We all know that Malcolm X was a very popular civil rights activist of the 90s. However, very few people know that Malcolm X in Egypt was better known as Malik El-Shabazz after he converted to Islam. In fact, the journey of Malcolm X in Egypt happened under the Islamic name that he took up and traveled to Cairo and then to other places on the African continent. Until he arrived in Egypt, he was alone, and then he went to other parts of Africa from Cairo. What Malcolm did in Egypt is rarely known, but it played a major hand in shaping his political and ideological convictions.
Malcolm X in Egypt and the emphasis on the Black Brotherhood
It is believed that when the political activist reached Egypt and explored Cairo, he met many African natives and was inspired by the ideals of black brotherhood and Black unity, which was necessary for fighting for the civil rights of the black community. Toward the end of
Malcolm X or Malik El-Shabazz- what happened with Malcolm X in Egypt?
time, Malcolm X, in Egypt, had planned to visit different parts of the Middle East and parts of West Africa. The time Malcolm X spent in Egypt and the people he interacted with shaped his perspectives about blacks and basic human rights.
In the last year that he spent in Africa, he visited Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco. The popular personality also undertook tours to Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to see the diversity of African and middle eastern cultures. During this time, Malcolm X became a devout Muslim and also undertook the Hajj. The Hajj is the most sacred pilgrimage of the Islamic world that every god-fearing Muslim should undertake.
It is believed that the journey Malcolm X took toward Mecca changed the way he looked at the world and its people. The transformative journey he took to Mecca made him understand humanity as he felt like a complete human. His political approach also changed from Black Separatism to Black Unity after he completed the journey to Mecca. Therefore, the time spent by Malcolm X in Egypt and then in the Middle East is seen as one of the most important phases of his life. Malcolm X talks about this completely transitory experience in his autobiography.
What impact did Malcolm’s time in Egypt have on his mind?
When Malcolm arrived in Cairo for his first visit to Egypt, he was fully separated from any administrative influence. He was alone in Cairo, and without any external support, he depended on the citizens of Cairo. This allowed him to experience the generosity of the African people and the locals at the grassroots level.
During his stay in Cairo, Malcolm X met with African heads of state and also explored the riches of Egypt, basking in the past glory of the pharaohs. The more he connected with the past roots of African culture and saw historical monuments and ruins, he was convinced of the existence of Black excellence that was ignored and lost only to be rediscovered.
Conclusion
Malcolm X in Egypt spent a lot of time and met with many people of the land. He was convinced that the ancestors of Africans were master creators and chemists. The African population was capable of creating anything in this world. He took stories of Black excellence and spread them in the world to bring recognition and pride to the African communities who had migrated from their native lands. During his time in Egypt, Malcolm X
also witnessed that all the citizens of the world were treated equally. This shaped his causes and beliefs in the later stage of his life.