Friday, February 20, 1998
In memory of Malcolm
By Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Staff
Over 70 years ago, a legend was born in Omaha. His name was
Malcolm Little. Later, it would be El Hajj Malik el-Shabazz.
Eventually, the world would know him as Malcolm X. But 33 years
after his death, most still know amazingly little about him
Perhaps the mystery stems from his numerous identities, his
evolution of ideologies. Perhaps it was his oratorical command. Or
perhaps it was the short span of the public’s attention.
One thing is clear, however; despite how little people know
about Malcolm X, most feel awe for this historical figure.
After losing his parents at a young age, Malcolm Little left
school early and turned to a life of crime in the underworld of
Harlem. Dealing and using drugs, he was sent to prison in 1946 for
a 10-year sentence.
While in prison, he explored Islamic studies and converted to
the black nationalist theology of Elijah Muhammad.
After his release from prison, Malcolm sought publicity,
delivering inflammatory speeches and gaining much attention. He
served as the leader of the Nation of Islam and preached a militant
version of black nationalism.
Soon this attention proved detrimental, and Malcolm was
suspended from the Black Muslim Movement. He began his own
movement, the Organization of Afro-American Unity, and during the
same year made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
In Mecca, Malcolm was transformed once again. In a letter he
sent to his wife and assistants, Malcolm revealed his
conversion.
"I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the
graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all
colors," he wrote.
Upon his return from the Holy City, Malcolm began a new
doctrine. No longer would he hate all white people but only those
who were racist.
Malcolm became tolerant of the idea of integrated cooperation
among groups, aiming for progress in civil rights through the
participation of other African Americans and progressive white
organizations.
Malcolm was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965. Three members of the
Nation of Islam were convicted. According to Victor Wolfenstein, a
professor of political science, "There is rather substantial
evidence that governmental agencies were at least passively
collusive.
"They did nothing to prevent this tragic event," he said, adding
that two of the three men who were imprisoned for the assassination
were obviously innocent.
Despite a young death that occurred on the incline of his
political career, Malcolm X is not a forgotten man. His memory is
celebrated on a handful of web pages, in several documentaries and
in a motion picture.
In recent years, news of his daughter’s alleged assassination
attempts of Louis Farrakhan – which some claimed was a government
setup – has made headlines.
Malcolm’s daughter Qubilah Shabazz allegedly planned to
assassinate Farrakhan because she believed he was responsible for
her father’s death.
Charges were dropped, however, when Shabazz agreed to a deal in
which she would receive treatment for alcohol abuse and sign an
affidavit accepting responsibility for her role in the
assassination attempt. She maintained her innocence.
Last year, Malcolm’s wife Betty Shabazz was burned to death, and
her 12-year old grandson – the son of Qubilah Shabazz – plead
guilty to the crime.
The teachings of all civil rights leaders have been called up
recently as current issues such as affirmative action maintain a
place in national discussion. After Malcolm’s death, a return to
his teachings occurred periodically throughout the following three
decades. People bought copies of his autobiography by Alex Haley
and anthologies of his speeches.
According to Wolfenstein, Malcolm X became one of the spiritual
leaders of the black radical and revolutionary movement, and his
philosophies had a significant influence on the development of the
Black Panther Party in the late 1960s.
Malcolm’s influences lessened through the ’70s and ’80s,
Wolfenstein said, and were revitalized during the late 1980’s, when
"hip-hop artists and young black people more generally began to
respond to the teachings of Minister Louis Farrakhan, who had
revived the Nation of Islam."
When Spike Lee directed "Malcolm X" in 1992, a new generation
discovered his life and impact on society.
Paraphenilia was circulated within the popular culture, with "X"
baseball caps at the forefront of the very visible trend.
Despite the passing fad’s promotion of self-identity, history
professor Robert Hill said that the emergence of Malcolm X hats and
posters wasn’t much more than capitalist-driven.
"His importance transcends any kind of fashion or fad, as any
struggle for freedom does," Hill said. "It’s something that goes
much deeper than that."
Some students agree that Malcolm has personally influenced their
own lives as well.
"I know that if I had never been exposed to his teachings, I’d
still be sitting around and hoping," said Sarah Abdelhamid, a
second-year psychology and African American studies student.
Abdelhamid said that the message she most values from Malcolm’s
philosophies is the importance of self-assertion.
"The racism in our society is not as overt as it was during his
time," she said. "But his philosophies said that you can’t take
anything passively. Today, we can rally for and against things like
Prop. 209 and affirmative action. We have to take the initiative if
we want things to change."
However long ago Malcolm’s efforts began, many believe that his
legacy continues to apply.
"His basic stance of militant opposition to white racism remains
relevant, all the more so in a time when there are massive efforts
underway to roll back the gains of the 1960s freedom struggle,"
said Wolfenstein, who teaches a course in Malcolm X and Black
Liberation
"The attack on affirmative action is just one prong of this
reactionary movement."
Malcolm’s teachings have continued to influence generations of
Americans. According to Hill, Malcolm is responsible for many of
our modern ideas about African American empowerment.
And not only has he influenced African American philosophy, but
his ideas have penetrated all of the American identity.
"Through Malcolm X, we are now able to talk about institutional
racism as well as individual prejudice," Hill said.
In his last years, Malcolm formulated the idea of organized
discrimination and institutional responsibility, bringing the issue
from an incident-based one to a community problem.
"This meant that it wasn’t just an individual matter," Hill
said. "It was endemic to society."
Malcolm’s notions of community empowerment and personal struggle
have also changed the face of societal solutions.
"His concepts of black self-determination as a domestic program
(brought about) economic and social programs that talked about
community empowerment and political power, police accountability
and community control of schools," Hill said.
Hill credits Malcolm as articulating the vision that
self-determination for African Americans meant development of their
community and achieving political power for anything to change.
Malcolm emphasized "community-based consciousness," Hill said,
adding that a number of African American mayors appeared with the
help of his movement.
Abdelhamid does, however, find faults with some of his ways. "I
don’t advocate his ways of violence. I think there has to be
another way," she said. "But I admire his ability to assert African
Americans as people in an equal society."
Abdelhamid said that she admires him for his ability to change
as well. "It’s sad that it took him a trip to jail to realize that
something was wrong in his life. But he made the conscious decision
to follow the right path, and I admire him for that."
And the need for his influence remains.
"Malcolm’s spirit of black self-affirmation and uncompromising
opposition to the oppression of his people is needed as much now as
it ever was," Wolfenstein said.