Chapter 17 - Summary, The Autobiography Of Malcolm X | The Autobiography of Malcolm X -Summary, Themes & Characters - Novels PDF Download

Mecca

• Throughout his career as a minister for Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X often encountered Muslims from other countries who wanted to expose him to what they called "true Islam." He was offended at the time, but now he's reevaluating his thoughts.
• Lots of these same Muslims suggested that he speak to Dr. Mahmoud Youssef Shawarbi, and it just so happened that he needed to get his approval to go to Saudi Arabia anyway. They meet up, make friends, and Dr. Shawarbi gives Malcolm his son's phone number just in case.
• So Malcolm X gets on a plane to Frankfurt, and then transfers to Cairo. He's amazed that people of all different races and colors are mingling together, and no one is calling each other bad names or putting anyone else down. Who would've thought?
• After a few days of sightseeing, Malcolm X gets ready for his pilgrimage. He's pretty nervous because he doesn't know Arabic or the majority of the strict religious customs involved in the Hajj. He calms down a little when all of the people on the plane get excited hearing that he's an American Muslim. They party all the way to the airport.
• When he lands, there are Muslims of all colors, shapes, and sizes. And they all have one purpose. The Hajj. But then there's trouble.
• He has to go before special counsel in order to decide if he'll be allowed into Mecca. So Malcolm has to stay in a dorm until he hears the news. Oh well, at least he gets to practice praying while he waits.
• After a bit of time in the dorm with other Muslims, Malcolm X becomes a sort of celebrity. But it's not for the reason you think. Remember how he was friends with Cassius Clay? Well, everyone he meets now thinks that he is Cassius Clay since they were photographed together.
• Malcolm spends a long time in the dorm before he remembers something. He has the phone number of Dr. Omar Azzam. Once he calls, that's apparently all he needed to get out of there. In an hour he has his suitcase back, is in a car, dressed, and on his way to a fancy hotel. It pays to have friends in high places.
• Malcolm thinks of his new saviors as white men, and that forces him to reevaluate his idea that all white people are evil. That can't be true if these guys are white, and they are helping him so much, right?
• Finally, thanks to their help, Malcolm X is allowed into Mecca. There are so many people there that the guide who accompanies Malcolm has to prevent him from getting trampled by pilgrims. He visits three times, goes to Mount Arafat, and then ends his pilgrimage.
• In the end, he has two big takeaways from his trip: Not all white people are evil, and it is possible for people of different races to get along.
• He's so excited that he decides to write a letter to everyone. Seriously, everyone. "The Letter from Mecca" talks about what he experienced there, his pilgrimage, the racial unity he witnessed, and why Islam is so awesome. He tells everyone that he has changed his mind about race relations, and he now knows that it is possible for all races to worship Allah and that Islam is the way to end racism.
• He signs the letter with a new name: El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.