16 Rare Postcards Written By Malcolm X Could Be Yours

A set of 16 rare postcards with handwritten messages from civil rights activist Malcolm X will be auctioned in August.

The postcards, which were written in 1957, 1958 and 1964, offer a fascinating glimpse into the mind of the former controversial figure in the Nation of Islam. 

Written to secretary Gloria Owens, the postcard messages chronicle his travels speaking throughout the United States, West Africa and the Middle East. Many of them depict landmarks like Mecca and the great pyramids of Egypt, while others feature stereotypical and racist cartoons of black people. 

“Greetings from Sunny Florida,” X writes on one postcard, featuring a caricature of a “mammy” and her son. 

On another postcard, he writes: “Since I’ve seen what a mess can be made of things by narrow-minded people, I’m still traveling, trying to broaden my scope.”

The entire collection will be up for auction on Aug. 25 by the Nate D. Sanders Auction. 

Below is a preview of the postcard collection: