Chapter 16: Out
Muhammad's condition in 1961 became terrible. In 1963, his relationship with the Islam Nation became even more constrained when he faced a paternity suit from two women. At first, Malcolm pretended not knowing anything about this case. All along, he was aware of the rumors back in 1962 that Muhammad was involved in adultery, but he chose to ignore them and acted like he knew nothing. Muhammad was compared to the great men in the Bible whose actions outweighed their weaknesses and Malcolm preached about it in mosques.
In 1963, the President, J. F. Kennedy was assassinated, and Muhammad gave directives that no Muslim would comment on the topic. However, on public engagement, Malcolm said, "Chickens coming home to roost (X and Haley 190)." The comment meant that his death was somehow justifiable. It led to a strained relationship with the Islam Nation. Malcolm was suspended and was not to preach in his mosque. Later, he realized that Muhammad had betrayed him. Muhammad's betrayal deeply saddened him, and he described it as divorce after 12 years of marriage. Malcolm was then told that there was a cash bounty on his head. At this point, he went to visit Cassius Clay since he had sent him an invitation letter asking him and his family to stay with him in Florida.
Finally, Malcolm came to terms that he was on his own now and that the rest of the Islamic Nation had alienated him. However, he continued to fight for the liberation of the blacks. In 1964, he formed an organization by the name “Muslims Mosques, Inc (X and Haley 200).” Malcolm felt that he wanted to fight for blacks regardless of religion. At this point, he wanted to feel right in regard his faith and, therefore, decided to make a visit to Mecca, the Holy place. With no source of income, he asked for help from Ella, and she agreed to fund him.
Chapter 17: Mecca
According to X and Haley, the Holy Quran says, "Pilgrimage to the Ka'ba is a duty man owe to God; those who are able, make the journey (200)." During Malcolm’s tours, while he served Muhammad, Orthodox Muslims had encouraged him to go to Mecca, but he felt insulted at that time. Malcolm departed for Mecca, and was shocked to see people coming together regardless of color and race. However, the main problem for him was that counsel had to decide whether he would attend the Hajj. He was, therefore, detained at the airport due to the question of whether he was a Muslim.
As he awaited to hear from counsel, people at the airport thought that he was Cassius Clay since they had taken a photograph together. He met many Muslims of all colors and despite that Arabic was a language barrier, he managed to make friends. While he was detained, he had a mind flash of Dr. Shawarbi while in New York, who had given him contact of the author's son of a certain book. He said to Malcolm, "My father will be so happy to meet you," (X and Haley 208). The contact was Dr. Omar Azzam number, a diplomat who worked for United Nations, and he quickly called him. Luckily for him, Dr. Omar intervened on his behalf and Malcolm was released. He felt that Allah was on his side and was guiding him.
Later, Malcolm realized that the person who had saved him was a white person. Thanks to him, Malcolm was able to attend the Hajj. Finally, after his trip was over, he wrote letters to everyone who had helped him throughout the pilgrimage. The letter addressed what he had learned from the pilgrimage (Marable and Thomas 47). One of the key things he had learned was that white people were not all evil and that the possibility of whites and blacks living as brothers was possible.
Work Cited
Marable, Manning, and G V. Thomas. Malcolm X. New York: Penguin Audio, 2011. Print.
X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The Autobiography Of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine Books, 1992. Print.
