No, Malcolm X was not a member of the Black Panther Party, but he was a significant figure in the civil rights movement and had some ideological overlaps with the party.
Malcolm X was a prominent leader in the Nation of Islam until 1964, advocating for the rights of African Americans and promoting black empowerment. His speeches and writings focused on self-determination and fighting against systemic racism. He famously emphasized the need for black people to take pride in their identity and fight for their rights by any means necessary.
The Black Panther Party, on the other hand, was founded in 1966, primarily by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, as a response to police brutality and racial oppression. They promoted a more militant approach, including armed self-defense, and a range of community programs. Although they shared some common goals, such as the fight for racial equality and social justice, Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, a year before the Black Panthers gained national attention.
While he inspired future generations of activists, including members of the Black Panther Party, his direct involvement with them was nonexistent. Instead, Malcolm X’s legacy can be seen as a crucial building block in the broader struggle for civil rights, of which the Black Panther Party was a part.