On 28 June 1964, Malcolm X launched the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU), at the Audubon Ballroom in New York. Contrary to the dangerous Malcolm myth of the anti-White firebrand preacher with no political program, the OAAU laid out a blueprint for the Black revolution, complete with a constitution. Malcolm had worked what he called a “brain trust,” which included revolutionary activist Gloria Richardson, legendary scholar John Henrick Clarke, and the first chair of the organization Lynn Shiflet, to craft the document that spelled out the steps to liberation. If you have not heard of the OAAU this is by design.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which is really Alex Haley’s version of his life story, has framed the collective narrative of Malcolm more than any other text. Haley was a “liberal republican” (basically code word for House Negro) and the “autobiography” does not mention the OAAU, that Malcolm was working on at the time of writing, and does not appear once in the text. The Spike Lee film (entitled “Malcolm X”) also completely neglects to mention the actual political legacy of Malcolm. There is a reason the OAAU has been airbrushed out of history: because it provides the blueprint for us to gain our freedom. This is why to mark Malcolm’s 100th birthday we are organising the Convention of Afrikan People (CAP25) from May 17-19, 2025 in the Gambia, to build Harambee OBU in the model of Malcolm’s legacy. On the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the OAAU, we must explore the framework that Malcolm left.
“Afrika will go forward no faster than we will, and we will go forward no faster than Afrika will” – Malcolm
Malcolm named the organization after the Organisation of Afrikan Unity which was formed in 1963 to unify the continent. He spent much of the last year of his life touring Afrika and speaking with leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Sekou Toure (Guinea), and Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), who were attempting to build Pan-Afrikan politics. Malcolm understood that the key to revolution was uniting the diaspora back to the continent, that we were “all in the same boat” and would need each other to get free. So terrified were the West of this re-connection that Malcolm was convinced it was the CIA who were trying to kill him. The irony of today is that we now have greater technological connections to the continent but are probably less connected in our struggles for freedom. None of us are free until we all are, and Afrika has to be the center of our politics. This is why we are organizing CAP25 on the continent in May, and we hope for as many grassroots organizations to attend as possible, along with those from across the diaspora.
“When we say Afro-American, we include everyone in the Western Hemisphere of Afrikan descent” – Malcolm
The second A in OAAU should not be mistaken for Malcolm embracing some narrow pitch to those in America. He made it clear that the OAAU would aim to unite all those in the West. At the time we had not migrated to Europe in very large numbers so we mostly remained in the Americas, including the Caribbean. Central to Malcolm’s politics was to ignore the colonial nation-state boundaries that limit our imaginations. Ignore the temptation to draw up a political drawbridge between so-called Black Britain, or the supposed American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS). We must unite across the Black world, realizing that although the local situation may have its melodies, the beat of racism is the same across the globe. The solution to our problem is to build the global Black nation that unites us across Afrika and the Diaspora, where we can draw strength from our collective power.
Departments in this organization – Malcolm
Malcolm’s inspiration was the Garvey movement, the Universal Negro Improvement Association, in which both his parents were organizers. To quote Marcus Garvey “the greatest weapon used against the Negro, is disorganization.” Malcolm based the OAAU on the UNIA and aimed to start local chapters across the world that would form the global organization. Being rooted in the local is essential to being able to meet the immediate needs and concerns of the people. Building a global organization is vital if we want to remake the world into a place where we can be free. The OAAU had departments in each chapter that would then report to chapters in the wider organization. In building Harambee OBU we have taken this structure and for CAP25 we will be focusing on developing departments in Education, Health, Economics, and Politics. We are calling for people to start local chapters and in the run-up to the Convention to find out what activities are already happening in your area and what is needed. We will receive reports from the chapters at the Convention and these for the basis of how we move forward.
It must be financed by you – Malcolm
Malcolm understood that the only way to have independence was to be financed by the people. The OAAU was meant to be a mass organization where we could pool our collective resources to fight for liberation. But freedom isn’t free, and if we are not prepared to put our money where our mouths are then we should close them. Harambee OBU is a membership organization and we ask that you join to support our work. If you are an “ally” you can subscribe or donate to Make it Plain. So far CAP25 has been paid for by the advance from my book on Malcolm X (entitled Nobody Can Give You Freedom: The Politics of Malcolm X) which will come out at the same time. To build the scope and pay for activist travel we need support and sponsorship. Please email mip@blackunity.org.uk if you can help.
When we remember figures like Malcolm we have to do justice to their legacy. Malcolm gave a great speech that you may play once in a while to get your spirits up but you do not honor his memory by consuming him. Malcolm was killed because he found the revolutionary framework for our freedom. The only way to truly pay him respect is to pick up the work and see his vision to the end. Revolution is possible, we just need to put the work in to build it.
Good to see you building on the initiative of
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR AFRICAN COMMUNITARIAN CULTURE
PROJECT 2025: MALCOLM X @100