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Krissah Thompson: 50 Years After His Death, Malcolm X’s Work Is Unfinished
After a life filled with transformation, Malcolm X found himself in February 1965 in the throes of yet another. He had been a fringe figure, known mostly to a small circle of black Muslims and big-city sophisticates, but now he was branching out — seeking allies at home and abroad to help him become a part of the Southern civil rights movement. He had plans to take the cause to the United Nations, charging the U.S. government with failure to protect its black citizens from racist white terrorism. 50 years after he was gunned down by an assassin in Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm X is getting another look. His issues — particularly those that occupied the last year of his life — and his tactics speak to the current conversation.
Police brutality? Malcolm would have been on point amid the protests in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island. “Whenever something happens, 20 police cars swarm on one neighborhood,” Malcolm told an interviewer during his crusade against anti-crime bills. “This force . . . creates a spirit of resentment in every Negro. They think they are living in a police state and they become hostile toward the policeman.” Voting rights? Once again in the spotlight, as activists challenge photo ID laws that they say hinder minority voters, and definitely a preoccupation for Malcolm. “When white people are evenly divided, and black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who’s going to sit in the White House and who’s going to be in the doghouse,” he said in 1964.
More here
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Ebony: Malcolm Taught Me: Reflections on X
As people across the world commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X, EBONY asked some of our favorite thought leaders to reflect on how “our Black shining prince” impacted their worldview, cultural identity and work: “He taught me what it meant to publicly be a work in progress, to publicly admit when you were wrong, all in a lifelong effort to be the best person he could be for his people, his family, and himself. I take him with me everywhere I go.“-Rembert Browne, writer. “I remember the first time I heard Brother Malcolm’s speech when he asked, “Who taught you to hate yourself?” I was 15. For me, there was a healing in his truth-telling. His words gave me permission to always call it as I see it. And without apology. “-Yaba Blay, scholar/author
“As a Black man, Malcolm X was one of my first glimpses into what it meant to be proud of your Blackness on your terms; as a storyteller, his book taught me the value in honesty and owning your truth, no matter how messy it might look in the rear view mirror.”-Michael Arceneaux, writer. “The more I learned the truth about Malcolm X, the more I began to love myself. His unwavering courage is how I attempt to show up in the world and in my work.” -Wade Davis, former NFL player/Executive Director, You Can Play Project. “Malcolm wasn’t perfect, but he strived to be, and do, better—to be his best possible self for his people. That is the true worth of a freedom fighter.” -Jason Parham, writer/editor. “Malcolm X’s life taught me that being angry about injustice is an opportunity to use my voice to speak out and use my gifts to spark change.”-Ebonie Johnson Cooper, philanthropist
More here
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“Malcolm died advocating for teenaged, single Black mothers. He died for not remaining silent about the abuse of Black girls.” -dream hampton, writer/activist/educator
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Malcolm X was assassinated 50 years ago today. Read @Krissah30 on his (still-changing) legacy wapo.st/1vksW8G http://t.co/uX8z173udt
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015This is the telegram MLK sent Malcolm X's wife after her husband's assassination vox.com/2015/2/21/8078… http://t.co/9iZ4aJOWEq
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deray mckesson (@deray) February 21, 2015****
Modern consciousness casts Malcolm as MLK foil, as a series of catchphrases. He was much more wapo.st/1vksW8G http://t.co/FjrVPIKcWM
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015Here's the NYT article from paper the morning after "bearded extremist" Malcolm X was assassinated partners.nytimes.com/library/nation…
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015****
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@WesleyLowery my favorite was “two other negroes.”
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Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) February 21, 2015@bomani_jones I'm torn between being impressed about how many inches they wrote with my disdain for their "open and shut case" attitude
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015****
"Malcolm, a slim, reddish-haired six-footer with a gift for bitter eloquence against what he considered white exploitation of Negroes"
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015So basically, the day after Malcolm is killed the NYT writes: "he was an angry black man who could talk good"
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015****
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Here's @washingtonpost front page from day after Malcolm X killed. Carried @AP story (ht @masumaahuja) http://t.co/s0wBBXURnj
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015WaPo's staff-written obit for "articulate, able and dynamic orator..." Malcolm X ran on A3 http://t.co/i6WBt9xL5k
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015****
Striking here is that obit keeps referring to the Nation of Islam as a "black Muslim cult."
