How does Malcolm X's understanding of his own identity change over the different phases of his life?How does Malcolm X's understanding of his own...

There are many different topics and questions to address
here in so short a space, so let me get you started in the right direction at
least.

The key shift in Malcolm X's identity came when he
adopted "X" as his new last name.  The name on his birth certificate was Malcolm Little,
but he argued that since he was the descendant of slaves stolen from Africa, Little was
actually a slave name - as slaves were often given the last name of their owners.  He
came to realize that he would never know his true identity - his African heritage.  He
felt an acute sense of loss, as that identity could never be recovered, so the adoption
of "X" was a symbol of his mourning and outrage at his own personal loss.  Thousands of
other African-Americans did the same thing in solidarity with
him.

He also came to realize, perhaps quite early in his
life, that he felt he did not belong in American society.  He felt that he was a visible
legacy of slavery, that he was openly discriminated against in law and in life, and that
whites would never accept him as an equal.  Because of this, Malcolm X advocated the use
of force to protect black Americans and for a time even backed the idea of creating a
separate black nation within the borders of the US.