Malcolm’s behavior in prison began to prefigure, and to prepare him for, his role as the Nation of Islam’s most gifted and successful proselytizer and demander of justice. After converting several other inmates to his newly embraced religion, he started agitating for Muslim religious rights in prison, such as food that met dietary restrictions and cells that faced east to facilitate prayer. And in an early instance of his internationalist bent, he even threatened to appeal for help to the global community of Islam. His quests brought newspaper coverage, which was unwelcome to the prison
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