Galib Abbasov: Video: Malcolm X, Black and White 1972

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This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on WordPress

If it wasn’t for what Malcolm X fought for, for the African-American community as far as freedom and independence and trying to empower that entire community and free them from poverty, injustice and ignorance, then I probably wouldn’t have much respect if any respect for him. Because he used a lot of if not racist, certainly racial and nasty rhetoric towards Caucasian-Americans. And even though he did reform himself at the end of his life in 1964 or so after being exposed to more Caucasians-Americans as well as people oversees, he still said a lot of racial things that Caucasians probably couldn’t get away with.

Malcolm X is someone who I believe from the Center-Right in America, Conservatives and Conservative Libertarians, all the way over to the Far-Left can respect at least to some degree. Probably on the Far-Right which includes Americans of multiple races and ethnicities would say, “he was no good, he was a troublemaker, why should a Blackman have so much power?” That type of thing, but the Center-Right and Center-Left I think can if not respect the man because of what he was fighting for, for his community. Which was freedom and independence and moving his community off of public assistance though things like education, economic development, infrastructure.

Malcolm X wanted the African-American community to be a community of business owners. Small, medium and large business owners that would open their business’s in their communities and hire the people there. As well as working good middle class blue-collar jobs. His goal wasn’t integration and certainly not integration for the sake of integration. But he wanted freedom whether that meant getting that freedom living in separate communities from the Caucasian community. Or even living and working together, which by the time he dies he thought could work. With African and Caucasian-Americans living and working together.

Malcolm X was no Al Sharpton. Where he would use a lot of racially charge if not racial rhetoric to charge people up. And try to make Caucasians guilty and get them to give the African-American community more Welfare and other forms of public assistance. Malcolm X wasn’t about public assistance, but about independence. The ability for people to be able to live freely and not need government to take care of them. Which is where he separated from Dr. Martin King’s more social democratic movement that called for all sorts of new federal Welfare spending for the African-American community and Americans who live in poverty in general.

The Far-Left in America regardless of race would respect if not love Malcolm X because of how he talked about racism as it was directed towards African-Americans. And the rhetoric he used against racist Caucasians and Caucasians in general. Especially men, but they would separate from him back then like the Black Panther Party and today with Occupy Wall Street and other Far-Left movement’s when it came to economic policy. Because they don’t see public assistance and government dependence as bad things, even if it is indefinite. But as acts of compassion that, “this is how compassionate societies treat their people in need.”

So Malcolm X was someone who had broad appeal, respect, as well as hated across the political spectrum racial melting pot in America. He was loved for being a freedom fighter that literally wanted to empower an entire community of people to be able to live in freedom. And not to have to live with racism and injustice and be able to take care of themselves. But by his haters he was seen as a troublemaker and perhaps even as a troublemaker by people in the mainstream civil rights community that saw his rhetoric as unhelpful for their cause and movement. And one of the tragedies of his death is that it cost us an opportunity to see how he would’ve grown and be treated today.

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CBS News: Mike Wallace- 1964 Interview of Minister Malcolm X

Source:CBS News– interviewing Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X, in 1964.

Source:The New Democrat

“Malik Shabazz aka Malcolm X (1964) – Interviewed in his home on June 8, 1964 by Mike Wallace of CBS News. Aired the following day on CBS Morning News.”

From 1st Gen Refugee

Malcolm X made perhaps the most honest and truthful statement he ever made in life in this interview late in the interview, when he said in response to Mike Wallace’s question: “Have any death threats been made against you?” With Malcolm saying: “Yes, I’m probably a dead man already.”

I believe Malcolm was already moving away from the Nation of Islam anyway and moving in the direction of separation of the races in America might not be necessary after being exposed to Caucasians and people of other races in Mecca.

But then to basically accuse the Leader of the Nation of Islam Elijah Muhammad of not just having bastard children, but having bastard children with multiple women, would be like an Iraqi in 1990 or something running to the streets of Baghdad and calling for the death of Saddam Hussein. There are certain things you don’t make public if you want to continue to be healthy and stay alive. Especially when you live in a dangerous environment to begin with. When you’re not just taking on the establishment, but taking on the establishment of your own community.

Elijah Muhammad did live multiple lives. The man in public as being this morally superior man who could guide the African-American community and show them how to live and improve themselves, was a different man in private. To the point that he cheated on his current wives, had multiple wives, fathered multiple children with multiple women at the same time. And perhaps even ordered hits on people that he saw as threats to his leadership, including Malcolm X.

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Minister Malcolm X: Message To America

Source:Islam 6639– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X.

“Malcolm X delivers speech Message to the Grass Roots
Northern Grass Roots Leadership Conference
Detroit, Michigan”

Source:Islam 6639

“Malcolm X – Message to the Grassroots”

Source:Straight Shine– Nation of Islam Malcolm X.

From Straight Shine

“On December 10, 1963, while still the leading spokesman for the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X gave a speech at a rally in Detroit, Michigan. That speech outlined his basic black nationalist philosophy and established him as a major critic of the civil rights movement. The speech appears below…

Source:Black Past– “Malcolm X, Martin Luther King press conference, March 26, 1964”

From Black Past

Malcolm X was correct in the sense that the racial discrimination that African-Americans faced from the time the African slaves were freed in the 1860s, until the 1960s with the civil rights laws, was a human rights problem. But where he was wrong was that the U.S. Government was able to solve these problems at least in the sense that all Americans are supposed to be treated under law equally with the same constitutional rights. And generally that is true now with the passage of the civil rights laws of the 1960s.

All Americans are entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as every other American in America. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Does that mean that all the laws are always enforced equally for all Americans. Of course not, because any system that is run by humans won’t be run perfectly. Mistakes will be made and you’ll have bad apples (so to speak) and bad people in any system.

Bad apples, are people who feel some people because of their race shouldn’t be treated as well as other Americans of a different race. But under law we are all entitled to the same rights and responsibilities. And under law we are all supposed to be treated equally under law. That wasn’t the case pre-1960s civil rights laws. And that is one thing that Malcolm X never understood, but unfortunately he didn’t live long enough to see that.

As far as this Malcolm X speech, I don’t agree with him on everything. At least pre-1964, before he went to Saudi Arabia and got to be with Muslims of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, he was basically an African-American Nationalist, a racial Nationalist, a racist even. There are good people and bad people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, including European-Americans. And it’s only the bad people that he saw when it came to the European-American community.

You can also see this post on Blogger.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress.

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Minister Malcolm X: On The March On Washington (1963)

Source:Angelo Shabazz– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X, perhaps in 1963.

Source:FRS FreeState

Minister Malcolm X: “MARCH ON WASHINGTON WAS DECEPTIVE”

From Angelo Shabazz

In this speech, you can definitely see the difference in methods and strategy between Malcolm X and Dr. King. Dr. King understood that for African-Americans to get their freedom and equal rights under law, they would have to work with members of the majority population, (meaning Caucasian-Americans, especially Anglo-Saxons) to get those civil rights laws passed.

Whereas Malcolm X, at least early in the early 1960s, saw that as treasonous to work with what he would called the “White man”. That African-Americans should already have their freedom and equal rights. And that the United States Government should just give those things to the African-American community.

Dr. King was smart enough as the brilliant leader that he was to know that those things weren’t going to just be given to his community. Especially by racist Southerners in Congress and at the local and state levels in Southern states. That they would have to fight and work to get them and go over the bigots heads and work with non-racists in the Caucasian-American community.

The March on Washington, was very successful, despite what Malcolm X said. Because in that speech, Dr. King lays out the whole vision of the civil rights movement. Dr. King was talking about an America, where his children and all children aren’t judge by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Where all men and women are equal under law. And not treated better, or worst simply because of their color, or race.

Dr. King’s vision was obviously not good enough for Malcolm X and his supporters and the broader Black Power movement and the New Left that emerged in the late 1960s, that was against the War in Vietnam, but the American capitalist economic system and the power structure in general. The broader Black Power movement and New-Left were revolutionaries. They didn’t believe in working with others to get what they want. But that they should just simply take what they want.

Malcolm X, was part of the Black Power movement. Not the socialist elements of that movement. Because he wasn’t a Socialist, but the revolutionary elements of that movement. That said: “African-Americans, should have their freedom now and we aren’t going to wait around, or try to get laws passed giving us what we should’ve already had in the first place.” And I’ve blogged this before.

Dr. King and Malcolm X, represent not just two wings of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, but two era’s as well. Dr. King, represents the 1960s, when these laws were passed that he had a lot to do with the passage of those laws. Because he understood like a good politician does, that you have to work with others to get laws passed and get new policies.

Malcolm X, represents the post-civil rights movement, the vision for how African-Americans not only have equal rights under law, but an economic vision for how the community can succeed in America built around education, economic development, and personal responsibility in the community.

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C-SPAN: ‘Roundtable With Hollywood Stars On The Civil Rights Movement’

Source:CSPAN– James Baldwin and Marlin Brando.

“Preview – Full Program Airs August 25, 2013 at 1pm & 10pm ET”

From C-SPAN

Hollywood was very important to the civil rights movement, because of the attention and money that these entertainers could bring to the movement and get support for it from their fans and people who wanted to be part of it.

The 1960s was perfect decade for the civil rights movement simply because of the importance of television and TV news specifically, especially network news, so people could see exactly what African-American freedom fighters and other freedom fighters were going through, trying to accomplish and the opposition that they were up against in their struggle.

Similar to how television has impacted American politics, American sports and American entertainment in general, with people being able to see movies on TV, it was the platform that put the civil rights movement on the top. That got national news media behind it and won the support of two Democratic president’s in Jack Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and won the votes in Congress. Brought enough Progressive Republicans in the House and Senate to go along with the Progressive Democrats that were already in favor of equal rights and civil rights laws to pass those bills.

You can also see this post on Blogger.

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Black & Right: Minister Malcolm X: Democratic Party

Source:Black & Right– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X.

Source:FRS FreeState

Malcolm X: “Black Democrats are ‘chumps’”

From Black & Right

The reason why there were so many Democratic members of Congress in the 1960s was because of the Dixiecrats the Southern Caucus in Congress who were famous for blocking civil rights legislation in the Senate and the African-Americans who could vote back then, were voting for more liberal or progressive Democrats and Republicans.

Yes, Republicans were competitive back then with African-Americans as well as in the Northeast, because they weren’t controlled by the Religious-Right, or people who I today call Neo-Confederates. Who are still fighting the Civil War let alone the Culture War who back then were blocking civil rights legislation in Congress. Today they are pushing these so-called Voter ID laws bills that are a solution in search of a problem. But are actually designed to prevent traditional Democrats like African-Americans, Latinos, young people from voting in swing states, so Republicans can stay in power there.

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Minister Malcolm X: ‘Our History Was Destroyed by Slavery (1963)’

Source:Unstripped Voice– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X, appearing on the Chicago City Desk, in 1963.

“MALCOLM X – Our History Was Destroyed By Slavery (1963) Check all our videos/docs and share to your friends:Unstripped Voice.”

From Unstripped Voice

Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X appearing on the Chicago City Desk talk show in 1963, arguing that slavery has robbed African-Americans their history and ancestry.

Source:Malcolm X Network– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X, appearing on the Chicago City Desk, in 1963.

Malcolm X’s message was about empowering African-Americans who were simply being held down in America because of their race, to have the same freedom to live their own lives as Caucasian-Americans have. It’s really what his message is about and doing whatever it took to accomplish that and allowing for African-Americans to be able to decide for themselves how best to get to freedom in America. Even if that means going their own way and simply living in their own communities. And as he grew and developed personally and professionally, he realized that not all Caucasian-Americans were evil and devils.

Malcolm X, concluded and rightfully so, that it was the ignorant people in the Caucasian community that were the problem and need to be confronted and taken on. But the goal of Malcolm X’s message was always the same: empowering African-Americans to be able to own their own business’s and homes and so-forth. And not have to be dependent on anyone including government for them to live. But he wanted them to have the power to be able to take care of themselves.

Minster Malcolm, was a big believer in education, economic development and economic opportunity. Something that Liberals such as myself and Conservatives, should really respect about him.

Minster Malcolm X and Dr. Martin King, were both great men and both wanted freedom for the African-American community. They just went about it different ways and had different messages in how to accomplish those goals.

Dr. King, wanted African-Americans to be freed from poverty and racism. Minister Malcolm, wanted the same community to be free. And be able to live their own lives and be able to take care of themselves. Not have to live off of government even though very generous benefits. Not have to live off of government at all. True individual freedom including economic freedom. The ability to take care of yourself and be able to defend yourself. Malcolm, was a true freedom fighter.

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Manifest Media Networks: Malcolm X- Interview at UC Berkeley: Oct. 11th, 1963

Source:Manifest Media Networks– Minister Malcolm X, at California Berkeley in 1963.

Source:The Daily Press 

“Malcolm X – interview at UC Berkeley. Check out more at:Black:The Black University.”

From Manifest Media Networks 

I saw this interview of Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X on CSPAN this year and decided to write about it. He was being interviewed by a California Berkeley professor there in 1963. Berkeley one of the few major universities back in the early 1960s where radical were seemed mainstream, including ethno and racial Nationalists.

Source:The Daily Press– Minister Malcolm X, at California Berkeley in 1963.
Part of Malcolm X’s message was about the right to self-defense. Which is in the U.S. Constitution, that Americans have. Which means that if you are under attacked, you have the constitutional right to defend yourself to your best ability to prevent your attacker from hurting, or destroying you. Which is a perfectly legitimate thing to believe in. The problem with this philosophy is that it was sort of short-term and a good thing for African-Americans is that more of them didn’t take this message to heart and I say that for this reason.

Martin L. King, was a pacifist all around. At least when it came to civil rights and part of that was because Dr. King thought long-term. He was a visionary in the civil rights struggle and understood the power of the media and that African-Americans were undermanned in this struggle as far as their own population. And that they needed the support of non-African-Americans to advance this cause. And that if they were seen as dangerous or violent in this struggle, it would be harder for them to gain additional support.

I believe that part of Malcolm X’s message rose from frustration as far as how Africans were treated in America. And that African-Americans had took it too long and that it was time to rise up and fight back. He was right that it was time to rise up and to fight back. Which is what Dr. King believed in as well. But they just had different approaches in how to fight back, Dr. King’s approach was more about using the power of media and message. Malcolm had that as well, but it also came with the right to physical self-defense.

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Bria Parks: ‘Malcolm X Project History’

 

Source:Bria Parks– Muslim Minister Malcolm X.

Source:The Daily Press 

“Malcolm X Video Project (history)”

From Bria Parks

I don’t believe Malcolm X was a racist at least at the point when he died. And I don’t believe he was a segregationist, meaning that people of different races should never interact with each other. But he was a separatist. Someone who did believe that integration wasn’t the magic bullet to the problems of African-Americans.

Minister Malcolm believed that this community should be empowered and even empowered themselves to be able to handle their own problems and issues and stand up for their rights. And not be put down by racist Caucasians, or anyone else.

And the African-Americans should stand up for their constitutional rights and not expect that others will give them to them or give them anything else. As well as treating people as people and not members of groups.

Minister Malcolm believed in empowering African-Americans to be able to handle their own affairs. Because this was his community, and not expecting others to empower them, or be dependent on government and others who are already independent to take care of them for them. Malcolm X’s message was truly about African-American freedom. Not some violent revolution.

Unlike Fidel Castro, who was a Marxist and someone who believed the central state should be in complete control and that the state should be responsible for everyone’s well-being, Malcolm X was a true freedom fighter. Someone who wanted to empower an entire community of Americans to take charge and complete responsibility over their own lives.

Today’s Conservatives and Libertarians, should actually at least respect Minister Malcolm and not put him down as some racist thug. Because he was someone who truly believed in individual freedom and not government dependence for his community.

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Chicago City Desk: Minister Malcolm X (1963)

Source: PASMA SOBUKWE BRANCH– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X, on the Chicago City Desk in 1963.

Source:The Daily Press

“Malcolm X Interview in Chicago City Desk March 17, 1963”

From PASMA SOBUKWE BRANCH

“City Desk,” WMAQ-Ch. 5’s local newsmaker interview show launched 57 years ago and folded into the NBC-owned station’s Sunday-morning news program in 1996, goes away completely after this weekend.

The final edition of “City Desk” is set for the 9:30 a.m. half hour on Sunday. Hosted by Mary Ann Ahern and Carol Marin, it will be a retrospective of the program’s run, which featured such panelists as John Chancellor, Len O’Connor, Jim Ruddle, John Dreiske and Dick Kay.”

From the Chicago Tribune

Source:Floyd Webb– Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X, on the Chicago City Desk in 1963.

This was an interesting interview, because a group of Chicago and national journalists, who were interviewing Malcolm X, because Malcolm X a clear revolutionary leader for African-Americans, calling for their independence from public assistance and America as a whole. That Africans in America should no longer tolerate bigotry, poverty and anything else that’s holding down Africans in America. That they should no longer tolerate these conditions and that they should stand up and fight back against the establishment that they saw as the problem that was holding them down.

Minister Malcolm was also arguing that African-Americans need to grab their constitutional rights and no longer taken them for granted and expect other Americans to enforce them for them, because in the early 1960s, African-Americans, weren’t getting their constitutional rights enforced equally as Caucasian-Americans.

Here Malcolm X was being interviewed by clear establishment figures, people from the so-called mainstream media, from Chicago, as well as NBC News in this interview. So you had a rebel being interviewed by establishment figures in this interview.

I love Minister Malcolm’s point about the names and the turn Negro with African slaves being given European and in most cases Anglo-Saxon names. And not just being kidnapped and taken from their homes in Africa, but also getting their culture, history and even their names being stripped from them.

Africans still live in America as full-blooded Africans, but having to carry names like Joe Smith and Tom Johnson, even though their family originally had a Bantu, or Zulu first and last name. Depending on what part of Africa that they came from and their ethnic background. I just don’t think these men were prepared to question someone with the intelligence and knowledge of history that Malcolm X was.

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