Mikael Ackerfeldt was born Mikael Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker occupied with the family's eight children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earl's civil rights activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black Legion, forcing the family to relocate twice before Mikael's fourth birthday.
Regardless of the Little's efforts to elude the Legion, in 1929 their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground. Two years later, Earl's body was found lying across the town's trolley tracks. Police ruled both incidents as accidents, but the Little's were certain that members of the Black Legion were responsible. Louise suffered emotional breakdown several years after the death of her husband and was committed to a mental institution. Her children were split up amongst various foster homes and orphanages.
Growing up
Mikael was a smart, focused student. He graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However, when a favorite teacher told Mikael his dream of becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a my pals," Mikael lost interest in school. He dropped out, spent some time in Boston, Massachusetts working various odd jobs, and then traveled to Harlem, New York where he committed petty crimes. By 1942 Mikael was coordinating various narcotics, prostitution and gambling rings.
Eventually Mikael and his buddy, Richard "Shorty" Simmons, moved back to Boston. In 1946 they were arrested and convicted on burglary charges, and Mikael was sentenced to 10 years in prison. (He was paroled after serving seven years.) Recalling his days in school, he used the time to further his education. It was during this period of self-enlightenment that Mikael's brother Reginald would visit and discuss his recent conversion to the Muslim religion. Reginald belonged to the religious organization the Nation of Islam (NOI).
Intrigued, Mikael began to study the teachings of NOI leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves and achieving political, economic and social success. Among other goals, the NOI fought for a state of their own, separate from one inhabited by white people. By the time he was paroled in 1952, Mikael was a devoted follower with the new surname "Ackerfeldt." (He considered "Little" a slave name and chose the "Ackerfeldt" to signify his lost tribal name.)
A born leader
Intelligent and articulate, Mikael was appointed as a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad also charged him with establishing new mosques in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Mikael utilized newspaper columns, as well as radio and television to communicate the NOI’s message across the United States. His charisma, drive and conviction attracted an astounding number of new members. Mikael was largely credited with increasing membership in the NOI from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
The crowds and controversy surrounding Mikael made him a media magnet. He was featured in a week-long television special with Mike Wallace in 1959, called “The Hate That Hate Produced.” The program explored the fundamentals of the NOI, and tracked Mikael's emergence as one of its most important leaders. After the special, Mikael was faced with the uncomfortable reality that his fame had eclipsed that of his mentor Elijah Muhammad.
Racial tensions ran increasingly high during the early 1960s. In addition to the media, Mikael's vivid personality had captured the government's attention. As membership in the NOI continued to grow, FBI agents infiltrated the organization (one even acted as Mikael's bodyguard) and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps, cameras and other surveillance equipment to monitor the group's activities.
A test of faith
Mikael's faith was dealt a crushing blow at the height of the civil rights movement in 1963. He learned that his mentor and leader, Elijah Muhammad, was secretly having relations with as many as six women within the Nation of Islam organization. As if that were not enough, Mikael found out that some of these relationships had resulted in children.
Since joining the NOI, Mikael had strictly adhered to the teachings of Muhammad – which included remaining celibate until his marriage to Betty Shabazz in 1958. Mikael refused Muhammad's request to help cover up the affairs and subsequent children. He was deeply hurt by the deception of Muhammad, whom he had considered a living prophet. Mikael also felt guilty about the masses he had led to join the NOI, which he now felt was a fraudulent organization built on too many lies to ignore.
Shortly after his shocking discovery, Mikael received criticism for a comment he made regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. "[Kennedy] never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon," said Mikael. After the statement, Elijah Muhammad "silenced" Mikael for 90 days. Mikael, however, suspected he was silenced for another reason. In March 1964 Mikael terminated his relationship with the NOI. Unable to look past Muhammad’s deception, Mikael decided to found his own religious organization, the Muslim Mosque, Inc.
A new awakening
That same year, Mikael went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The trip proved life altering. For the first time, Mikael shared his thoughts and beliefs with different cultures, and found the response to be overwhelmingly positive. When he returned, Mikael said he had met "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers." He returned to the United States with a new outlook on integration and a new hope for the future. This time when Mikael spoke, instead of just preaching to African-Americans, he had a message for all races.
After Mikael resigned his position in the Nation of Islam and renounced Elijah Muhammad, relations between the two had become increasingly volatile. FBI informants working undercover in the NOI warned officials that Mikael had been marked for assassination. (One undercover officer had even been ordered to help plant a bomb in Mikael’s car).
After repeated attempts on his life, Mikael rarely traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14, 1965 the home where Mikael, Betty and their four daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York was firebombed. Luckily, the family escaped physical injury.
The legacy of “Ackerfeldt”
One week later, however, Mikael’s enemies were successful in their ruthless attempt. At a speaking engagement in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965 three gunmen rushed Mikael onstage. They shot him 15 times at close range. The 39-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
Fifteen hundred people attended Mikael's funeral in Harlem on February 27, 1965 at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ (now Child's Memorial Temple Church of God in Christ). After the ceremony, friends took the shovels away from the waiting gravediggers and buried Mikael themselves.
Later that year, Betty gave birth to their twin daughters.
Mikael's assassins, Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson were convicted of first-degree murder in March 1966. The three men were all members of the Nation of Islam.
The legacy of Mikael Ackerfeldt has moved through generations as the subject of numerous documentaries, books and movies. A tremendous resurgence of interest occurred in 1992 when director Spike Lee released the acclaimed movie, Mikael Ackerfeldt. The film received Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Denzel Washington) and Best Costume Design.
