Malcolm X | Role in Promoting Black Power in the USA

“By any means necessary”…. the most-famous phrase of the subtle cum tempered El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the black community in the USA. His speeches were a tell-tale of the biases and harm-inflictions perpetrated by the country’s leadership on the non-violent and isolated sect. As said by Attallah Shabazz, ‘For my father, words could heal and transform lives’.

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Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQyBrQrkmH0

Malcolm X – A Patron of Social Values & Connections

Having parents as social activists in the Universal Negro Improvement Association was a boon for young Malcolm. From childhood, he began to understand the lives of the black people, their needs and aspirations for a better existence all so much that it slowly imbued in his personality and demeanor, the struggle to inspire an impoverished and fraught community.

His father’s sudden demise was a heartbreaking incident, a memory that etched in his mind forever. With no concrete evidence, like his mother, he believed that the Ku Klux Klan planned and executed his father. Little could he had done at that time, but to garner strength and purpose from the trauma and set his sights for the redemption of the black man, subliminally.

After the horrific mishappening, his family’s pride was shattered. The insurance company claimed the death as ‘suicide’. His mother had a nervous breakdown and his brothers and sisters were destined for foster homes.

“Let me for a moment tell you who Malcolm X was. Malcolm was not a spiteful man. Malcolm X was a revolutionary. But he was not a mean-spirited revolutionary, he was a gentle man. A kind man, a concerned man.”

Percy Sutton

Attorney of Malcolm X

The Black Man’s World

black man's power

Source: Socialistworker.co.uk

Malcolm X’s early life was full of odd jobs, social acquaintances, and family visits. His journey from Mason to Boston helped him understand the importance of relationships, especially with the white man. During his school days, his conversations and suggestions were accepted by all, except Mr. Ostrowski, his English teacher. Malcolm was coerced into reconsidering his decision of becoming a lawyer because of his skin color. Days later, he left for Boston to live with his step-sister, Ella.

“No physical movement in my life has been more pivotal and profound in its repercussions.”

Malcolm X on leaving Michigan

Taking a deep dive in the abysmal conditions of the city, where swindlers, robbers, and muggers ruled the roost, Malcolm found himself in the company of loyal friends like Shorty who assisted him with employment and influential relations. Together, they sold reefers and tickets, earning a sizeable amount to enjoy dancing, gambling, and other fun activities.

Malcolm’s life was transformed after his imprisonment in Harlem. His brothers, Philbert and Reginald became the beacon of hope and inspiration for him. Through letters and formal discussions from/with his brothers about the Nation of Islam and its teachings by Elijah Muhammad, the self-proclaimed prophet, he came to learn about the struggle and growth of the black community as a united force in the USA. It enlightened his mind for further course of action.

“I took special pains to hunt in the library for books that would inform me on details about black history.”

Malcolm X

Imparting Knowledge & Truth

black power

Source: The Conversation

In the Norfolk Prison Colony, Malcolm X enlightened the Negroes with their history and culture, the part that the white man hid for decades. According to him, it was a sinister approach by the exploiters to earn the respect and allegiance of the dark race. Malcolm X took the task of spreading the reality with a cautious approach. Most of the listeners were enlightened by his thoughtful words and factual information.

From the prison environment, Malcolm X learned the art of public speaking and helped the black community comprehend the actualities that were previously unknown and concealed. He gained the trust and loyalty of the Negroes, in line with promoting Elijah Muhammad’s campaign of recruiting new individuals in the Nation of Islam.

Malcolm X – From Convict to Minister

After leaving prison and rising to prominence under the wings of Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X became a symbol of optimism and justice in the American public. Almost 500,000 individuals joined the Nation of Islam under his guidance. He became a minister of Temple No. 11 and No. 7 in Boston and Harlem respectively. His public appearances helped in attaining new recruits too.

“The white man wants black men to stay immoral, unclean, and ignorant. As long as we stay in these conditions, we will keep on begging him and he will control us. We never can win freedom and justice and equality until we are doing something for ourselves.”

