On May 9, the Shabazz Center for Intellectual Inquiry celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Malcolm X. The centennial celebration featured multiple presentations from distinguished speakers, including Ahmed Osman ’65, who maintained a close relationship with Malcolm X and facilitated his visit to Dartmouth in January 1965. The Dartmouth sat down with Osman to discuss the centennial celebration, Osman’s life and career and the importance of Malcolm X’s legacy today.
How did you know Malcolm X?
AO: When I was in high school, I came to America in 1960 representing Sudan in the New York Herald Tribune World Youth Forum, which was hosted by American high schools and families. One day, while in New York, I decided to visit Harlem. I came across Muhammad’s Temple of Islam number seven, which was the temple of Malcolm X. Just out of curiosity, I decided to go in and see what kind of person he was, what he was preaching. That was my first contact with Malcolm, and it was quite a confrontation between the two of us because I challenged his understanding of Islam. Then I started sending him books about Islam, and he started asking me about certain translations of the verse of the Quran. I was involved in changing Malcolm X from the Nation of Islam to orthodox Islam and in facilitating his pilgrimage to Mecca, where his complete changeover took place.
Malcolm X visited the College on January 26, 1965, almost three weeks before he was assassinated. Malcolm was invited by the undergraduate counsel, and I assisted the undergraduate counsel in bringing him to the College.
Could you tell me about your experience at the College’s centennial celebration of Malcolm X’s birth? How have things changed since you were a student here?
AO: Those who celebrated the centennial invited me and other scholars to come and join the celebration. I had a beautiful three days here. I saw a lot of changes. I was so impressed with the increase in the number of foreign students attending Dartmouth, as well as African American students. At my time, I don’t recollect I met any African American students on campus. I also attended some classes, like Arabic language classes, which did not exist at my time. There is also a chaplain for Muslim students, which did not exist. I attended Friday prayer and there were close to 50 students there.
Could you share more about your life and career after graduating from Dartmouth?
AO: After finishing my graduate work, I came to Dartmouth to direct the Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in West Africa. I used to teach a course in the fall about Africa. Then, in the winter, I would take the students with me to Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone. There, students would do research, which I would supervise. I ran that for two years. After that, I went overseas as an economic advisor at Islamic Development Bank. I worked in development work, where I would go to different countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. I implemented projects in different fields, including infrastructure, health and education, in those countries. From the Islamic Development Bank, I went to Kuwait for about 10 years, working with the Kuwait Development Fund. My Dartmouth education really helped me prepare to help other countries with their development work. After I came back to America, I joined a publishing company printing books about Islam and other cultures. We were furthering understanding in America.
A common theme discussed among speakers during the centennial was the importance of discussing Malcolm X’s legacy during this particular political moment. Does this ring true for you?
AO: Very much so. The real audience of Malcolm X in the 1960s were the college students. Particularly, he was the most wanted speaker at white colleges and universities, and he spoke at almost all of the Ivy League schools. Malcolm was always hopeful that things, in America and the world, are going to be changed by the students. Students are more understanding of the problems of their country — they don’t have a vested interest, like politicians.
What he was saying is relevant now because Americans are facing very difficult domestic problems. America was the most welcoming country for foreign students. That was one of the reasons that, although I was offered many chances in the Soviet Bloc countries, I chose to come to America. Now, foreign students are not really feeling at home, which has very serious present and future consequences. I think the politicians are not really aware of the seriousness of the actions they are taking, especially in the field of education.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