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Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 21, 2015@WesleyLowery not to mention the degrading trope of referring to an African American man as 'articulate'
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Mateo Sewillo (@mateosewillo) February 21, 2015****
On the anniversary of his death, EBONY asks "What has Malcolm X taught YOU?" #MalcolmTaughtMe bit.ly/1DAL4hu http://t.co/AciR0KwLEE
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EBONY (@EBONYMag) February 21, 2015Having my son march beside me as we affirm that #BlackLivesMatter means the world to me! #Malcolm50 http://t.co/oug52OBfaU
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Doug Moore (@DMooreUDW) February 21, 2015****
I wouldn't have been anywhere near as informed about institutional and structural racism as a 15 year old without him. #MalcolmTaughtMe
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melanincholy (@riotersbloc) February 21, 2015"I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whatever benefits humanity as a whole." #MalcolmTaughtMe http://t.co/gJYxRLzIxE
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Christopher Peach (@MinouNoireLover) February 21, 2015****
NEVER bite your tongue, even in the company of those who oppose you #MalcolmTaughtMe
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Damani McNeil (@dmalcolm_) February 21, 2015This picture is among my most valued possessions. #MalcolmTaughtMe @MuhammadAli and others self respect, principle. http://t.co/HBODQ44guo
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Len Elmore (@LenElmore) February 21, 2015****
RIP brother Malcolm. Your legacy lives on. Love this message. #Malcolm50 #MalcolmTaughtMe http://t.co/hnolHyiYUH
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Harry Shotton (@HarryShotton) February 21, 2015"You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it." #MalcolmTaughtMe
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rula ☪ رولا (@jnoubiye_) February 21, 2015****
@EBONYMag #MalcolmTaughtMe my TRUE history, and to love myself, and to love my people.
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M. Washington (@meagfw) February 20, 2015#MalcolmTaughtMe that being proud of who I am and committed to justice is a daily choice we all can make.
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Nicole Lee (@nicoleclee) February 21, 2015
The Obama Diary 
By any Means Necessary.
Feb 20th, 1965…..50 yrs ago…..
A Light was dimmed forever.
RIP
Malcolm X
Fantastic Respectful and Worthy Post.
Thank you, NW.
NW, your posts are all so epic…..this one is remarkable….my question is: do you ever sleep?
Thanks, Carolyn.
Yes. 🙂
You’re welcome, Nena.
Congratulations on first.
What an awesome Job.
🍸
Truly ❤ this post. I am book-marking it.
Thank you.
Congrats Nena!!!
NW – thank you for honoring the magnificent Malcolm X.
Thanks, Bob.
Wow….1st time in this Evening and Leave A Message was the Greeting Message.
I read all the Tweets before posting……..Just Brilliant, NW.
What a wonderful Tribute.
Thanks, Nena.
😉
Congratulations on being 1st on such an inspiring post, Nena.
🙂
I watched the Movie with D. Washington. Then I went and bought the book and Read it.
RIP
Mr. X.
Bibi’s losing it.
So long as the people in Israel keep electing him and tolerating his arse in their Government………No Justice and Definitely No Peace between The Palestinians and the Israelis.
Timely and powerful, thank you HUGELY Nerdy.
You’re welcome, Chips.
Malcolm was assassinated in my neighborhood, about a couple of blocks from the apartment where I lived until age 7. My brother pointed out the Audubon Ballroom to me when I was older.
Probably not true, but…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Songs_for_Malcolm_X
Somewhat connected to this post, wouldn’t you say?
I’ll probably be watching cricket.
LL, did you see this? Gobsmacking:
The Chelsea football thug being hunted for pushing a black man off the Paris underground is a former Irish cop, the Sunday World can reveal …. we can also reveal the extraordinary double life the ex-RUC police officer leads. By day he is the director of a worldwide human rights organisation, lecturing on racial tolerance around the globe.
http://www.sundayworld.com/news/news/chelsea-race-thug-is-ex-irish-cop#.VOj38S21p9s.twitter
Oh Chips, we need to buy an island somewhere warm and move all TODers there.
That sounds like a mighty fine idea. Jamaica?
Preferably somewhere where we don’t have to kick out people.
😆
Okay, I’m checking this out: http://www.privateislandsonline.com/
Because of course there’s a website.
I quite like this one, a few trees for Danny too (because he’ll be living with us, naturally):
http://www.privateislandsonline.com/islands/staff-island
125K quid?? What’s wrong with it?
Well, it is rather tree-y, would there be any room for our mansion?
Here’s another tree-y one, in Canada:
http://www.privateislandsonline.com/islands/sweet-island
Trees are nice, but Jaysus, that’s a lot of lumber to hew down.
We’ll get Amk and VC to do the chopping while we gimlet-sip, it’ll keep them out of trouble.
Yeah, amk’s an engineer. He can rig up something.
That’s what I’d be afraid of
You know, all things being equal, you can get an island for not much money.
I’m voting this one because it has a ‘brand new helicopter pad’ and homes have recently been refurbished. Of course, all the work that has ‘recently’ been done there probably explains why they haven’t listed the price. 😉
It looks like they’re expecting an invasion, VC:
A bit too rocky, not much space to wander.
smh. You can’t see the roads from this shot, AND the glass at different levels is to help you enjoy the views!!!! Geesh!
Hold it you – I see your island is valued at $15,000,000.
http://search.savills.com/property-detail/gblaixlai140158
The ones LL and me were looking at were under $200,000.
You and your expensive tastes. 🙄
Also, we’d lose at least 26 TODers on the first night, falling over those balconies while sipping their gimlets.
The ones you two were looking at were not ‘developed’. Come on, you know we can’t leave the development in the hands of uknowho2!!! Maybe we could convince the recent 1/3 Powerball winner that we are a worthy charity. Plus re the gimlet drinkers… /sheepishly/ I could also be the chair of the alcohol committee?
“I could also be the chair of the alcohol committee?”
😆
Whhhaaat? 😀
Will you be chair of the transport committee too?
Not on **THAT** island, TYVM!
There is one for sale on Flathead Lake in Montana. it’s 24000 square ft and the price have been lowered to $59 million. I think we could all fit on it.
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/price-for-flathead-lake-island-mansion-lowered-to-m/article_aeb8bc08-f28d-11e3-99ab-0019bb2963f4.html
“the price have been lowered to $59 million”
😆 We’ll take it, Marilyn!!! Oooooh, it looks gorgeous too!
Isn’t Montana a snow-y kind of place? I don’t do winter sports either, MtM.
This isn’t going smoothly. VC, if it’s snow-y you’ll feel right at home, isn’t that a good thing?
No, ma’am!
VC, right now we are in the banana belt, it’s been an average of 40 degrees. Besides when it freezes you can walk on water.
*chuckle* *chuckle* Walking on water (or skating on it) has never been one of my dreams, MtM.
RIDING MOWER INCLUDING ALONG WITH FIRSTAID KIT!!!!…OR……………..MARRIAGE…ON THE ROCKS!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^AND ALL SHE ASKED FOR WAS A TOOTHPICK??? BRUTE STRENGTH THAT BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A-hem! *a-hem* *cough* *cough*Does that mean Chips and I would have to learn how to ***swim***?
No need VC, we’ll paddle!
Much as I like the idea of TODobots getting together, if all this water is involved, and paddling too, I’ll pass. Thanks all the same, but I doubt even Desertflower’s flair for teaching/tutoring could get me to sign up for this.
VC! You are a citizen of TODland, so once we know where it is, you have to live with your fellow citizens!
As a patriotic TODland citizen, I’ll volunteer to chair the immigration and infra-structure committees.
AAAAH…FISH SANDWICH TO GO!!!!!
Exactly!! 🙂
I’d have to learn alongside you.
Jeez, does anyone at TOD know how to swim?
I had no idea this was a thing.
It is! The fella from Indiastan and me confessed the other day. And now VC. And you.
I remember clearly. I was 8 or 9. It was a frigid day in March in NYC. And my dad threw me in an outdoor pool. Pretty much swore off of swimming then. BUT, I love the water.
Desertflower *loves* swimming and she once offered the services of her lifeguard daughter to give lessons. You guys can sign up; I’d rather have helicopter flying lessons so that I can drop in and leave easily without having to depend on a watery method of transp.
JUST CALL THE ABOVE CELLULITE ISLAND BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY NOONE IS DOING ANY WALKING! I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU ORDERED THE NEWSPAPER????………..OR………..DON’T FORGET TO STOP AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY!!!!
Put like that, you may be better off reading a book – any book!
😀 Nevertheless, I’d appreciate if you pass the message along to your TL.
Downton Abbey and Grantchester for me.
sighs
I almost wish someday President Obama would call a press conference to announce, “I worship the devil. Anybody with me?”
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!
And he’ll be wearing a black turtleneck, jeans and beret and goatee.
I’m falling off my chair over here. Ha!!!!!!
Heh.
Still the best rendition I’ve heard, and it reminds all of us who lived through those days – and all the assassinations – how we felt, each in our own ways and hearts and situations. It’s not something you can describe, but you can still feel it 50 years later.
The Sixties. And this was 60 days before RFK was also assassinated.
Bringing this over from the last thread.
Hello all.
Just wanted to say that it seems to be a big “coincidence ” (not really) that Republicans are either denying PBO’s love/loyalty to the US, don’t know if he is a Christian ( Gov Walker ), Jeb Bush’s don’t question PBO’s motives but his policies and all the other conservative blogs and trolls saying Giuliani was right. I think it has a lot to do with the upcoming Netanyahu speech to the US Congress. The GOP are trying to whip up the same old suspicion and opposition to soften the criticism and try to move more people to say what they did was OK.
Then, after the speech will push more of their anti-Iran and try to push PBO and public opinion on Iran , Syria and war in general.
