Malcolm just prior to his assassination had become open to working with whites, specifically white liberals and some radicals so that may have affected the Black Power movement as well.
He was still working on internationalizing the black struggle in the US. He saw it as not "civil rights" but "human rights" and was trying to get the UN involved.
For all we know had he lived to old age he could have even become a Nelson Mandela type figure? As Mandela himself was somewhat of a radical in his younger years.
Though some wackos will embrace anyone, I find it hard to see us considering him a Mandela type figure after teaching:
- that black people are the original people of the world
- that white people are "devils"
- that blacks are superior to whites, and
- that the demise of the white race is imminent.
Additionally, the Nation of Islam (and he) expressed anti-Semitic, anti-white, anti-homosexual and anti-Catholic sentiments
Even liberals (who love to adopt wackos) might be offended when, asked his thoughts on Kennedy's assassination, he said, "Chickens coming home to roost never did make me sad; they've always made me glad."
Malcolm upon leaving the Nation publicly denounced its teachings and claimed he was purely speaking the doctrine of Elijah Muhammad and not his own beliefs.
He had a very famous story about how upon his trip to Mecca and conversion to traditional Islam encountering good-hearted white people and how that totally changed his perception and he could no longer refer to whites as devils.
As troubling as Malcolm's words were he never actually engaged in any violent or terrorist endeavors as Mandela was at least accused of.
He was only 40 upon his assassination and in the last year of his life he went on an "almost" 180 turn on many of his previous beliefs. He no longer believed in Black separatism and like I mentioned was open and actually looking towards working with whites.
If he had continued on that path I don't see it being unfeasible as he entered his 60's and 70's transitioning to a somewhat more moderated persona.
Especially if the Black Panthers who did engage in actual terrorist actions still emerge and make him look almost endearing in comparison.
I'll add I believe it was as late as the 1980's that some in the west still considered Mandela and the ANC to be at least terrorist influenced.
True, he did leave Nation of Islam (NOI), did Hajj, did switch to Sunni Islam, and did state that he disagreed with NOI positions.
That being said, those are hard words to simply renounce and not have them leave a stain.
Also, while Mandela may have been (personally) linked to more violent actions, there is a big difference (especially from the perspective of Americans). Mandela was struggling against an officially and brutally separatist regime/policy (Apartheid) in a troubled, distant land. Malcolm X was right here in the USA which, although no paradise for blacks in the 50s/60s, was a FAR cry from South Africa under apartheid. Finally, many in the US will forgive nearly anything from a charismatic figure from far away (where their dubious actions don't directly threaten) -- less so for someone down the street
On the other hand, how much would traditional Islam appwal to African Americans at the time?