WTF! This made me so sick to read, and he didn't even visit her. I can't believe it, astaghfirullah. I mean if he'd been a murderer in his youth I would be less horrified. InshaaAllah she forgives him, any Noor he had came through her, she has a pure, sweet face. Allah raise her station and grant her a place in absolute proximity to the Beloved, where Paradise is under her feet, ameen. Now I know why I was never so über impressed by Malcolm X
I can certainly understand your sentiments, though for me it makes me contemplate just how deep his shame was that it prevented him from visiting his mother. If shame could cripple a powerful figure like Malcolm X (ra), then what could it do to ourselves, our loved ones, our communities?
On a slightly more hopeful note, I did come across a passage from The Life of Louise Norton Little in which it is inferred that Malcolm did attend a family gathering in 1963 when his mother was released. I haven’t however, been able to corroborate it.
There is also this passage from the same book that gives me solace that his mother loved and forgave him:
'They recalled a day when Grandma Little was sitting in her chair, staring at the picture of Uncle Malcolm which hung above the television. It was an actual photograph that was framed. His eyes peering into the camera lens, his face leaning on his left hand, with his index finger pointing upward toward his temple and an engraved crescent moon & star ring on his ring finger. . . Grandma often stared at the picture. Occasionally momma asked if she knew who that was and Grandma would respond, "That's my son". But, on this day, something was different about her posture in the chair. Momma asked, "Mother do you know who that is in the picture?"
Finally, Grandma Little spoke;
"I know those eyes. I made those eyes. Those are eyes that mesmerize."
Brilliant piece !
Anger and shame are often companions. What a brilliant piece, thank you Ali.
You're making me revisit the OG Numinous days! Ah, good times they were.
Great reading! We all are made out of experiences and different pieces, even the most brilliant and brave persons!
Thank you for your kind words :) That's bang on point — those experiences shape who we are, even if we aren't conscious of them.
This was beautifully written—an absolute pleasure to read!
Jazakallah for your kind words bro! The life of a martyr is a school of lessons, especially those lessons that don't get much attention.
WTF! This made me so sick to read, and he didn't even visit her. I can't believe it, astaghfirullah. I mean if he'd been a murderer in his youth I would be less horrified. InshaaAllah she forgives him, any Noor he had came through her, she has a pure, sweet face. Allah raise her station and grant her a place in absolute proximity to the Beloved, where Paradise is under her feet, ameen. Now I know why I was never so über impressed by Malcolm X
I can certainly understand your sentiments, though for me it makes me contemplate just how deep his shame was that it prevented him from visiting his mother. If shame could cripple a powerful figure like Malcolm X (ra), then what could it do to ourselves, our loved ones, our communities?
On a slightly more hopeful note, I did come across a passage from The Life of Louise Norton Little in which it is inferred that Malcolm did attend a family gathering in 1963 when his mother was released. I haven’t however, been able to corroborate it.
There is also this passage from the same book that gives me solace that his mother loved and forgave him:
'They recalled a day when Grandma Little was sitting in her chair, staring at the picture of Uncle Malcolm which hung above the television. It was an actual photograph that was framed. His eyes peering into the camera lens, his face leaning on his left hand, with his index finger pointing upward toward his temple and an engraved crescent moon & star ring on his ring finger. . . Grandma often stared at the picture. Occasionally momma asked if she knew who that was and Grandma would respond, "That's my son". But, on this day, something was different about her posture in the chair. Momma asked, "Mother do you know who that is in the picture?"
Finally, Grandma Little spoke;
"I know those eyes. I made those eyes. Those are eyes that mesmerize."
Allah bless her, beautiful woman, happy to hear she forgave him