The legacy of Malcolm X: nearly 30 years after his death, the words of one of the most provocative orators of the Black nationalist movement strike a responsive chord

Ebony, May, 1989

The Legacy Of Malcolm X

Nearly 30 years after his death, the words of one of the most provocative orators of the Black nationalist movement strike a responsive chord

May 19 marks the 64th anniversary of the birth of Malcolm X, a major spokesman for the Black nationalist movement of the 1960s. An insightful theorist and gifted orator, he influenced millions with his articulate exposition of a socioeconomic program that called for the galvanizing of people of color around the world. Though he came to prominence as a disciple of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X broke with his mentor in 1964 to form his own movement under the banner of the Organization for Afro-American Unity. He espoused Black control of Black communities and promoted greater awareness of and identification with Africa.

Yet Malcolm X would never live to see his vision of Black society become a reality. Before his newly formed organization could take roots, he was assasinated by three Black gunmen before hundreds of mortified followers at the Audubon Ballroom in New York on February 21, 1965.

He left behind a legacy of provocative speeches that even today, almost a quarter of a century after his death, can still stir the emotions of Black Americans. The following excerpts, culled from lectures and speeches delivered during the last two years of his life, offer a glimpse of the passion and power of his words; and allow us to reflect upon the greatness that was and the greatness that might have been.

On Black Leadership

...The problem facing our people here in America is bigger than all other personal or organizational differences. Therefore, as leaders, we must stop worrying about the threat that we seem to think we pose to each other's personal prestige, and concentrate our united efforts toward solving the unending hurt that is being done daily to our people here in America... From a speech entitled "A Declaration of Independence", delivered March 12, 1964, New York

On Black Consumerism

...The economic philosophy of Black nationalism is pure and simple. It only means that we should control the economy of our community. Why should White people be running all the stores in our community? Why should White people be running all the banks of our community? Why should the economy of our community be in the hands of the White man? If a Black man can't move his store into a White community, you tell me why a White man should move his store into a Black community. The philosophy of Black nationalism involves a re-education program in the Black community in regards to economics. Our people have to be made to see that any time you take your dollar out of your community and spend it in a community where you don't live, the community where you live will get poorer and poorer and the community where you spend your money will get richer and richer. Then you wonder why where you live is always a slum area... From a speech entitled "The Ballot or the Bullet," delivered April 3, 1964, Cleveland

On Self-help

The Afro-American community must accept the responsibility for regaining our people who have lost their place in society. We must declare an all-out war on organized crime in our community; a vice that is controlled by policemen who accept bribes and graft must be exposed. We must establish a clinic, whereby one can get aid and cure for drug addiction...We must create meaningful, creative, useful activities for those who were led astray down the avenues of vice. The people of the Afro-American community must be prepared to help each other in all ways possible; we must establish a place where unwed mothers can get help and advice. We must set up a guardian system that will help our youth who get into trouble...We must be a good example to our children and must teach them to always be ready to accept the responsibilities that are necessary for building good communities and nations. From a speech delivered at the founding rally for the Organization for Afro-American Unity, June 28, 1964

On Racial Pride

...A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself. From OAAU founding rally speech, June, 28, 1964

On Oppression

...All of us have suffered here, in this country, political oppression at the hands of the White man, economic exploitation at the hands of the White man, and social degradation at the hands of the White man ...Now in speaking like this, it doesn't mean that we're anti-White, but it does mean we're anti-exploitation, we're anti-degradation, we're anti-oppression. From "The Ballot or the Bullet," April 3, 1964

On Being an American

...I'm not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate and call myself a dinner. Sitting at the table doesn't make you a dinner unless you eat some of what's on that plate. Being here in America doesn't make you an American... Why, if birth made you American, you wouldn't need any legislation...I'm one of the 22 million Black people who are the victims of Americanism. I don't see any American dream, I see an American nightmare. From "The Bullet or the Ballot," April 3, 1964