Source: Les Payne. The Dead Are Arising - The Life of Malcolm X (2020)
Not long after Malcolm X left the NOI, he and similar-feeling now-ex NOI members formed the Muslim Mosque, Inc. (MMI), which was almost immediately viewed by the NOI as a rival, and an additional reason to want Malcolm X dead. Malcolm X’s vision of the MMI was to no longer be constricted/limited by the NOI, and to explore and learn about the REAL the World of Islam. March 1964: Malcolm X started to organize another group, the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU), which would allow him to enter and engage in the Civil Rights arena, where in the NOI he hadn’t been allowed.
The OAAU was designed to be a purely secular/political: its goals was to ink the African-American struggle for equality with Colonialism. The OAAU wanted to encourage African-Americans to identify with Africa, not the Middle East or Asia, as the NOI had touted. During the 1920s, almost all of Africa had been colonized, but by the mid-1960s, more than 20 African nations had won independence. Malcolm X argued that the struggle for African-American equality had to be globalized in order for the oppression in the US to be seen as an international violation of basic human rights. Malcolm X wanted at least one African nation to charge the US with human rights violations in the United Nations.
The OAAU was designed to be a purely secular/political: its goals was to ink the African-American struggle for equality with Colonialism. The OAAU wanted to encourage African-Americans to identify with Africa, not the Middle East or Asia, as the NOI had touted. During the 1920s, almost all of Africa had been colonized, but by the mid-1960s, more than 20 African nations had won independence. Malcolm X argued that the struggle for African-American equality had to be globalized in order for the oppression in the US to be seen as an international violation of basic human rights. Malcolm X wanted at least one African nation to charge the US with human rights violations in the United Nations.
Slowly, Malcolm X was realizing that he didn’t know very much about the religion of Islam, so he started to have discussions with people who did, in particular Sunni Islam, the predominant form of Islam in the world. In addition to reading REAL sources about REAL Islam, Malcolm X was encouraged to make the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Ella, who had left the NOI in 1959, was fifty years old and still living in Boston; she gave Malcolm X the money she had been saving for her hajj. A prominent Muslim doctor paved the way for Malcolm X to enter Mecca itself (where only Muslims were allowed), and also provided some high-level contacts.
Malcolm X knew his life, and even his family, were at risk of being attacked or killed by the NOI, so he vacated the NOI home in Queens (he had been ordered to vacate by the NOI many months prior). Malcolm X flew out of NYC using the name Malik El-Shabazz on 13 April 1964. Once in Saudi Arabia, Malcolm X was not treated as a real Muslim, so using one of his high-level contacts (who was actually the brother-in-law of Prince Faisal), he didn’t have any more problems on that front. Malcolm X’s interactions with Muslims from all races showed him that true Islam was color-blind, which to say the least was a revelation after all the NOI brainwashing.
Malcolm X knew his life, and even his family, were at risk of being attacked or killed by the NOI, so he vacated the NOI home in Queens (he had been ordered to vacate by the NOI many months prior). Malcolm X flew out of NYC using the name Malik El-Shabazz on 13 April 1964. Once in Saudi Arabia, Malcolm X was not treated as a real Muslim, so using one of his high-level contacts (who was actually the brother-in-law of Prince Faisal), he didn’t have any more problems on that front. Malcolm X’s interactions with Muslims from all races showed him that true Islam was color-blind, which to say the least was a revelation after all the NOI brainwashing.
Malcolm X had broken with a major tenet from 10+ years of preaching in the NOI, but he denied that he was giving all whites an automatic pass. Malcolm X’s strategy with the media, when asked about his changed views of whites, was that he now knew that all whites weren’t devils, so now real discussions can take place.
After leaving Ghana, which was the first African nation to gain independence from colonial rule (Britain) in 1957, and even meeting with President Nkrumah, Malcolm X experienced a harsh personal rebuke from Muhammad Ali. While Malcolm X had been suspended for 90 days after his comment on the JFK Assassination, he had gone to Miami at the invitation of Cassius Clay as he was preparing to fight Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. On 25 February 1964, after winning the title, Clay announced that he had joined the NOI, and that his name was now Muhammad Ali, days before Malcolm X left the NOI. As Malcolm X was leaving his hotel on the way to the Miami airport, he came across Ali, the neophyte NOI true-believer. Malcolm X greeted Ali, but Ali walked on, ignoring him. Years later Ali admitted that he regretted the snub, since he figured out many years later, as had Malcolm X, that the NOI was a dangerous cult. Ali had also figured out many years later that Malcolm X was a visionary, and right about so many things, whereas the NOI was wrong on virtually every front.
Malcolm X arrived back in NYC on 21 May 1964, and seven weeks later he traveled to Africa. During the seven weeks in between sojourns, his dealings with the NOI became radioactive, since Malcolm X decided it was time to expose the behavior and shenanigans of EM for all to see; after doing so, Malcolm X started to receive death threats.
