Happy 83rd Birthday Malcolm X

``````Update...please visit Electronic Village for more on Brother Malcolm. They have compiled a great video list.``````

Born Malcolm Little May 19 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm survived the murder of his father, the mental instability of his mother and the racism of his era to become one of Black America's most influential, beloved and respected Civil Rights leaders.

In 1942, while serving time for a burglary charge Malcolm met Brother Reginald and began his conversion to Islam. By his parole in 1952, Malcolm has dropped Little viewing it as a slave name and adopted X as his surname.

After his release Malcolm X became a superstar for the Nation of Islam and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He was in charge of opening mosque in various states. Increasing membership by the thousands.

In the midst of a scandal involving Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm terminated his relationship with NOI and Elijah Muhammad. The separation was a sensitive and hard act for Malcolm due to his close relationship to Mr. Muhammad. Malcolm founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. after his split.

After a pilgrmaage to Mecca, he adopted a new belief system in the human race. He met blue-eyed people who he felt were honest, decent people and not the "blue-eyed devil" he once believed.

On February 21, 1965 Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was murdered in Manhattan Audubon Ballroom. There is a long standing debate on the mastermind behind this event. Regardless on February 21, 1965 Black America and America herself lost a great leader an mind.

Quotes by Malcolm:

"Don't be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn't do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn't know what you know today."

"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time."

"It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it will be for the cause of brotherhood. That's the only thing that can save this country." -- February 19, 1965 (2 days before he was murdered by Nation of Islam followers)

"A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself."

"The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is to obtain the human rights that America has been denying us. We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized as citizens there until we are first recognized as humans." -- "Racism: the Cancer that is Destroying America," in Egyptian Gazette (Aug. 25 1964).

"If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country." -- Speech, Nov. 1963, New York City.

"Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."

The Lost of Our Champion

Today is the 43rd Anniversary of the Assassination of Malcolm X, February 21, 1965. One can only dream of the difference of Black America had he been able to continue his journey of empowering, uplifting, blending and uniting our world.

I first read the Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley in 7th grade...the late 80's. I found the missing voice I had no idea I was searching for in my short years. I readily admit that I have always been a Malcolm girl. I respect, I acknowledge and feel a just amount of awe when I think of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but his message never hit my soul. His words never provided that quick intake of breath, that feeling of fullness as the words I read when reading Malcolm's words. It felt like going home. When I arrived at the end of the book...when he was taken I cried as if I was there. As if I saw the awful vision.

Spike Lee's adaptation of the book was justice. I am usually not a fan of books made into movie. I often find my imagination is a lot better than any director, however Denzel Washington allowed me to transport myself into Malcolm's life once again and for that I am thankful and grateful.

A fitting way to honor a great man is to close your eyes, imagine this great voice...Ossie Davis expressing his love for Malcolm X at his burial. I have attached his words. May you remember and respect this great man.

(Please visit The Official Web Site of Malcolm X for more information. The transcript is courtsey of the site.)

MALCOLM X'S EULOGY

Eulogy delivered by Ossie Davis at the funeral of Malcolm X

Faith Temple Church Of God

February 27,1965

"Here - at this final hour, in this quiet place - Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes -extinguished now, and gone from us forever. For Harlem is where he worked and where he struggled and fought - his home of homes, where his heart was, and where his people are - and it is, therefore, most fitting that we meet once again - in Harlem - to share these last moments with him. For Harlem has ever been gracious to those who have loved her, have fought her, and have defended her honor even to the death.

It is not in the memory of man that this beleaguered, unfortunate, but nonetheless proud community has found a braver, more gallant young champion than this Afro-American who lies before us - unconquered still. I say the word again, as he would want me to : Afro-American - Afro-American Malcolm, who was a master, was most meticulous in his use of words. Nobody knew better than he the power words have over minds of men. Malcolm had stopped being a 'Negro' years ago. It had become too small, too puny, too weak a word for him. Malcolm was bigger than that. Malcolm had become an Afro-American and he wanted - so desperately - that we, that all his people, would become Afro-Americans too.

There are those who will consider it their duty, as friends of the Negro people, to tell us to revile him, to flee, even from the presence of his memory, to save ourselves by writing him out of the history of our turbulent times. Many will ask what Harlem finds to honor in this stormy, controversial and bold young captain - and we will smile. Many will say turn away - away from this man, for he is not a man but a demon, a monster, a subverter and an enemy of the black man - and we will smile. They will say that he is of hate - a fanatic, a racist - who can only bring evil to the cause for which you struggle! And we will answer and say to them : Did you ever talk to Brother Malcolm? Did you ever touch him, or have him smile at you? Did you ever really listen to him? Did he ever do a mean thing? Was he ever himself associated with violence or any public disturbance? For if you did you would know him. And if you knew him you would know why we must honor him.

Malcolm was our manhood, our living, black manhood! This was his meaning to his people. And, in honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves. Last year, from Africa, he wrote these words to a friend: 'My journey', he says, 'is almost ended, and I have a much broader scope than when I started out, which I believe will add new life and dimension to our struggle for freedom and honor and dignity in the States. I am writing these things so that you will know for a fact the tremendous sympathy and support we have among the African States for our Human Rights struggle. The main thing is that we keep a United Front wherein our most valuable time and energy will not be wasted fighting each other.' However we may have differed with him - or with each other about him and his value as a man - let his going from us serve only to bring us together, now.

Consigning these mortal remains to earth, the common mother of all, secure in the knowledge that what we place in the ground is no more now a man - but a seed - which, after the winter of our discontent, will come forth again to meet us. And we will know him then for what he was and is - a Prince - our own black shining Prince! - who didn't hesitate to die, because he loved us so."