Malcolm X's departure from the Nation of Islam was partly due to his conflicts with Elijah Muhammad regarding the organization's leadership style. In his autobiography, Malcolm X highlights his proactive disposition. He notes, "All of my life, as you know, I had been an activist, I had been impatient," illustrating how his enthusiasm for recruiting new members for the Nation of Islam made it nearly impossible for him to remain idle.

In contrast, Elijah Muhammad's approach to leadership was more restrained. As Malcolm X became more involved in the Nation, he grew increasingly concerned about these differences. He reflects, "If I harbored any disappointment whatsoever, it was that privately I was convinced that our Nation of Islam could be an even greater force ... if we engaged in more action." Malcolm X's energetic leadership style enabled him to engage diverse audiences, a quality that some believe sparked jealousy among their followers. This tension eventually led to Malcolm X's expulsion from the Nation and, ultimately, his tragic assassination.