Intro-Quote
“ I think that the pilgrimage to Mecca broadened my scope probably more in twelve days than my previous experience during my thirty-nine years on this earth.” ~Malcom X, the Barry Gray Show July 11, 1964
You are tuned into Episode 18 of The Coin: Black History on the Other Side podcast. On this day May 19, 1925 Malcom Little better known as Malcom X was born. On today’s show we celebrate his life and legacy discussing his liberating journey to Mecca.
Where the journey began
The Muslim minister we love and know today was not always the freedom fighting human rights activist. Throughout his life he had gone through a series of phases. Known on the streets as Detroit red, In 1945 the hustling thug found himself battling a drug addiction. To support his $20 a day cocaine addiction he orchestrated a plan in targeting wealthy neighborhoods to rob. Assembling together a team of thieves, the burglaries had gone according to plan. Until the leader himself broke the team’s golden rule in never keeping anything you steal and sell everything as fast as you can. A stolen watch would lead to the demise of the mastermind, as Malcolm kept the watch he had stolen.
Discovering his watch was missing, the owner reported the watch stolen. This very expensive time piece put jewelry stores on notice as it needed repaired. Not thinking anything of it, Malcolm took the watch to be repaired. In February 1946 the course of Malcolm’s life changed as he was sentenced between five to ten years. The Charlestown State prison, is where he began to go through a transformative phase. Utilizing his time management effectively he began to read, write, study, and learn about the Nation of Islam. A spiritual awakening began to arise within his soul.
During a prison visit, Reginald Malcolm’s brother educated him on Allah. Reginald preached to Malcolm about the white man and his devilish ways. Reflecting back on his life, Malcolm thought about all the white people he crossed paths with. He thought nothing good had come from white people. His family had lived through many traumatic life changing experiences of his house being burned down, his father being murdered, the welfare system breaking up his family, never being accepted by his white peers, and his English teacher Mr. Ostrowski telling him he would never amount to become anything. It was right there in prison that he made up his mind to devote the rest of his life telling the white man about himself.
Religion In a box
The Nation of Islam and it’s teachings gave Malcolm X’s life meaning and hope. The newfound hope led him leaving prison a better man than when he entered. No longer was he an angry black man addicted to drugs, but an intelligent thoughtful man. Elijah Muhammad’s leadership and teachings limited the exposure to the full depth of how Islam was practiced all over the world. Malcolm was aware Mr. Muhammad teaching were not fully in alignment, but he chose to ignore it. Boxing himself and others into a subset portion of religion. Life would begin to take a different course as he separated from the Nation of Islam.
Many of friends advised Malcom X to discover the true religion of Islam.
What is Islam?
How does one define the true religion of Islam? According to Mark Davies author of the book Malcolm X another side of the movement writes a Muslim is a person who believes in Islam. Islam is one of the world’s largest religions. It began in 622 A.D. by Muhammad, who lived in the cities of Medina and Mecca in Arabia. After his passing, Islam spread throughout the world. Muslims considered Muhammad to be the last in a long line of messengers from Allah to people on earth.
At the time this book was written, it was reported that there were nearly one billion Muslims in the world living in Indonesia, Middle East, North Africa, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Muslims are comprised in different groups. The two biggest groups are Sunni and Shiite/and or Shia Islam.
Within their religion Muslims believe in one all powerful God whom they call Allah. Muslims believe there is a heaven and hell. The holy book is called the Koran. Muslims are not permitted to eat pork, drink alcohol, or gamble. They pray together. Their houses of worship are called mosques. Many Muslims try to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives.
The Journey of Awakening
On April 13, 1964, Malcolm decided to make the pilgrimage, going on the journey to the holy place to gain spiritual strength and understanding. While in Jidda, a city 40 miles from Mecca Malcolm connected with Dr. Azzam and his family, who were known as one of the most important families in Saudi, Arabia. What stood out to Malcolm about Dr. Azzam and his family that they were Caucasian.
The Azzam family taught their guest of honor the real history of Muslims. Malcolm learned that the descendants of the prophet Muhammad were both black and white. The Azzam’s assisted Malcolm in helping to sort his status verifying indeed he was a Muslim, as non-Muslims were not allowed inside the city of walls of Mecca.
The journey of the pilgrimage to Mecca began by Malcolm having to perform a series of exercises. The first exercise was circling a holy building called the Kaaba seven times. Second, he drank from the well of Zem Zem. Third he ran seven times between two hills called Mount Al-Safa and Mount Al-Marwah. Lastly, he recited special prayers in an old cities named Mina and Mount Arafat.
No longer in a box, the religion of Islam became full circle bringing Malcolm to a new found perspective that religion is not defined by the color of one’s skin. To his amazement there were people of many different colors praying, talking, and laughing together. No signs in Mecca existed differentiating white only and colored people labeling.
Who Allah sets free, is free indeed. No longer bound, Malcolm felt liberated in the moment.
In his own words he says
Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and race here in this ancient holy land. “
Prior to his pilgrimage Malcolm believed all white people to be the devil. The trip helped to soften Malcolm’s opinion, as he learned some white people could be truly friendly. Color was not the issue, the real issue was the system. It’s the people who use the system to exploit those they deem inferior to them.
In his heart and mind, he believed Islam was the solution to eliminate the color problem in the United States.
Upon completing his pilgrimage Malcolm X took on a new identity, he had become El Hajj Malik El Shabazz. Continuing his liberation tour in Africa, he sought to unite Africans and American Americans with the goal of building racial pride rooted in an identity.
Just as he experienced in the holy city, Africans greeted Malcolm with great hospitality and love. Nigerans had given Malcolm a new name Omowale which means “ the son who has come home”
May 21, 1964 Malcolm returned home to the United States full of new life, a re-energized spirit, and ideas.
Outro:
What a journey from the hood to Mecca. The One thing I find interesting is the month of February. The same month where Malcolm life was transformed through his prison sentence becoming on of the most influential leaders, was also the same month his journey came to an end. To be absent in the body, is to be present in the spirit.
What we do life echoes in eternity.