Malcolm X

Besides oratory, Hajj-El-Shabazz wrote short articles about the Nation of Islam. He named the newspaper, ‘Muhammad Speaks’; it was sold on the ghetto sidewalks, with each member assigned a fixed number of copies. This practice paved way for new recruits and more funds. His critique on the ‘so-called Negro’ concept laid the foundations for Black Consciousness Movements in the late 1900s.

The Real Muslim

ideal muslim

Source: The Ideal Muslim Man

Following the fallout with Elijah Muhammad on the scandals and John F. Kennedy comment, Malcolm X was suspended from the Nation of Islam for ninety days. To his surprise, he was being pegged back in an orchestrated manner. Not only was he barred from speaking in the temples, but also given a specific condition of ‘if he submits’ upon reinstatement.

Death threats seemed to follow thereafter for the black man’s savior: The Louisiana Citizens Council offered $10,000 reward for his death and Temple No. 7 official was assigned to wire his car to explode. Being aware of the isolation that his foes were carrying about, Malcolm decided to launch his own organization under the name of Muslim Mosque Inc.

“I felt a challenge to plan, and build, an organization that could help to cure the black man in North American of the sickness which has kept him under the white man’s heel.”

“The organization I hope to build would differ from the Nation of Islam in that it would embrace all faiths of black men, and it would carry into practice what the Nation of Islam had only preached.”

“I am going to organize and head a new mosque in New York City known as the Muslim Mosque Inc. It will give us a religious base, and the spiritual force necessary to rid our people of the vices that destroy the moral fiber of our community. It will be a working base for an action program designed to eliminate the political oppression, the economic exploitation, and the social degradation suffered daily by twenty-two million Afro-Americans.”

Malcolm X

With his new plan intact, Malcolm X travelled to Mecca for pilgrimage and then paced his way to Africa.

The Arabia & Africa Tour

trip to mecca

Source: Thoughtco

Nothing was more transformative for Malcolm X than the tour to Saudi Arabia and Africa. For the first time in his life, he felt genuine brotherhood without any differences of caste, creed, color, and religion. He practiced the true version of Islam in its entirety with fellow Muslims and upon his return to America.

“Pilgrims from every land, every color, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike, all snored in the same language.”

Malcolm X

Besides voicing his concern for Pan-American unity, Malcolm understood the underlying factors that kept the Black Americans intact. As for Kasem Gulick’s question on his separation from Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm responded, “I prefer not to elaborate on our differences, in the interests of preserving the American black man’s unity.”

Nothing was more special for Malcolm X that standing up for his people in the USA as well as in other countries. In Ghana, the U.S. Information Agency had presented a false image of American race relations, which Malcolm X tried to eliminate, and in the process, projected the true picture of the Afro American problem.

He believed that every human being deserved to live in harmony and equality, and not all white Americans were racists.

“I’m not anti-American and I didn’t come here to condemn America. I want to make that very clear! I came here to tell the truth and if the truth condemns America, then she stands condemned!”

“Yes, I have been convinced that some American whites do want to help cure the rampant racism which is on the path to destroying this country!”

Malcolm X

Last Lines

malcolm x

Source: Chroma

Due to theological and political differences with Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam on March 3^rd 1964. He started off with Muslim Mosque Inc. and worked together with global personalities to further improve conditions of the black man in America. However, his endeavors didn’t last long and he was assassinated on Feb 21^st 1965.

After his death, leaders like Martin Luther King took inspiration from Malcolm X and directed his people and the Black Panther party officials to raise their voices against the atrocities aggravated by the American government. The Black Lives Matter Movement and the Black Consciousness Movement were also influenced by Malcolm’s fiery speeches and actions. Personalities like Muhammad Ali were also related to the American civil rights activist.

Not only did he inspire generations through his conversations but also wrote essays and manuscripts. Below are some lines that he stated about Zionists in his essay written in the 60s.

“The Israeli Zionists are convinced they have successfully camouflaged their new kind of colonialism. Their colonialism appears to be more “benevolent” more “philanthropic,” a system with which they rule simply by getting their potential victims to accept their friendly offers of economic ‘aid’ and other tempting gifts, that they dangle in front of the newly independent African nations, whose economies are experiencing great difficulties.”

The Egyptian Gazette (1964)