Malcolm X | Civil Rights Leader | Readers Theater Script

This Malcolm X Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin follow Malcolm X from his early hardships through his rise as a Nation of Islam speaker, his pilgrimage to Mecca, evolving views on race, brief interaction with MLK, and his tragic assassination, witnessing how he urged thinking for oneself and linking local struggles to global human rights.

Script Summary:

Abigail and Benjamin watch Malcolm X grow from a young man facing harassment to a powerful figure challenging racism. They see his alliance with Elijah Muhammad and influence on Muhammad Ali, his break from the Nation of Islam, and the transformations inspired by his pilgrimage to Mecca (primary source: Letter from Mecca). They observe his speech to civil rights workers in Mississippi (primary source: Jan. 1, 1965), where he calls for critical thinking and realistic strategies. Encountering MLK and Coretta Scott King, he acknowledges varying approaches to the same goal. His assassination ends his direct work, but not his ideas. The script shows how his journey encouraged independent thought, moral courage, global perspective, and the belief that human rights transcend borders.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~11 Characters, 1950 words, PDF & Editable DOCX Formats (8 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Answer Key, Google Slides & PDF Formats (4 Pages | 17 Slides)
• 10 Vocabulary Words: Definitions based on the context of the script to build historical literacy
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script, ensuring students can analyze the content without requiring additional research.
• Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, including one primary source exploration question.

3) Two Primary Source Documents

• Malcolm X's Speech to Civil Rights Workers from Mississippi (Jan. 1, 1965)
• Malcolm X's Letter From Mecca (April 20, 1964)
• Full Primary Source Text, PDF & DOCX Formats (9 pages)

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For digital classrooms, upload the DOCX Script and convert to Google docs
• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about ~25 minutes and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.

This resource is part of a bundle dedicated to notable Civil Rights Leaders:

SAVE 50% and get the bundle here: Civil Rights Leaders Reader's Theater Scripts Bundle (12)