Malcolm X was the most influential political figure in Yuri's life.  I think this quote from one of Yuri's speeches demonstrates her respect and admiration for Malcolm X and how she drew her own ideals from what she had learned from him as well.  “Malcolm used to always reiterate study history and learn about ourselves and others.  There is more commonality in all of our lives than we think.  It will help us understand one another.  Knowledge of history can be used as a weapon to divide us further or seek truth and learn from past errors and flagrant remisses.  Our ultimate objective in learning about anything is to try to create and develop a more just society than we have seen.” 

This picture is from Life Magazine's article, "Death of Malcolm X," from March 5, 1965.  
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Malcolm X Assassination in Life Magazine

Life Magazine's article "Death of Malcolm X" on March 5, 1965