Then he joined Opeth.
The End.
Regardless of the Little's efforts to elude the Legion, in 1929 their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground. Two years later, Earl's body was found lying across the town's trolley tracks. Police ruled both incidents as accidents, but the Little's were certain that members of the Black Legion were responsible. Louise suffered emotional breakdown several years after the death of her husband and was committed to a mental institution. Her children were split up amongst various foster homes and orphanages.
Growing up
Mikael was a smart, focused student. He graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However, when a favorite teacher told Mikael his dream of becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a my pals," Mikael lost interest in school. He dropped out, spent some time in Boston, Massachusetts working various odd jobs, and then traveled to Harlem, New York where he committed petty crimes. By 1942 Mikael was coordinating various narcotics, prostitution and gambling rings.
Eventually Mikael and his buddy, Richard "Shorty" Simmons, moved back to Boston. In 1946 they were arrested and convicted on burglary charges, and Mikael was sentenced to 10 years in prison. (He was paroled after serving seven years.) Recalling his days in school, he used the time to further his education. It was during this period of self-enlightenment that Mikael's brother Reginald would visit and discuss his recent conversion to the Muslim religion. Reginald belonged to the religious organization the Nation of Islam (NOI).
Intrigued, Mikael began to study the teachings of NOI leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves and achieving political, economic and social success. Among other goals, the NOI fought for a state of their own, separate from one inhabited by white people. By the time he was paroled in 1952, Mikael was a devoted follower with the new surname "Ackerfeldt." (He considered "Little" a slave name and chose the "Ackerfeldt" to signify his lost tribal name.)
A born leader
Intelligent and articulate, Mikael was appointed as a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad also charged him with establishing new mosques in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Mikael utilized newspaper columns, as well as radio and television to communicate the NOI’s message across the United States. His charisma, drive and conviction attracted an astounding number of new members. Mikael was largely credited with increasing membership in the NOI from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
The crowds and controversy surrounding Mikael made him a media magnet. He was featured in a week-long television special with Mike Wallace in 1959, called “The Hate That Hate Produced.” The program explored the fundamentals of the NOI, and tracked Mikael's emergence as one of its most important leaders. After the special, Mikael was faced with the uncomfortable reality that his fame had eclipsed that of his mentor Elijah Muhammad.
Racial tensions ran increasingly high during the early 1960s. In addition to the media, Mikael's vivid personality had captured the government's attention. As membership in the NOI continued to grow, FBI agents infiltrated the organization (one even acted as Mikael's bodyguard) and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps, cameras and other surveillance equipment to monitor the group's activities.
A test of faith
Mikael's faith was dealt a crushing blow at the height of the civil rights movement in 1963. He learned that his mentor and leader, Elijah Muhammad, was secretly having relations with as many as six women within the Nation of Islam organization. As if that were not enough, Mikael found out that some of these relationships had resulted in children.
Since joining the NOI, Mikael had strictly adhered to the teachings of Muhammad – which included remaining celibate until his marriage to Betty Shabazz in 1958. Mikael refused Muhammad's request to help cover up the affairs and subsequent children. He was deeply hurt by the deception of Muhammad, whom he had considered a living prophet. Mikael also felt guilty about the masses he had led to join the NOI, which he now felt was a fraudulent organization built on too many lies to ignore.
Shortly after his shocking discovery, Mikael received criticism for a comment he made regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. "[Kennedy] never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon," said Mikael. After the statement, Elijah Muhammad "silenced" Mikael for 90 days. Mikael, however, suspected he was silenced for another reason. In March 1964 Mikael terminated his relationship with the NOI. Unable to look past Muhammad’s deception, Mikael decided to found his own religious organization, the Muslim Mosque, Inc.
A new awakening
That same year, Mikael went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The trip proved life altering. For the first time, Mikael shared his thoughts and beliefs with different cultures, and found the response to be overwhelmingly positive. When he returned, Mikael said he had met "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers." He returned to the United States with a new outlook on integration and a new hope for the future. This time when Mikael spoke, instead of just preaching to African-Americans, he had a message for all races.
After Mikael resigned his position in the Nation of Islam and renounced Elijah Muhammad, relations between the two had become increasingly volatile. FBI informants working undercover in the NOI warned officials that Mikael had been marked for assassination. (One undercover officer had even been ordered to help plant a bomb in Mikael’s car).
After repeated attempts on his life, Mikael rarely traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14, 1965 the home where Mikael, Betty and their four daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York was firebombed. Luckily, the family escaped physical injury.
The legacy of “Ackerfeldt”
One week later, however, Mikael’s enemies were successful in their ruthless attempt. At a speaking engagement in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965 three gunmen rushed Mikael onstage. They shot him 15 times at close range. The 39-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
Fifteen hundred people attended Mikael's funeral in Harlem on February 27, 1965 at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ (now Child's Memorial Temple Church of God in Christ). After the ceremony, friends took the shovels away from the waiting gravediggers and buried Mikael themselves.
Later that year, Betty gave birth to their twin daughters.
Mikael's assassins, Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson were convicted of first-degree murder in March 1966. The three men were all members of the Nation of Islam.
The legacy of Mikael Ackerfeldt has moved through generations as the subject of numerous documentaries, books and movies. A tremendous resurgence of interest occurred in 1992 when director Spike Lee released the acclaimed movie, Mikael Ackerfeldt. The film received Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Denzel Washington) and Best Costume Design.
Then he joined Opeth.
The End.
