Malcolm Lives

So today marks exactly 59 years since the great Malcolm X took his last breath. The reason why he took that last breath doesn’t really need to be explained. We already know the deal: he was assassinated by his enemies because they knew he was a threat to the instability of society. You know how the evil people who run this circus called earth operate, they want a control cycle of chaos underway at all times and anyone who dare seeks to be an individual and interrupt that controlled chaos will be dealt with as such, brother Malcolm was one of history’s greatest examples of a ripple in the dirty river we call earth. But who exactly was Malcolm X and why did so many powerful forces feel that he needed to be eradicated? Well let’s take a brief look back through history.

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was one of seven children born to Earl and Helen Little. In all truth, his parents are the root of where he got his fiery spirit from. His parents were both firm supporters of Black activist Marcus Garvey’s views on pan- Africanism and his father Earl was a baptist speaker who faced a lot of pushback from the Ku Klux Klan, who he always stood up against with pride and a gun, ready to fight and die for the protection of his family, as well as pride in his race. When Malcolm was six his father died under suspicious circumstances that his mother as well as many others believe was the doing of many white supremacist who had been harassing him for his views of empowerment that he was instilling in the local Black community.

In his father’s absence, Malcolm grew up living a crime filled life which landed him in prison. This is where the course of his life changed forever. It was in prison that he connected with the Nation of Islam and became Muslim after some well needed re- education. Malcolm who was already very smart had now grown into consciousness thanks to his path of Islam and the nation. When his time in prison was over he became the avenging Angel of Nation of Islam leader, Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm adopted the moniker of X, dropping the Little as his last name and his soul purpose had now become seeing the betterment of the Black community.

Like his parents, Malcolm too stood on the pan-African teachings of Marcus Garvey. Though Malcolm spoke firmly about the Black community empowering itself, he also expressed a desired separation between Blacks and Whites, believing that race mixing was harmful. He often vocalized his resentment of leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King. Malcolm’s views and expressions made him the center of a lot of controversy. Added with his later quarrels with Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm eventually left the Nation and became a force unto himself.

It was during this time that Malcolm changed a lot of his views. After his pilgrimage to Mecca in the Middle East he became embracing of unity between Black and White, as well as other Black leaders, even those whose views were opposed to his previously, especially that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to his outspoken views on Black liberation of thought and communal empowerment, Malcolm was now big on unity and was putting plans of action before he was abruptly assassinated. There has always been a lot of dispute about who exactly was responsible for orchestrating the death of Malcolm X, but one thing for certain is that the person who did it was under the belief that his death would destroy his life’s work and impact. I hate to be the bearer of bad news boys, but that’s the complete opposite of what happened.

Since Malcolm’s death his legacy has only grown bigger. Countless people have followed further in his footsteps and even pop culture has embraced his legacy. Legendary Black Cinema filmmaker Spike Lee made a hit film about the life of Malcolm starring Denzel Washington and it was based off one of the most read and researched books of Black history, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written by Alex Haley as told by Malcolm X himself.

Many groups like th Black Panthers which were formed one year after Malcolm’s assassination continued Malcolm’s vision of Black empowerment and liberation of the Black mind. Many young Black males such as myself cite Malcolm as a hero and a big influence for seeking knowledge of self and I don’t even need to break down how many colleges and classroom teach on the lessons taught by Malcolm on a regular basis.

So I’m writing this not to Malcolm, but to all of his enemies who oppose him and everything he stood for, Malcolm’s body was the only thing that was destroyed on this day back in 1965. Whether it is through the reiterated Black history or through his children and grand children who he survives through, brother Malcolm X is still alive and well and he always will be.

~~Dedicated to brother Malcolm, your legacy still lives.