In Malcolm X’s speech at the founding rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU), he recalls his recent departure from the Nation Of Islam, and his pilgrimage to Mecca. During his speech, he strongly emphasized the importance of uniting with other Afro-Americans of the Americas.
Malcolm X wanted to be different from the NAACP, to which White people donated funds, and practically told them what to do.
During his travels to Africa, Malcolm X noted that there was a group of African leaders called the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and in this group, there were 33 leaders of African countries. Despite all of their differences, they managed to all come together for the common goal of eliminating colonialism from the continent of Africa.
Many other nations including the United States thought that it would be disastrous to attempt to have so many different leaders come to a table and agree.
After seeing the OAU, Malcolm X formed the OAAU. The objective of this organization was to bring Black people together and collectively strive for freedom by any means necessary. He acknowledged that at that time, during segregation and all of the racist laws, staying unified was key. During that time, and even to this day, it is very important to keep money in Black communities so we will be able to support ourselves without having strings attached to rich people outside of the Black community.
Malcolm X wanted to be more like Marcus Garvey who never asked for help because this allowed for the group as a whole to think independently and not have to listen to suggestions of wealthy donors trying to control the group. This was the idea Malcom X had in mind when creating the OAAU.
Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam were very upset with the departure of Malcolm X, and the new organization he created. According to Malcolm X, Elijah Mahammad was angered because of intense jealousy toward him because of how fast he gained popularity. Since the U.S. government also saw Malcolm X as a threat, they made efforts to assassinate him by implanting undercover hitmen into the nation. Many white people feared the OAAU movement because the Black people gave whites a taste of their own medicine and used threatening language against the whites, the same way that white people treated Blacks.
After multiple failed attempts, Malcolm X was fatally shot in the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, New York on February 21, 1965 while preparing to address members of the OAAU.
Malcolm X sought to unify 22 million Black people to connect them closer with the people of the African continent. People who don’t know their history don’t understand the lengths at which Black people had to go to strive for freedom. This was to fight for the human rights of Black people and to shed light on the oppression they endured on a daily basis.
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