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."
3 comments:
i can't think of too many things in this world that compare to malcolm x. not even dr. king - who was spiritually inclined. x was on some seriously open your brain and soak this knowledge type stuff.
i agree with how america demands her defense yet doesn't feel it's adequate for us to defend our ownselves.
crazy mixed up world. dog eat dog world.
That's why I have always been a Malcolm girl. Often got weird looks when I said I preferred Malcolm over Martin. I related more to his message, his journey and personality.
wow...83.
He's been immortalized so it's hard to picture him turning that old.
Great post.
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