Ella Little-Collins facts for kids
Ella Little-Collins (1914 – 1996) was an important American civil rights activist. She was also the half-sister of the famous leader Malcolm X. Ella was born in Butler, Georgia. Her parents were Earl Little and Daisy Little.
Ella had two siblings, Mary and Earl Lee Jr. She also had seven half-siblings from her father's second marriage. One of these was Malcolm. Ella worked in many different jobs. She was a secretary for Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. She also managed her mother's grocery store. Ella invested in houses and rented out rooms.
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Ella's Beliefs and Work
In the mid-1950s, Ella joined the Nation of Islam. This was a religious and political group. She helped start their mosque in Boston. She also helped create a day-care center there. In 1959, Ella left the Nation of Islam. She then became a Sunni Muslim.
Ella strongly supported education. She helped create programs for black and ethnic studies at universities. These programs teach about the history and culture of different groups. She also founded the Sarah A. Little School of Preparatory Arts in Boston. This school helped students get ready for higher education.
Ella's Impact on Malcolm X
Ella Little-Collins had a big impact on Malcolm X. He wrote about their first meeting in his autobiography. He was in seventh grade at the time. Malcolm said Ella was "the first really proud black woman I had ever seen." He was very impressed by her.
After that school year, Malcolm moved to Roxbury. He lived with Ella there. She was his guardian until he turned 21. Her home is now known as the Malcolm X—Ella Little-Collins House. It is the last known childhood home of Malcolm X. In 1998, the outside of her home became a Boston Landmark. In 2021, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places in the United States.
Supporting Malcolm X's Legacy
Ella continued to support Malcolm X throughout his life. In 1964, Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam. Ella paid for him to make the Hajj. This is a special religious journey to Mecca for Muslims.
After Malcolm X was assassinated, Ella helped his family. She paid for his funeral and business costs. She also took over his group, the Organization of Afro-American Unity. This group worked for the rights of African Americans. Malcolm X had a project to give 35 scholarships. These scholarships were for students to study overseas. They were from Al-Azhar University in Egypt and the University of Ghana. Ella made sure this project continued. In 1986, she combined the Organization of Afro-American Unity with another group. This new group was called the African American Defense League.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1988, Ella Little-Collins had both of her legs amputated. This was due to a serious infection called gangrene. She passed away in 1996.
The Ella Collins Institute is named after her. It is part of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center. This institute aims to create a strong community. It combines traditional Islamic teachings with modern learning.
