Abd-Al-Rahman Azzam Character Analysis in The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Malcolm reaches out to Abd and his son Omar for help in navigating customs in Saudi Arabia. Abd then takes Malcolm in as his guest and overwhelms him with his hospitality, despite the fact that in Malcolm’s mind, Abd is a “white man.” This relationship proves to be a turning point in Malcolm’s understanding of racism.

Abd-Al-Rahman Azzam Character Timeline in The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The timeline below shows where the character Abd-Al-Rahman Azzam appears in The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...sign of Divine Providence. Dr. Shawarbi readily approves, and also gives Malcolm a book by Abd-Al-Rahman Azzam, an Egyptian intellectual who wished to send this copy specifically to Malcolm. Dr. Shawarbi... (full context)

...by the hospitality shown to him by Omar, a civil engineer, and by his father, Abd, who is an extremely well-respected scholar at the United Nations. While it is quite late... (full context)

...and brought to the Jedda Palace Hotel. Omar leaves him in his father’s suite, while Abd spends the night at his son’s house. Malcolm says that he would have protested this... (full context)

That morning, Malcolm reflects on the significance of Abd’s generosity. Here was a white-complexioned man with international influence and family relations to the rulers... (full context)

At dinner, Malcolm is once again blown away by Abd’s hospitality and intelligence; he has a command of many topics of conversation and world affairs.... (full context)