Malcolm X later El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz), a leading figure in the 20th-century movement for black liberation in the United States, and arguably its most enduring symbol. Malcolm X has been called many things: Pan-Africanist, father of Black Power, religious fanatic, closet conservative, incipient socialist, and a menace to society. The meaning of his public life—his politics and ideology—is contested in part because his entire body of work consists of a few dozen speeches and a collaborative autobiography whose veracity is often challenged.
Intelligent and articulate, Malcolm 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. Malcolm 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. Malcolm was largely credited with increasing membership in the NOI from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
Racial tensions ran increasingly high during the early 1960s. In addition to the media, Malcolm'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 Malcolm's bodyguard) and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps, cameras and other surveillance equipment to monitor the group's activities.
Malcolm went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The trip proved life altering. For the first time, Malcolm shared his thoughts and beliefs with different cultures, and found the response to be overwhelmingly positive. When he returned, Malcolm 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 Malcolm spoke, instead of just preaching to African-Americans, he had a message for all races.
On May 21, 1964, he returned to the United States as a traditional Sunni Muslim (and with a new name — El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz).
When Malcolm returned to the United States, he gave a speech about his visit. This time he gave a much larger meaning and message than before. The speech was not only for the Muslims, instead it was for the whole nation and for all races. He said,
"Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth."
"In the past, yes, I have made sweeping indictments of all white people. I will never be guilty of that again — as I know now that some white people are truly sincere, that some truly are capable of being brotherly toward a black man. The true Islam has shown me that a blanket indictment of all white people is as wrong as when whites make blanket indictments against blacks."
"Since I learned the truth in Mecca my dearest friends have come to include all kinds — some Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, and even atheists! I have friends who are called capitalists, socialists, and communists! Some of my friends are moderates, conservatives, extremists — some are even Uncle Toms! My friends today are black, brown, red, yellow, and white!"
Along with A. Peter Bailey and others, El-Shabazz then founded the U. S. branch of the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Patterned after the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Africa's continental organization, which was established at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May 1963, the OAAU resolved to establish a non-religious and non-sectarian program for human rights. The OAAU included all people of African ancestry in the Western Hemisphere, as well as those on the African continent.
After repeated attempts on his life, Malcolm rarely
traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14,
1965 the home where Malcolm, Betty and their four
daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York was
firebombed. Luckily, the family escaped physical
injury.
One week later, however, Malcolm’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 Malcolm
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.
God's Judgement of White America (The Chickens Come Home to Roost)
Malcolm X: "The Ballot or the Bullet"
Malcolm X: "Message To The Grass Roots"
Eulogy of Malcolm X
Ossie Davis
Faith Temple Church Of God, February 27,1965
Here, at this final hour, in this quiet place,
Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its
brightest hopes, extinguished now and gone from us
forever. For Harlem is where he worked and where he
struggled and fought. His home of homes where his
heart was and where his people are. And it is,
therefore, most fitting that we meet once again in
Harlem to share these last moments with him. For
Harlem has ever been gracious to those who loved
her, have fought for her and have defended her
honor even to the death.
It is not in the memory of man that this
beleaguered, unfortunate but nonetheless proud
community has found a braver, more gallant young
champion than this Afro-American who lies before
us, unconquered still. I say the word again, as he
would want me to: Afro-American. Afro-American
Malcolm, who was a master, was most meticulous in
his use of words. Nobody knew better than he the
power words have over the minds of men. Malcolm had
stopped being a 'Negro' years ago. It had become
too small, too puny, too weak a word for him.
Malcolm was bigger than that. Malcolm had become an
Afro-American and he wanted so desperately that we,
that all his people, would become Afro-Americans,
too.
There are those who will consider it their duty, as
friends of the Negro people, to tell us to revile
him, to flee even, from the presence of his memory,
to save ourselves by writing him out of the history
of our turbulent times. Many will ask what Harlem
finds to honor in this stormy, controversial and
bold young captain. And we will smile. Many will
say turn away, away from this man, for he is not a
man but a demon, a monster, a subverter and an
enemy of the black man. And we will smile. They
will say that he is of hate, a fanatic, a racist
who can only bring evil to the cause for which you
struggle! And we will answer and say to them: Did
you ever talk to Brother Malcolm? Did you ever
touch him, or have him smile at you? Did you ever
really listen to him? Did he ever do a mean thing?
Was he ever himself associated with violence or any
public disturbance? For if you did you would know
him. And if you knew him you would know why we must
honor him:
Malcolm was our manhood, our living, black manhood!
This was his meaning to his people. Consigning
these mortal remains to earth, the common mother of
all, secure in the knowledge that what we place in
the ground is no more now a man but a seed which,
after the winter of our discontent, will come forth
again to meet us. And we will know him then for
what he was and is. A prince. Our own black shining
prince who didn't hesitate to die because he loved
us so.
Malcolm X's (Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) Letter from Mecca
Malcolm X The Ballot or the Bullet
The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley