Rania El-Badry reflects on the life of Malcolm X and why his lessons still remain relevant to this day…
“If someone puts their hands on you make sure they never put their hands on anybody else again.”
― Malcolm X
It’s only the second day of a writing challenge I’m working on and I already find myself in the situation wherein a topic is thrust upon me. I knew that it would eventually happen, that real life would have to seep into the writings, but I just wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. I had another topic prepared for today, but that must be set aside. For writing — more than anything — should be timely.
And it’s time for me to talk about Malcolm.
Those who know me personally, know how dear he is to my heart. I have a poster of his “By Any Means Necessary” speech that is meant to adorn my room wall (it did in Alexandria, Egypt, but I have yet to hang it in my room here in New York). When asked to recommend a book, my mind will always go to his autobiography. When I had to write a graduation research paper, I wrote one about him. Over the past 10 years, I have written quite a few times about him, and am always ready for more (I *ehm* “suggested” *ehm* one of my students do a research paper on him this year —don’t worry, the student was thankful). If you ask me which modern public figure I find inspiration in, I will say him. No doubt, no hesitation. Him, over and over again.
Yeah, I guess I can come across as a tad obsessed. Just a smidge. But it is important to realize why.
History Has Long Had a War About the Malcolm Narrative
“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
History had not always been kind to Malcolm. In fact, when I was younger, I knew two things tops: he was always compared to Martin Luther King and he was always framed as the extremist of the two. In its most simplistic form, people would say King was for non-violent protest and that Malcolm was pro-violence. In many ways, media had vilified Malcolm, especially during his life — cast him as a villain. I won’t say that Malcolm did not do actions that could have supported that interpretation, because he did. But two things matter: context…Ok, maybe one thing. But the context is important in two ways: his personal journey context and the context of his times.
If we are to learn anything about the story of Malcolm, and from it, it is how essential that we realize how much history can be manipulated, by history books, by oral narratives, by the media. History is edited to fit a framework that works for those in power, and if you are even trying to know the truth, you cannot accept the popular interpretations of history. You have to dig deep, go outside the comfort zone, and be willing to be absolutely upended.
A big reason why Malcolm’s true legacy remains today is not because of popular history’s preservation of him, though that maybe more true in recent times. Rather, I’d venture to think it’s because of minority groups, African Americans, Africans, and Muslims, who were determined to preserve his legacy. It was then that his history became more mainstream.
He Was Never Ashamed to Admit He Was Wrong
“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.”
When one takes the time to read more into the Malcolm narrative, in his own voice, the most admirable trait that he has is that he was never, ever, afraid to admit that he was wrong. His autobiography, though firm and proud, is full of moments of reflection upon himself and his past mistakes, and is full of his own share of public apologies. The moment he doubted The Nation of Islam, he did not hesitate to think of how it was the means of his popularity and his livelihood. Perhaps her portrays himself ideally, but the narratives of those around him support this. He was uncompromising in his values, even when he changes his beliefs. His principles and personal code remained very much in tact.
He Was Ahead of His Time
When Malcolm first emerged on the scene of human rights in America, he emerged in a scene that was still at the onset of its acts of revolt. One of the reasons that Martin Luther King’s legacy is well remembered and respected — and was even to an extent at that time — is because his approach to the civil rights movement was rooted in justice and kindness, a desire to alert the public to shared humanity. His brilliant letter from Birmingham jail remains till this day a thing of beauty and excellence in composition.
But the truth is, Malcolm — a product of the North, which had more racial freedoms that King’s south — had seen the future of some so-called liberties. Had seen that even when rights may be instated and “protected,” deep rooted racism will defeat laws. Malcolm’s speech of anger and bitterness was well founded, in a history of a raped grandmother, a murdered father, a life in foster care where even when he excelled academically he was told he would not succeed in life.
Today many critics will say this: King’s non violent movement was only possible because Malcolm’s “By Any Means Necessary” one, one that has to be understood, not as a call to violence, but a call to self defense, the right to stand up for one’s self.
He Knew that Freedom Is Not Negotiable
“How can you thank a man for giving you what’s already yours? How then can you thank him for giving you only part of what is yours?”
Malcolm’s childhood and teenage years became a powerful cornerstone in what was his quest: the freedom for everyone, everywhere. The innate belief he carried with him, was that the fight for freedom against oppression, whether it be in the streets of Minneapolis or the streets of Sidi Gaber, Alexandria, is the same. Everyone had a “right” to it, yet most of the world is deprived of it. Everyone deserves it, but few attain it.
Part of the harshness of Malcolm’s tone at times comes from a simple fact: I should not have to ask you for what is rightfully mine already. I should not have to protest, violently or non-violently, for what divine and constitutional right has guaranteed me. The fact that I have to ask just goes to show one thing: you, the oppressor, have violated the social contract first.
But Setbacks Happen and it Comes at a Cost
“You get your freedom by letting your enemy know that you’ll do anything to get it. Then you’ll get it. It’s the only way you’ll get it.”
Yes, freedom is a right. But our world has made it a difficult one to attain and understand. It is warped constantly to mean different things, and it is held back frequently by the hands at play. But if there is one thing that needs to be taught about rights: even if something already belongs to you, that does not mean that you don’t have to fight to get it. And no, fight is not a call of violence, it is a call of commitment, perseverance. Very rarely…in fact it is outright impossible..for those who are oppressed to initiate acts of violence even if they escalate it. The act of violence, be it verbal, mental, physical or emotional is initiated by the oppressor, and the oppressed acts against it. In both the initial act of oppression and the act of “retaliation” there are costs.
He Learned to Be Wary of the System. Any System.
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
The act of being wary of a system, does not necessary equal distrust, though they often overlap. But Malcolm recognized that any system has an agenda, and unless you are privy to it, you should be wary of the system’s motivations. Pay attention to the system’s propaganda, how it sells itself to the public, allow your critical mind to engage in their material…and keep your eyes wide open.
He Knew That Education Is Key
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
The key turning points in Malcolm’s life, he always attributes to reading, his “alma mater was books, a good library,” and he considered how “People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.” For Malcolm, to gain a critical mind, to see through the fog of society, you had to educate yourself. Not be educated. No. You. Have. To. Educate. Your. Self.
An education is still a system, something curated to a specific purpose and with a specific motive. When you educate yourself, expose yourself to as much knowledge and critical thought that you can — occasionally with guidance but more importantly on your own — you allow your mind to develop and extend, to learn the strengths of critical thinking in a way no one can teach you.
And That Identity and Acceptance Are Essential
“We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.”
In your journey of seeking knowledge and justice, however, it is important not to forget or lose who you are. Any journey towards justice is built on that: Who are you? What are your grievances? Who are you facing? Do you find yourself worthy? Do you understand that you are worthy? And can you face yourself in the mirror when the day is done?
Justice, yes, can come at a price, but it is essential that that price is never the better part of your nature.
But That Proactivity is More Important that Just About Anything
“The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goals. You have to wake the people up first, then you’ll get action.”
You can ask for justice all you want. You can make all the noise and all the demands. But you, my friend, are but one person. If you want to make change, wake someone up. Malcolm’s strength was not his; it was the strength of those he motivated, those he changed by his proactivity. He didn’t wait for people to come to him; he went to them. He invited them to change.
“One Day, May We All Meet Together in the Light of Understanding.”
Here is the part of the Malcolm narrative that people seem to choose to ignore, the part of him that especially towards the end of his life, fought so much for spaces of understanding. To Malcolm, his hajj trip changed his life, because for the first time, he saw what he believed was the manifestation of how true brotherhood could look like. When he recognized that “all [people] snored in the same language,” he recognized that a world where rights are honored could exist, but it needs work and effort and all the other things he was already doing but was cynical about.
I guess the last lesson to be learned from Malcolm is hope. Hope that change is not impossible and that it is achievable, but that as Malcolm once said:
We need more light about each other.
Light creates understanding,
understanding creates love,
love creates patience,
and patience creates unity.
Author: Rania El-Badry
