This Day In History: 02/21/1965 - Malcolm X Assassinated - HISTORY

Malcolm X is assassinated by rival Black Muslims, the Jackson Five have their TV debut, Steve Fossett completes the first solo hot air balloon trip around the world in This Day in History video. The date is February 21st. Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam and from then on he received death threats.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

RELATED CONTENT

Rome is founded by Romulus and Remus, Sam Houston shouts Remember the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, German flying ace, the Red Baron is shot down, and Annie the play debuts in This Day in History video. The date is April 21st. The flying ace, Manfred Von Richthofe, became known as the Red Baron.

The first Ground Hog day introducing Punxsutawney Phil, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Samuel Clemens known as Mark Twain is released and the first GI Joe hits the market in This Day in History video. The date is February 2nd. Willie Nelson is accused of tax evasion and hands over $9 million of the $17 million the IRS says he owes.

The Oxford Dictionary debuts, Chief Justice John Jay is named the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the first nuclear explosion is shown on TV, and the Columbia space shuttle explodes in This Day in History video. The date is February 1st. The crew of Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, and David Brown are lost.

Find out what happened on November 21 in our This Day in History video. On November 21, 1783, history was made in the skies over Paris when the first manned un-tethered air balloon flight took place. On November 21, 1877, Thomas Edison had another idea. Edison created a device that could record and playback sound. On November 21, 1973, the Nixon Administration announced that there was an eighteen and a half minute gap on the Watergate tapes. Still no one knows what was said in that gap. Lastly, on November 21, 1980, 350 million people tuned into an episode of Dallas to see who shot J.R. It turned out to be an upset mistress.

Birth control in Ireland becomes legal, San Francisco World's Fair debuts the earthquake, John Glenn becomes the first astronaut to orbit the earth, and Ross Perot declares his presidency in This Day in History video. The date is February 20th. John Glenn was part of the Mercury Seven and orbited the earth in the Friendship 7.

On February 28th many historical events occurred. These events are recapped by Russell Mitchell in this video clip from "This Day in History". The discovery of DNA by James Watson and Frances Crick being a major one for the scientific community. Not only was DNA discovered on this day, but the Republican Party was founded in Wisconsin. The well-known album Thriller by Michael Jackson won eight Emmy awards as well.