Malcolm X

[Wishing Oceans]

I'm doing a research project on Malcolm X, and I'm just curious as to what you all think of him in regards to the Civil Rights Movement. 🙂

Thanks for any and all input! Personally, I don't have an opinion about him yet.

 

[sisterofmercy]

I studied him as part of a black theology course and found him really interesting. The Black Power movement was obviously very influential in forming a cultural identity and praxis based faith in America during a time in which discrimination was commonplace. He spoke for a lot of people who wanted change and actually motivated people to do something about the situation they found themselves in.

However personally I found some of his ideas to be a bit too aggressive (though I can see why he'd be so angry given the situation him and the black community were in at the time). I prefer MLK's approach to be honest, but Malcolm X is a very respected scholar and obviously had a huge impact on society.

 

[NY State of Mind]

Well obviously you all know from my previous Black History Month thread that Malcolm X is one of my influences and my favorite Civil Rights figure...i'll try and speak more on it later since i'm stuck on my phone writing this.

 

[Username]

He was a member of Nation of Islam right? and then he left, became sunni muslim and got killed?... that's really all I know about him. And so far I am not impressed.

 

[prophecygrrl]

I think he was an incredibly important figure in U.S. history. I'm not all for the complete idolization of Malcolm X because of course he was flawed, but he was still very very important and some of his ideas were great. Here's one of my favorite quotations of his on racism in the U.S., which in my opinion is pretty relevant today:

Journalist: Do you feel, however, that we’re making progress in this country?
Malcolm X: No, no. I will never say that progress is being made. If you stick a knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches, that’s not progress. If you pull it all the way out, that’s not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made.

 

[Crazy Flakes]

Journalist: Do you feel, however, that we're making progress in this country?
Malcolm X: No, no. I will never say that progress is being made. If you stick a knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches, that's not progress. If you pull it all the way out, that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made.

That's one of my favorites as well. This is another quote of his that seems very appropriate in today's political climate (from his "Ballot or the Bullet" speech):

Islam is my religion, but I believe my religion is my personal business. It governs my personal life, my personal morals. And my religious philosophy is personal between me and the God in whom I believe; just as the religious philosophy of these others is between them and the God in whom they believe.

And this is best this way. Were we to come out here discussing religion, we'd have too many differences from the outstart and we could never get together. ... If we bring up religion, we'll be in an argument, and the best way to keep away from arguments and differences, as I said earlier, put your religion at home "” in the closet. Keep it between you and your God. Because if it hasn't done anything more for you than it has, you need to forget it anyway.

Even if I don't agree with everything he said, he was a hell of a guy. He knew exactly what he wanted and fought like hell for it, and even if he wasn't entirely successful in his goal for immediate and uncompromising equality, he influenced an entire generation of people by giving new life to the civil rights movement.

 

[NY State of Mind]

Sorry that I forgot I was supposed to post back in this thread 😛

Ok to start with....Malcolm is an influence of mines and his words, etc. helped me in my own personal journey. However, I'm not saying he isn't flawed or everything he speaks of has to be agreed with nor do I condone anybody following any man/woman's path without questions...even if it's somebody as awesome as me 😉 lol jk

Whether people like it or not, Malcolm X was a presence of Civil Rights. (Not only would MLK Jr. agree, but so will current US President Obama) Views X held are called extreme/radical although he became leniant on certain views after his pilgrimage to Mecca and made efforts to correspond with MLK Jr. on aspects. He didn't preach violence but self-defense. Its funny to me that America had problems with that while the country was built off of like minded people. (Don't tread on me!, etc.) Without a Malcolm...Kings views would have been seen as militant lol

Malcolm X still preached education as the key to the future...so although his tactics were different from MLK Jr, etc. It reached groups of people they couldn't get to. He also teached self worth/pride and one's own history to the black community which was seriously lacking. Another thing he wanted was black communities to own thier own companies, etc. which I think til this day is still lacking on levels. I'm not saying Malcolm X is responsible for the Civil Rights movement, but neither is MLK Jr. It took many peoples contributions to make the Civil Rights movement what it was.

I can try and dig deeper if ya'll like but I feel like I'm rambling so I'll stop for now 🙂 And sorry for the poor sentences cause I'm just kind of freestyling right now 😛

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

You're reading his autobiography, right? It's really good. When I think back on books I have read that have truly chaflnged the way I look at the world, that book always comes to mind.

Malcolm X was a very passionate man, with conviction, and I respect him for that. I don't agree with all of his ideas (especially his views on the inherent rasicim of white people) , but I understood where he was coming from. He experienced a tremendous amount of hardship. My mom always said that back then you were either on one side the others; Malcolm X's or Martin Luther King's. Basically, Malcolm believed that a man had a right to use violence to protect himself or his family, and Martin was a pacifist and anti-violence. I think that I tend to lean towards Malcolm's philosophy. He had a very difficult childhood (his father was murdered when he was 6 years old). You can read all about it in his book. I have some good notes in my copy if you want I can email you some 🙂