After leaving Ghana, which was the first African nation to gain independence from colonial rule (Britain) in 1957, and even meeting with President Nkrumah, Malcolm X experienced a harsh personal rebuke from Muhammad Ali. While Malcolm X had been suspended for 90 days after his comment on the JFK Assassination, he had gone to Miami at the invitation of Cassius Clay as he was preparing to fight Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. On 25 February 1964, after winning the title, Clay announced that he had joined the NOI, and that his name was now Muhammad Ali, days before Malcolm X left the NOI. As Malcolm X was leaving his hotel on the way to the Miami airport, he came across Ali, the neophyte NOI true-believer. Malcolm X greeted Ali, but Ali walked on, ignoring him. Years later Ali admitted that he regretted the snub, since he figured out many years later, as had Malcolm X, that the NOI was a dangerous cult. Ali had also figured out many years later that Malcolm X was a visionary, and right about so many things, whereas the NOI was wrong on virtually every front.
Malcolm X arrived back in NYC on 21 May 1964, and seven weeks later he traveled to Africa. During the seven weeks in between sojourns, his dealings with the NOI became radioactive, since Malcolm X decided it was time to expose the behavior and shenanigans of EM for all to see; after doing so, Malcolm X started to receive death threats.
Malcolm X tried to make a connection to the nonviolent Civil Rights groups by taking human rights violations to the UN, although he still advocated for self-defense. Once he left for Africa, Malcolm X remained abroad for over four months, even though he received reports of growing dissatisfaction within the MMI. It was during this time abroad in which Malcolm x was certified to teach Islam and to spread the faith, something that EM could never come close to achieving (assuming that he was interested in doing so). While abroad, Malcolm X sent letters back to the US denouncing EM as a “religious faker”, and in contrast, bragging about his new certification and identity as an internationally recognized orthodox Muslim.
On 4 October 1964, the NY Times printed long excerpts from Malcolm X’s letters, which served as an ax blow on EM and the NOI. After certification, Malcolm X focused on the political arena, meeting with as many African national leaders as possible, as well as giving as many interviews as his schedule allowed. John Lewis, traveling with a SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) delegation in Africa at the same time, found out that young Africans had no idea about SNCC or the Civil Rights Movement in the US, but they sure knew about Malcolm X. While Malcolm X never did convince an African nation to charge the US with human rights violations in theUN, the US State Department was very nervous about the actions of Malcolm X.
On 4 October 1964, the NY Times printed long excerpts from Malcolm X’s letters, which served as an ax blow on EM and the NOI. After certification, Malcolm X focused on the political arena, meeting with as many African national leaders as possible, as well as giving as many interviews as his schedule allowed. John Lewis, traveling with a SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) delegation in Africa at the same time, found out that young Africans had no idea about SNCC or the Civil Rights Movement in the US, but they sure knew about Malcolm X. While Malcolm X never did convince an African nation to charge the US with human rights violations in theUN, the US State Department was very nervous about the actions of Malcolm X.
Malcolm X increasingly viewed capitalism as the main enemy arrayed against African-Americans, stating that it was impossible for a white person to believe in capitalism and not believe in racism. Malcolm X went further, arguing that if one came across a non-racist white person, that white was a Socialist. Again, coming across John Lewis in Africa, Malcolm X told Lewis that he was being watched, followed, and was convinced that there were forces that wanted to kill him.
Malcolm X returned to NYC on 24 November 1964. While Malcolm had been abroad, LBJ and Congress (with the strong assistance of mainstream Civil Rights leaders such as MLK) had passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Also, a judge had ruled that the NOI had won a ruling that Malcolm X and his family had to be out of the NOI residence in Queens by January 1965. Also, due to his extended absences, there was disorganization and disarray in the MMI and the OAAU. Even so, Malcolm X kept speaking and traveling in North America, and even in Great Britain.
On 4 February 1965, he spoke to young Civil Rights activists in Selma (AL) to demonstrate support and solidarity in the movement, even fitting in a brief private discussion with Coretta Scott King (at the time, MLK was in jail). Malcolm X left for what would be his final trip abroad on 5 February 1965, heading to London and then Paris. Once at the Paris airport, he wasn’t allowed to enter France; French officials told him that his presence in the nation was “undesirable”. By the time he returned to London, Malcolm X was convinced that more than the NOI wanted to assassinate him. Malcolm X arrived in NYC on 13 February 1965, and he was scheduled to speak in Detroit on Valentine’s Day.
Malcolm X returned to NYC on 24 November 1964. While Malcolm had been abroad, LBJ and Congress (with the strong assistance of mainstream Civil Rights leaders such as MLK) had passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Also, a judge had ruled that the NOI had won a ruling that Malcolm X and his family had to be out of the NOI residence in Queens by January 1965. Also, due to his extended absences, there was disorganization and disarray in the MMI and the OAAU. Even so, Malcolm X kept speaking and traveling in North America, and even in Great Britain.
On 4 February 1965, he spoke to young Civil Rights activists in Selma (AL) to demonstrate support and solidarity in the movement, even fitting in a brief private discussion with Coretta Scott King (at the time, MLK was in jail). Malcolm X left for what would be his final trip abroad on 5 February 1965, heading to London and then Paris. Once at the Paris airport, he wasn’t allowed to enter France; French officials told him that his presence in the nation was “undesirable”. By the time he returned to London, Malcolm X was convinced that more than the NOI wanted to assassinate him. Malcolm X arrived in NYC on 13 February 1965, and he was scheduled to speak in Detroit on Valentine’s Day.