I believe this is all part of a calculated strategy.
Reply
And pretty much everybody you named will fail. And President Obama will prevail, and our country will continue to prosper, under his leadership. And …
“There is an endless supply of paint.” — Marcus Davis
of course this is not a coincidence.
it’s transparent as glass.
Absolutely fairy-tale gorgeous, dudette!!!
http://www.photobotos.com/santas-village/
Santa’s Village – Fiss, Austria – Michael Adamek Is this what Santa’s village looks like? If not, I am sure it looks something similar. Maybe with sleigh tracks in the snow and some reindeer pellets on the roof tops. And that moon peeking out from behind the clouds and rising over the mountain tops is just posing for the perfect shot. To see more of Micheal work please visit http://www.michaeladamek.de.
Sweet Jeebus, now Anne Applebaum of WaPo is saying that Angela Merkel is the leader of the free world. Jesus take the wheel.
‘free world’ being the DC bubble.
“White folks dun lost their minds.” and we smile and grow stronger because they change has come.
Powerful Tweets…..
i had recordings of Malcolm X…the ballot or the bullet was poignant…
a came over him after his pilgrimage to Mecca…i believe that if Malcolm X had lived he would have become closely aligned with Dr King
🙂
Is Erick Erickson a Christian? In any meaningful way. I think that is what he need to be worrying about. What is so wonderful about this is Jesus Christ will do the judging, not Erick Erickson or his right wing racists party.. So the way I look at it it doesn’t matter one bit what Erickson think or says, he isn’t Jesus Christ.
when I read that I thought the same as you bella2758
Judge not lest ye be judged.
My question is, is Erick Erickson a Christian?
Ahem.
Better today than tomorrow for #BurgersOnTheBarbie.
70% chance of rain tomorrow in my neck of the woods, starting at 10pm.
Am moving all my patio plants from the covered portion to the great outdoors now.
Actually, the weather forecast is very similar to Juneau in July (when I was there in 1999):
Low tonight: 51F, showers
Sunday: 55F, light rain
I clearly remember the 5-day forecast in Juneau:
Low: 51F
High: 52F
5 different ways to say “precipitation”
We’re doomed.
IS THIS WHAT YOU GUYS DO ON SATURDAY NIGHTS?…TV MUST BE BROKEN!
Oh Nerdy, what a wonderful tribute!!!! I who loves history and thought I knew much always learn more from your posts. Thank you so much.
Thank you, MTMarilyn.
I was 18 and in the army when I read Malcolm X’s biography.. and I learned that people change, that they evolve given the desire to do so.. and that he had a lot to teach anyone who took the time to pay attention and open their minds. His journey was amazing and I’m sorry the world lost him so young.
This is not a unique point of view.
https://twitter.com/MichaelHargrov1/status/569296079222677504?lang=en
Thank you for remembering Malcolm X.
🙂
Wonderful post. The fight goes on and on and on.
🙂
The first essay I assign to my freshmen every semester is a segment of Malcolm X’s autobiography called “Prison Studies.” It is his story of educating himself in prison. He started by copying the dictionary, word by word onto a tablet. After he finished a page, he read it out loud to himself to ingrain it in his brain. He copied the ENTIRE dictionary this way, day after day, night after night. After he accomplished this, he knew how to read, he knew how to write, he had increased his vocabulary at least a thousand fold, and went on to read about 20 out of every 24 hour day the remaining time in prison. This essay starts our section on how we all learned to read, and they write what I call their Literacy autobiography.
They cannot imagine writing the entire dictionary, and neither can I, but he did it, and educated himself mightily.
You’re doing wonderful work, Carolyn.
Media Alert:
Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards
Tonight..on OWN, 10 pm EST
Only4RM @Only4RM
Don’t get it twisted people. Disgusting Giuliani’s racist dog-whistle attacks on POTUS are part of the GOP’s #NetanYAHOO advance work.
Nerdy, thank you very much. What a wonderful tribute to Malcolm.
Malcolm X loved black people and hated white racism. Today, as dead black bodies continue to fall in U.S. streets from Ohio to New York, a booming prison-industrial complex continues to scour street corners for prey and a corrupt political system continues to placate black citizens with a blurry carbon copy of equality, his words in a 1964 letter to the Egyptian Gazette still ring true:
“We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized as citizens there until we are first recognized as humans. … The American “system” (political, economic and social) was produced from the enslavement of the black man, and this present “system” is capable only of perpetuating that enslavement.”
http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2015/02/malcolm_x_matters_icon_s_words_still_ring_true_video.html
🙂
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/02/21/every-saturday-needs-laughter/
Nerdy, I know its late but I want to thank you for this beautiful memorial post for Malcolm X. He was truly one of my heroes. Even after 50 years I still cry when I remember him.
🙂