Malcolm X’s Landmark Speech at Oxford Union

“Mr Chairman, tonight is the first night that I’ve ever had an opportunity to be as near to conservatives as I am.”These were the opening remarks by Malcolm X during his address at the Oxford Union on 3 December 1964. The union, established in the early 19th Century, is recognized as the country’s most esteemed student debating organization and has historically served as a formative environment for global leaders, predominantly from Britain’s white upper classes. In stark contrast, Malcolm was a revolutionary American black nationalist who opposed the principles represented by such establishment-led, majority-white institutions. Nevertheless, he was undergoing an ideological evolution at the time, which made Oxford, a city known for cultivating future leaders, an ideal location for his visit. This narrative recounts Malcolm’s brief yet impactful journey to the “city of dreaming spires,” conveyed through his own words from the speech he delivered there six decades ago today. In 1964, Malcolm, whose complete name was el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, was among the most renowned individuals in America. He was recognized for his charismatic and provocative style of black nationalism. During the year preceding his trip to Oxford, Malcolm traveled extensively across Africa and Arabia, where his previously rigid convictions regarding strict racial segregation began to shift. Saladin Ambar, a professor of political science at Rutgers University, stated that Malcolm was experiencing an “intellectual and ideological transformation.” Professor Ambar continued, “He was beginning to question and in fact, eschew black nationalism as the guiding principle of his politics.” He further elaborated, “He had met with leaders of the Algerian resistance and had been confronted by at least one person who asked Malcolm, ‘what about me? I have white skin, I have blue eyes, and here I am fighting the French – where do I fit within your worldview?’.” This encounter, Professor Ambar noted, “really gobsmacked Malcolm and presented him with a deep conundrum.” Malcolm received an invitation to participate in the traditional year-end debate from Eric Abrahams, then president of the Oxford Union and a Rhodes Scholar from Jamaica. Earlier that year, Louis Nthenda, a Malawian Oxford student, had met Malcolm at a hotel in Nairobi. Nthenda recounted in a BBC Radio 4 documentary, produced for the debate’s 50th anniversary, that the two “spent three hours talking about America and and about Africa.” Mr. Nthenda subsequently asked Malcolm if he would join a debate at the Oxford Union, a request that Eric Abrahams soon officially confirmed. Nthenda remarked, “This was the time of African nationalism and independence movements, and the icons of the black movement in America were also our icons – Malcolm X excited us very, very much.” When questioned about Malcolm’s acceptance of the invitation, Professor Ambar explained: “He enjoyed debate on a very personal level but on a more political level he was seeking an unfettered, unrestricted opportunity to have his world view put out there.” At that time, Professor Ambar added, the American media had Malcolm “well targeted,” and there was “limited chance for him to cut through” domestically. In contrast, the BBC was involved in facilitating his Oxford visit and even agreed to cover his plane ticket, provided it secured exclusive rights to film and broadcast the debate. A Peter Bailey, an American journalist and associate of Malcolm, stated in the same 2014 Radio 4 documentary: “His going to debate at the Oxford Union was a major component of his determination to internationalise the struggle against white supremacy.” Bailey further commented, “The fact that Oxford invited him was another sign he was moving in the right direction and it was a recognition of what he was doing and what he had become.” The debate itself centered on the motion “extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue,” he continued. Judith Okley, one of the first female members of the Oxford Union, previously informed the BBC that she remembered “the awe and the astonishment” among the attendees. She added, “Everybody was just stunned and the applause was utterly ear-shattering.” Professor Ambar noted: “One of the things that’s often left out about the debate was how funny Malcolm X was at Oxford – poking fun at Humphry Berkeley [a Conservative MP also taking part in the debate].” In his earlier address to the union, Berkeley had criticized Malcolm’s extremist stance. Malcolm’s own speech also included “tongue-in-cheek” references to American revolutionary war heroes, as well as more “profound” allusions to Shakespeare. The debate was broadcast on BBC One that same evening, with millions tuning in to watch Malcolm’s presentation. Ms. Okley and a friend met Malcolm in an Oxford cafe the day before the debate. She recalled, “He was asking us questions, he was asking us about our views, about university, race, all sorts of things but he said he wished he had gone to university.” While in the city, Malcolm was experiencing the “time of his life,” according to Professor Ambar. However, during his visit, Malcolm was under the constant threat of assassination from his former allies in the Nation of Islam, as well as from the FBI. Professor Ambar explained that this danger significantly influenced how Malcolm interacted with people during his brief stay in the city. He stated, “He always felt the need to keep his distance because of the threat looming of assassination.” Just three months after his visit to Oxford, Malcolm was killed, having been shot by unknown assailants while delivering a speech in New York City. He was only 40 years old. Professor Ambar reflected, “If there’s any personal thing lost to Malcolm in these final months of his life, it’s the ability to be reflective.” He added, “That’s a real shame and loss because I think, from what we gather, he really had a phenomenally wonderful time at Oxford for lots of reasons.” On the 50th anniversary of the debate, Malcolm’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, stated: “I always refer to my father’s visit to Oxford University as it being one of my favourites.” She continued, “It’s not my father reacting to an unjust act, rather it is Malcom among his favourite crowd, and he has the opportunity to discuss and teach about the unjust acts, and it being our responsibility to make changes in our society.” Referring to her father’s use of Shakespeare in his speech, she remarked: “To be or not to be – you know you are either going to make a change when you see wrong, or you’re not.” You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. 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