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Masaryk University Masaryk University Diploma Thesis 2015 Bc. Markéta Růžičková Masaryk University Faculty of Education Department of English Language and Literature Malcom X: Spiritualism and Politics Before and After the Hajj Diploma Thesis Brno 2015 Author: Bc. Markéta Růžičková Supervisor: Michael George, M.A. 2 I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently, using only the sources listed in the bibliography. ...................................................... In Brno, 30th March 2015 Bc. Markéta Růžičková 3 I would like to thank my supervisor Michael George, M.A. for his guidance, valuable advice and support. I appreciate his feedback which significantly deepened my knowledge and understanding of the subject. Bc. Markéta Růžičková 4 Content 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 7 2 Pre-conversion ....................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Childhood ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Youth ................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Biographical disputes .......................................................................................................... 15 3 Conversion ............................................................................................................................ 17 4 Nation of Islam ..................................................................................................................... 21 4.1 Foundation and history ........................................................................................................ 21 4.2 NOI vs. orthodox Islam ....................................................................................................... 23 4.3 NOI vs. Other Afro-American organizations ...................................................................... 25 4.4 Ideology of NOI .................................................................................................................. 27 5 Malcolm X in the Nation of Islam ...................................................................................... 31 5.1 Malcolm X as perceived by press ........................................................................................ 33 5.1.1 Hatemonger ............................................................................................................... 33 5.1.2 Violent / aggressive / militancy ................................................................................. 36 5.1.3 Racist ......................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.4 Socialist / Communist ................................................................................................ 38 5.1.5 Sexist ......................................................................................................................... 39 5.2 Personal life ......................................................................................................................... 40 5.3 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 41 6 Expulsion .............................................................................................................................. 43 7 Malcolm X’s travels ............................................................................................................ 48 7.1 Florida .................................................................................................................................. 49 7.2 Before the Hajj..................................................................................................................... 50 7.3 Hajj ...................................................................................................................................... 52 7.4 United States – The Organization of Afro-American Unity ............................................... 56 7.5 Africa ................................................................................................................................... 63 8 Coming home ....................................................................................................................... 68 5 8.1 Europe .................................................................................................................................. 68 8.2 Last days .............................................................................................................................. 71 9 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 76 10 List of references .................................................................................................................. 79 6 1 Introduction In one of his articles, newly appointed Czech professor of humanities Martin C. Putna (2012) compares the situation of oppressed African Americans in the 60’s USA with the contemporary Czech Republic’s Gypsy issue. In his piece Putna acknowledges the need of socially excluded minorities to have an inspirational hero, a “King” (i.e. Martin Luther King) who would give them cause, dignity, reason and means to hold to their ethnic or racial pride. Unless Czech people help gypsies raise a King-like articulate leader from the gutters of gypsy ghettos, Putna fears of the worse scenario – the coming of gypsy Malcolm X (Putna, 2012). Articles like these prove that prejudicial associations have not been eliminated around Malcolm X’s legacy, more so they are still deeply rooted even among academia and used to provide equation between his legacy and violence, barbarism and racism. Although cues about possible planned cooperation of the two influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement emerged as early as 1970’s (namely wiretapped phone calls that provide evidence about their intended meetings) these information have not succeeded in entering the consciousness of wider audience. However, the 50 years anniversary of Malcolm X’s assassination in February 2015 finally marked progress in public discussion on Malcolm X’s legacy and his impact on racial progress, as well as shedding more light on Rev. King and Malcolm X’s relationship. The main objective of this study is to bring more light on Malcolm X as a leader, human rights activist and civil rights advocate. His prime public persona, i.e. the Nation of Islam’s spokesman and minister led by Elijah Muhammad, is contrasted with the objectives of his activism after his religious pilgrimage known as Hajj and discusses the impact of the startling changes in his ideology that were hardly noticed by the press of the time. The work is therefore evenly divided into two units. The first unit, covered by the first four chapters of the thesis, describes Malcolm Little’s transformation from a gifted student into a criminal and his later evolution into a sober, clean-cut minister Malcolm X. His inner motivation as well as the environmental influences are considered in the making of Malcolm X. The Nation of Islam’s theology is contrasted with the main tenets of orthodox Islam practiced in the Middle East. This comparison reveals several major contradictions between Elijah Muhammad’s sect and Sunni Islam. The second unit of the study covers Malcolm X’s expulsion from the Nation of Islam and follows him on his journey towards spiritual, political and ideological independence; i.e. the 7 making of Malik El-Shabazz. The second unit respects Malcolm X’s preferences and thus refers to him thereof as Shabazz. Last chapters document Shabazz’s continuous attempts to shake off his earlier public image and start anew as a leader of a united African and Afro-American front in their quest for human rights. Martin Luther King’s positive reaction towards Shabazz’s development is also put forward. The conclusion summarizes all data collected for the purposes of this study and proposes that the iconic person generally known as Malcolm X ought to be remembered for what he died for; i.e. rather as a furious separatist and the preacher of race hate, Malik Shabazz ought to be acknowledged for the direction he took in 1964 and celebrated for his intentions and goals he set for himself on his quest for racial equality. 8 2 Pre-conversion The story of Malcolm X is full of twist and turns that continuously shaped who he was and what he stood for. Among many others, pervasive racism of American society was one of the key components “that produced and killed Malcolm” and is “responsible for destroying what he could have been” (Clarke & Bailey, 1969, p. xiii). Malcolm X changed his name three times and each time signified a great shift in his ideology. However, some facets of his personality never changed and guided him through life, such as speaking up in self-defense. “I learned early that crying out in protest could accomplish things. … I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise” (X & Haley, 1992, p. 8), he narrates in his autobiography. The historical accuracy of the biography Malcolm X compiled with Alex Haley, however, has been tested as Manning Marable published a revised version of Malcolm X’s life. Marable sought to raise questions
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