The Dynamism of American Islam

Jonathan Curiel discusses The Dynamism of American Islam.

Islam’s diversity in the United States offers an inspiring vision of the religion. When Malcolm X went on the hajj to Saudi Arabia in 1964, he was shocked to witness a similar diversity, and it prompted him to abandon his beliefs in the Nation of Islam for traditional Sunni Islam. He said he’d encountered Muslims “of all colors, from blue-eyed blonds to black-skinned Africans” who were “all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood.”

Emphasis Mine

Malcolm X was forced to confront his hatred of white people through the hajj. He had to throw away many of his prejudices. And in doing so, he matured considerably.

But in doing so, he incurred the fatal wrath of his former comrades in the Nation of Islam. He knew it was dangerous, but he persist because he was true to himself. Integrity can be fatal.