On January 20 1999 in New York NY; the USPS issued the 22nd addition to the Black Heritage Series, honoring Malcolm X, African-American Muslim minister. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans; his critics accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, and violence. He has been described as one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 at the age of 39.