Turkey's Love for Malcolm X & Black Civil Rights Figures in America

Turkey renamed U.S. Embassy street after Malcolm X in the fall of 2018. To those who want to say this was strictly a political move on behalf of Erdogan, I offer a counter argument. Malcolm X was an international human rights activist and political figure who had established strong connections with the Muslim world and African Nations who were pulling themselves out of colonialism and fighting Anglo oppression in its various economic and political forms. 

To Muslim presidents and kings in the 1960's, Malcolm X was The Muslim Leader of the United States of America. Tell me, has anyone before or after Malcolm X reached this height in the eyes of the leaders and people of other nations? So it is fitting that Malcolm X is the person whom appeals most to Erdogan who was growing up in the era of Malcolm X (Erdogan was 11 years old when Malcolm X was assassinated).

Or you might be wondering, what does the country Turkey have to do with Malcolm X? I will tell you that on my visits to Turkey, we witnessed graffiti on random street walls as we were driving around that said simply, "Malcolm X." I can say that in Istanbul my family saw this on several walls. Just the name of Malcolm X represents a fierce lion for human rights internationally. The Turks know and connect to it, even if most of America would prefer to only put Dr. Martin Luther Kind Jr. at the forefront of the civil rights movement. When visiting Turkey as an American, it is refreshing to see people who give Malcolm X the merit he deserves. While visiting a book store in Istanbul, I saw books on Malcolm X and t-shirts being sold. 

This decision to rename the street was a unanimous decision of the city's assembly members. Erdogan and his wife, Emine met with Malcolm X's daughters, Qabilah and Illaysah. The feelings of admiration are shared between the two families. "Anytime you have a country that opens its borders to 3.5 million refugees, that speaks for itself," Ilaysah said of President Erdogan. She also mentioned that meeting Erdogan and his wife was an "honor." 

I argue that Erdogan recognizes Malcolm X as a fellow humanitarian. Turkey, under Erdogan's leadership, is the nation that has taken in the highest number of refugees (over 4 million today as reported by the United Nations refugee organization.

In the picture below, one of Malcolm X's daugthers, Ilyasah Shabazz, is speaking in Istanbul about the exciting release of, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" in audible format. This book changed my life and has changed countless other's lives as well. It's worth pointing out that Istanbul welcomes this release when mainstream America doesn't embrace this American legacy. 

Malcolm X's Daughter in Istanbul

In America, schools and the nation on a whole still doesn't give Malcolm X the honor his legacy deserves. Instead, they rather push the narrative of him being a militant, separatist, enemy of the United States government who promoted violence. The truth is, most of these tags are the negative lingo set on his work by the very people who oppressed and still oppress Black People in America today, albeit covertly today. 




Malcolm X's message changed a great deal after he was exposed to true Islam in it's original form in the East. This new, more hopeful and unifying message is what he believed and promoted when he was murdered in cold blood in front of his family Febuary 21, at the Audubon Ballroom in NYC.

Till this day, Malcolm X remains an international hero of human rights. You can see in this picture below where his name is painted on a wall in across the world near a political picture. It's amazing how just writing his name speaks volumes to people to this day. Help keep the legacy of Malcolm X alive. Share this article and get the conversation started at home and among friends. 

One of the many graffiti in Turkey of Malcolm X. This one is next to the late president Morsi of Egypt. 

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