Why did Malcolm X oppose racial integration during much of his time in the Nation of Islam?

During his tenure with the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X opposed racial integration because he viewed it as a servile goal that undermined Black identity, integrity, and independence.12

Guided by the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the organization advocated for Black nationalism and racial separation rather than integration into white society. Malcolm X argued that the focus of the civil rights movement on integration—such as the right to sit in a restaurant or vote—was secondary to the more fundamental need for Black self-sufficiency and the development of independent Black institutions. He rejected the nonviolent strategies of leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., favoring armed self-defense and the creation of a separate Black nation.2341

It is important to note that Malcolm X’s philosophy was not static; after converting to orthodox Islam and leaving the Nation of Islam, he renounced his earlier separatist views and expressed a desire to work more closely with the broader civil rights movement.13