Louise Little facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise Little
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Louise and Earl Little in an undated photo
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| Born |
Louise Helen Norton Langdon
1894 or 1897 La Digue, Saint Andrew Parish, Grenada
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| Died | December 18, 1991 (aged 94-97) |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Spouse(s) |
Earl Little
(m. 1919; |
| Children | 8 (including Malcolm X) |
Louise Helen Norton Little (born Langdon; 1894 or 1897) was an important activist from Grenada who later lived in America. She is best known as the mother of the famous civil rights leader, Malcolm X. Louise Little worked hard to promote pride and self-reliance among Black people. She faced many challenges throughout her life but remained a strong figure for her family and community.
Her Early Life and Family
Louise Norton Langdon Little was born in La Digue, Grenada, a village in Saint Andrew Parish, Grenada. Her birth year was either 1894 or 1897. Her mother was Ella Langdon. Louise's grandparents, Jupiter and Mary Jane Langdon, had a remarkable story. They were taken from their homes in what is now Nigeria and forced into slavery. However, they were later freed by the British Royal Navy. After gaining their freedom, they were brought to Grenada.
Louise was raised by her grandparents. She lived with them until her grandfather Jupiter passed away in 1901, and her grandmother Mary Jane in 1916. She went to a local Anglican school. Louise was very smart and could speak three languages: English, French, and Grenadian Creole French.
In 1917, after her grandmother died, Louise moved from Grenada to Montreal, Canada. There, her uncle Egerton Langdon introduced her to important ideas about Black pride and self-improvement. These ideas came from a movement called Garveyism and an organization called the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
Her Work and Family Life
Through the UNIA in Montreal, Louise met Earl Little. Earl was a skilled craftsman and a minister. They got married on May 10, 1919. The couple moved to Philadelphia the next year, hoping for a better life. Then, in 1921, they moved to Omaha, Nebraska.
In Omaha, Louise became very active in the local UNIA chapter. She was the secretary and reported on their activities for the Negro World newspaper. Earl led many UNIA events, and together, they taught their children to be self-reliant and proud of their heritage. Their son Malcolm, who later became famous as Malcolm X, remembered that his father's four brothers were killed by white violence. Louise's son Wilfred recalled that she received letters from UNIA leaders. These letters thanked her for her hard work and dedication to the cause.
Louise and Earl had seven children together: Wilfred (born 1920), Hilda (born 1921), Philbert (born 1923), Malcolm (born 1925), Reginald (born 1927), Wesley (born 1928), and Yvonne (born 1929).
Facing Challenges
The Little family faced many threats because of Earl's UNIA activities. Racist groups like the Ku Klux Klan said Earl was "spreading trouble." Because of these threats, the family moved in 1926 to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Soon after, they moved again to Lansing, Michigan. In Lansing, a white racist group called the Black Legion often bothered the family. When their home burned down in 1929, Earl believed the Black Legion was responsible.
In 1931, Earl died in what was officially called a streetcar accident. However, Louise believed he was murdered by the Black Legion. Rumors that white racists were behind his death were very upsetting to Louise and her children. After Earl's death, Louise struggled financially. She received a small life insurance payment each month. To earn more money, she rented out part of her garden, and her sons hunted for food.
During the 1930s, Louise Little and her son Wilfred became members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1938, Louise had another child, Robert. Later that year, she faced serious health struggles and needed to go to a special hospital for care. Because of this, her children had to be separated and sent to foster homes.
Later Years
Louise Little stayed at the Kalamazoo Mental Hospital from 1939 until 1963. Her son Malcolm, who had become a leading minister in the Nation of Islam, worked with his brothers and sisters to help her get released from the hospital.
After her release, Louise lived with her surviving children and grandchildren for the rest of her life. She mostly lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Many of her children also lived and passed away in Grand Rapids. Louise was a member of the Bethel Seventh-Day Adventist Church there. She passed away on December 18, 1991, at the age of 94 or 97.
