Malcolm X is that after his release, he collaborated with Elijah Muhammad to broaden the scope of the Nation of Islam. He established new churches in Hartford and Philadelphia and later served as the minister of the Boston and Harlem temples. To help advance the religion, he established the publication "Muhammad Speaks." Despite being divisive to many, his writings contributed to the Nation's membership rising from 400 to a staggering 40,000.

He also contributed to the replacement of the disparaging term "Negro" with the more acceptable terms "colored," "Afro-American," or "Black" during his time at the Nation of Islam. He was a devoted follower of the Nation of Islam, but he made the decision to leave the group after learning of Muhammad's adulteries, which are prohibited by Islam. The rift further broke apart when Muhammad ordered Malcolm X a 90-day period of silence. This was after Muhammad made crude remarks against the death of President John F. Kennedy.