Malcolm X’s Challenge of Relevant American Racism 57 Years After Assassination

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Malcolm X spoke to black community in the United States during the civil rights movement of the 1960s in a way who connected them with their fellow African Americans who had long suffered injustice.

“were all in the same boat and we all go catch the same hell from the same man. He just happens to be a white man,” he said in a speech on April 3, 1964.

“All of us have suffered here, in this country, political oppression in the hands of the white man, the economic exploitation at the hands of the white man and social hand degradation of the white man.

Malik El-Shabazz, who adopted the name Malcolm X to symbolize son unknown African ancestral surname, preached black empowerment at a time in American history when society was dominated by whites.

“Malcolm X is important to recognize and think about in relationship with the civil rights movement because it offered one of the sharpest social reviews of United States available during this period,” said professor Anthony Pine, director of the center for African and African American Studies at Rice University.

Pinn told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Malcolm X raised important questions about inequality faced by blacks at that time. He said Malcolm X is still important to the civil rights movement today as we celebrate Black History Month in February.

“He highlighted the ways in what white privilege and power function, and the challenge involved in try to change power dynamic,” Pinn said. “He also raised important questions about law and order, as well as the nature of violence in we public the life.”

Malcolm X became famous in the 1950s with son meteoric rise to power as a member of the nation of Islam. He more and more took center stage over the group leader, Elijah Muhammad.

“He draws attention of the public and media car of his rhetoric abilities and sharp ideas,” Pinn said. “Yet he is frustrated with the nation of Islam’s refusal to participate in the social justice activism.”

This disconnect prompted Malcolm X to leave the Nation of Islam in 1964 to begin his own civil rights crusade, which angered and resented his former associates.

“His embrace of Black Power, son strong social criticism and son charisma made him standing out”, Pinn said. “He was not sorry for his criticism of white racism and white privilege.

Malcolm X flexed muscle noticeably contrasting approach with peaceful philosophy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with numerous in the public eyes considering him as a militant leader.

“He was opposed to King’s nonviolent direct action that resulted in abuse of black people like a way point) out moral-political failures of in the United States,” Pinn said. “He believed that this approach to justice simply allowed White to maintain control and minimized black dignity.”

But the captivating attention of Malcolm X public persona underlined son challenge of systemic racism in America.

“It is important to remember that Malcolm X spoke in terms of self-defense but never initiated a physical confrontation,” Pinn pointed out. “He argued if white people are violent against black – black should to defend oneself.”

And where Dr. King advocated “I have a dream this one short day black boys and girls will stand main with little white boys and girls,” Malcolm X was the opposite.

“Malcolm also wanted separation between blacks and whites and was opposed to integration,” continued Pinn. “He asked, ‘Why should on is part of a problem fundamentally system?’ He thought integration would not be productive in that white people will not be give up power…(and) living together wouldn’t end white supremacy.

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated as he began a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.

“I believe there will be attempts on my life,” he said publicly before son assassination, in historical footage from the 2020 Netflix documentary series “Who Killed Malcolm X?”

“I’m probably a dead man already”, did he declare with a smile.

“Malcolm knew he was going die by someone’s hands,” said Abdur-Rahman Muhammad, who independently researched the assassination of Malcolm X for three decades and is at the center of docuseries. “He even predicted it.”

“When he left the nation of Islam, Malcolm had a lot of enemiescontinued Muhammad, “And Malcolm was considered a traitor because he had become on son chief “.

Three black men have been arrested for The assassination of Malcolm X.

Of them of they weren’t even at the scene of the shooting that day.

the bureau from the Manhattan District Attorney in New York reopened case due to Netflix series and both wrongfully convicted men were exonerated and had their sentence quashed in November 2021.

But to this day, many conspiracy theorists believe there was a plot to murder Malcolm X.

“Exactly who East responsible for his killingdespite the arrest made is still an open question for a lot,” Pinn said.

“Some believe it was the Nation of Islam which has at least created a environment in that some would see killing of Malcolm X as good thing. Others claim that the United States government had long since expressed its desire to kill black people who were considered a menaceand some therefore believe that the United States government played a role.”

Fast forward to the present, many of The teachings and philosophies of Malcolm X are the motivation behind the Black Lives Matter movement today.

with the dead of black men in the United States in the hands of police over the past many years – George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown – the controversial legacy of Malcolm X remains a footprint in the foreground of black accountability.

“His social criticism has informed many justice movements,” Pinn said. “I think one see something of his criticism of power in movement for Black Lives”, a basis social justice movement characterized by a decentralized and non-hierarchical mode of organization.

” In a context of white supremacy and white privilege, what a push for aren’t transformation (and) liberation controversial? »

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