Why did Malcolm X travel to Africa in 1964?

In 1964, Malcolm X traveled to Africa as part of his efforts to internationalize the plight of Black Americans and build solidarity with people in the developing world. During his second visit to the continent that year, he addressed the Organization of African Unity, an intergovernmental body focused on promoting African unity, international cooperation, and economic development.1

These travels were part of a broader shift in his activism following his departure from the Nation of Islam in March 1964. After embracing Sunni Islam during his pilgrimage to Mecca, he sought to move beyond the framework of civil rights toward a focus on human rights. This international perspective culminated in his founding of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which served as a secular vehicle to connect the struggles of Black Americans with global movements for independence and justice.1