Malcolm X

About Malcolm X

Malcolm X (1925-1965) remains a towering figure in American history, recognized by the Pantheon project at #302 in global historical influence. As a leading, though controversial, social activist, his powerful rhetoric and commitment to Black empowerment profoundly shaped the latter stages of the Civil Rights Movement. His work advocating for self-determination and human rights continues to resonate, cementing his essential place among the era's most significant historical actors.

The modern internet offers a mixed reflection of this stature. In 2025, Malcolm X accrued 3.1 million annualized Wikipedia views, giving him an Attention Gap score of +7x-indicating significant overattention relative to his historical ranking. This level of digital engagement places his online presence significantly higher than that of more historically ranked figures like Franz Schubert (#211 importance, only 506K views). However, his 2025 traffic has declined year-over-year by -1.1%, and his Q1 vs Q3 momentum shows a sharp -36% drop, suggesting a cooling of sustained digital interest in his legacy compared to his historical weight.

While his current digital footprint is robust, the year-over-year decline and quarterly momentum loss suggest a trajectory where his modern visibility may not keep pace with his historical importance over time.