Malcolm X's father was a black preacher whom, when Malcolm was a child, was severely beaten and then laid across railway tracks by Klu Klux Klan members. Was almost split in half. This was after a period of constant persecution and harassment for being an "uppity nigger" because he called for the abuse of African Americans to end.

Malcolm doesn't bring this up in the speech but check his expression. Also, remember he was saying this during a very violent period in American History -- the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s.

from LiveLeak