On February 21st 2008, Malcolm X had he lived would have been 83 years old. Most of us who have had the good fortune to read or know about Malcolm X always felt that he died too young but we know that Allah is the one who decides and in Allah’s wisdom we accept that reality.

Like many powerful black civil rights leaders, one can only imagine how Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, and Nelson Mandela would have looked together on the same stage? You could also throw in Muhammad Ali for good measure! Of course Martin and Malcolm never made it past their deaths in February 21st 1965 and April 4th 1968. Nelson Mandela is the only person that survives them but how ironic that whilst Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were assassinated, Nelson Mandela was in Robin Island prison in South Africa with Muhammad Ali facing his own problems with the American government by his refusal to fi ght in Vietnam.

As someone who grew up in Uganda as an Asian of Pakistani origin I was easily and quickly infl uenced by amazing men and women like Malcolm X , Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King , Pele, George Best, Mahatma Ghandi, but they came only second to my mother, aunts and my Grandfather.

On fi rst reading about Malcolm X and seeing his footage I knew that Malcolm X was not just Harlem’s “prince” but as a Muslim was also “our prince” and rightly so. Here was a man who began life as a Black American. His father was a preacher who had been deeply infl uenced by the Jamaican Civil Rights campaigner Marcus Garvey who fought against slavery. Whilst Malcolm was young his father was killed by the Klu Klux Klan, a white based “Christian” movement in the hostile climate of racist America. This had a deep and profound affect on Malcolm who went on a crazy rampage of stealing, robbery, pimping, drug running and also abusing women.

This led Malcolm into prison where he met ‘The Nation of Islam’ and under the direction of Elijah Muhammad, began to educate himself.

It has been said that Malcolm X as he came to be known had read the Websters dictionary and memorised some 116,000 words! An amazing feat by any standards but one that Elijah Muhammad saw to exploit because he knew that with Malcolm’s loyalty the Nation of Islam would become a huge and infl uential movement in Black America.

After becoming a spokesperson for Elijah he made a statement about President Kennedy on his assassination and Malcolm quickly found out that Elijah had stopped him from speaking at gatherings and effectively banned him.

By this time Allah had better plans for him and he was invited to complete his Hajj pilgrimage. This opened his eyes and he saw Muslims from all walks of life and different colours thus quickly realising that the doctrine of The Nation of Islam was alien to the teachings of the true Islamic faith. It was during this period of enlightenment that Malcolm toured Africa and the Middle East and it was on these travels that the journey as a Muslim called El Hajji Malik El Shabazz began.

Before his death at the Harlem Auditorium Ballroom which was witnessed by his family he referred to himself as “a dead man walking”. He knew that he made too many enemies after leaving the Nation of Islam, in fact it is still alleged that the Nation of Islam killed him, Allah knows best.

The thing that I remember about Malcolm is his legacy and simplicity with that amazing tone of voice that commanded respect without a bullying tone.

There is also not a day that Malcolm is not remembered by some three million reverts in America. Africa still loves him and some 14 countries celebrate Malcolm X day.

Many wept at his funeral because of his sincerity, honesty and humbleness. He died with two suits of clothing and he died without a bank account, without a job, without a house and without a car! How many leaders do you see today who can be compared to him. He was also a family man yet he sacrifi ced his life for the sake of Allah that is why we love him so.

Ossie Davis an American actor at the time said that “Did you know Malcolm, did you ever have him smile at you? He was implying that there was a Malcolm that the media did not want you to know about. But truth always comes out in the face of falsehood.

Oh how we miss our Prince!