Malcolm X was one of the most influential people of the 20th Century. His work to progress civil rights of Americans is well known, less well known is his visit to Birmingham, Smethwick and the West Midlands in 1965. Before his visit he allegedly said, “I was in Birmingham, Alabama, the other day. This will give me a chance to see if Birmingham, England, is any different.”
Who was Malcolm X?
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little, in Omaha Nebraska, 1925. A rural town in Midwestern USA, a long way from the industrial West Midlands in England. Whilst constitutional racism had been eroded throughout the 19th century and early 20th century in the northern US states, de facto racism was still present.
Malcolm was raised by his parents Earl and Louise Little. 1920s America was reeling for the fallout from WW1 and the Great Depression, and this had led to a resurgence in white nationalist organisations such as the KKK, who were prevalent where the Little’s were living. Despite this, Malcolm’s father was determined to bring up his family in the white part of town – the conditions were better and his father felt they deserved and had a right to live like this.
Malcolm’s life was changed aged only six, in 1931, when his father was murdered in Michigan by white supremacists. In the following years, the family became fractured. By 1938, he had moved with his mother to Kalamazoo. Times were hard, the family never received the insurance payout following his father’s death, and when Malcolm’s mother was institutionalised, the children were scattered to family and foster care. Malcolm fostered by white family in Michigan.
Inheriting his father’s determination, Malcolm had to fight and became a ‘hustler’. However, with no father figure, Malcolm became drawn to the teachings of Eligah Muhammed and converted to Islam. Like white nationalism, the Nation of Islam had grown in the post Great Depression era.
Malcolm learned from Elijah Muhammed and began to speak at events, encouraging Black people to fight for dignity and their freedoms in the USA. His speeches transformed how African Americans saw themselves and their roots, encouraging them to believe in themselves and reconnect with their culture. He said that Black people had taken the surname from masters and so replaced his surname with ‘X’; “you don’t know who you are, you’re not Johnson or Jeffersen.”
Racism in the West Midlands & England
In the 50s the UK invited people from around the Commonwealth to come and work in the UK. The Caribbean migrants became known as the Windrush Generation.
The migration lead to the friction in industrial cities as people from the Caribbean and Asia came to make a living for themselves. Across the UK, racial tensions were high.
In 1964, one of the most racially intense UK elections, labour MP lost his seat in Smethwick, being replaced by an overtly racist conservative MP. Smethwick was one of the UK’s hotbeds for racism, non-whites were refused entry to pubs in the area and racist graffiti could be seen.
The Conservative council was lobbied by the white community to discourage black and Asian families from moving to the area. With tensions at a high, Malcolm X decided to visit Smethwick, bringing international coverage to the conditions of the non-white community.
Malcolm X visits Birmingham, Smethwick and the West Midlands
On 12 February 1965, Malcolm X visited Smethwick after being invited by Avtar Jouhl, a member of the Indian Workers Association. Malcolm X visited to speak at University of Birmingham, and decided to visit Smethwick due to the escalating racial tensions in the area.
He visited Marshall Street and said, “I have come because I am disturbed by reports that coloured people in Smethwick are being treated badly. I have heard they are being treated as the Jews were under Hitler.” Reporters asked him what should be done. “I would not wait for the fascist elements in Smethwick to erect gas ovens.”
Malcolm’s visit bought us international eyes to Smethwick and the West Midlands. Although the people of the area had a long and challenging road, Malcolm X’s visit bought international press coverage to conditions in the region, and has left a legacy to future generations in the area.
Today a blue plaque can be seen in Marshall Street Smethwick, where Malcom X visited.
-
Nine days later, Malcolm X was back in the USA. He was assassinated in New York whilst giving a speech.
-
Read more of our stories on the history of Birmingham and the West Midlands, such as how the 500+ Royal Oak pubs got their name, and the Real Peaky Blinders.