Mecca

Hajj and Mecca

When Malcolm separated from the Nation Of Islam he founded his own organization called "Muslim Mosque, Inc" along with another secular group called "the Organization of Afro-American Unity.", but continued in his same manner of aggression. On March 26th, 1964 Malcolm traveled to Washington DC to attend the senate's debate on the Civil Rights bill. During this time he met Martin Luther King Jr for the first and only time. It was a brief encounter barely long enough to capture the two in a single photograph frame. 

In April of the same year Malcolm cautioned the government about preventing African-Americans full equality. Advising if they do not, African-Americans would be obliged to take up arms. He also encouraged African-Americans to exercise their right to vote during a speech titled "The Ballot or the Bullet." 

Although Malcolm continued his militant undertones, he was persuaded by several Sunni Muslims to educate himself about the religion. Malcolm converted shortly after.

As part of his new undertaking as Sunni Muslim, Malcolm traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to partake in the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, his status as Muslim was questioned due to his U.S. Citizenship and inability to speak Arabic. This slight inconvenience turned into a window of opportunity for Malcolm. He was given a book titled "The Eternal Message of Muhammad" when his visa was approved. He contacted the author, Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam, and the authors son negotiated his release from the Saudi immigration services. Azzam's son also set Malcolm up on his personal hotel suite. When Malcolm awoke the next morning, he was declared as a state guest by Prince Faisal whom he met several days later, after Malcolm had completed his Hajj to Mecca.

Malcolm's time during Mecca had a profound affect on him. It was the first time he was surrounded by Muslim's of "all colors, from blue-eyed blondes, black-skinned Africans." Malcolm was overcome by how these individuals interacted as equals and he concluded Islam was the path by which racial problems could be overcome.

Malcolm's militant undertones began to diminish after this experience, yet he remained a vocal force in the civil rights movement. 

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