Malcolm X Day -May 19th
Ed Ford, World Telegram staff photographer - Library of Congress. New York World-Telegram & Sun Collection.
The revolutionary executioner, and it ain’t only because he was coming for oppressions neck. Execution means the act or process of executing or performing or effective or destructive action. Interestingly, his ideologies are the very thing that led to the execution of his body and is, unfortunately, the very thing that expanded the spirit of revolution. As a reminder, “a revolution is defined as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. Discussions often happen around the idea of what revolution is and what a revolution should or should not look like. We even ask what methods of revolution are effective or transformative-right or wrong, etc.” When considering Malcolm X from this lens, the traditional American masses considered him and his stance as a revolutionary threat, to say the least. Malcolm X was a minister and a leader within the civil rights movement - whose stance was more so aligned with Black safety and preservation, a more separate but equal philosophy. He sought to develop and maintain a Black racial and national identity. Surely, we can see why white conservatives and moderates found this ideology a threat. Malcolm X reinforced power in a formerly enslaved people, eloquently reminding America of its continuous history of violence, economic and systemic oppression, and its audacious hypocrisy. Malcolm X stated - “If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.”
The previous quote and other astute conclusions contributed to how he executed. As a revolutionary executionist, he exposed America’s destructive actions by performing his own effective and disruptive insights into American ideologies. The distinction between him and MLK is Malcolm X displayed America’s audacious reflection while MLK audaciously held up the mirror. Sometimes people can look in the mirror and see themselves; MLK asked what kind of human they are. While Malcolm X demonstrated that people don’t see you other times until you get like them, but did it with eloquence, obliterating Harvard and Yale graduates in debates with refined ease. Unfortunately, violence and perceived rebellion are their own language, and Malcolm X let America know that you will see reflections of your manifestations through Black preservation.
Interestingly, during the civil rights movement, MLK began to be framed as the lesser of two evils of the two, while among many “woke” people, presently Malcolm X had the right idea. Freedom - “by any means necessary” is a quote of Malcolm X’s that rings loudly and, to be honest, in a time where Black communities are still being targeted at what we believed to be our safest of places, our homes, supermarkets, or churches, it gets louder. While writing this, we often wonder how much further do we have to go? Especially when we stand on such impressive shoulders. On Malcolm X Day, we will honor him for his massive impact on America and Black ideology. He has impacted us in such a way that we know that we have always been and always will be worth fighting for.
As we honor Malcolm X Day, we are going to ask you to consider these things:
There was an evolution in Malcolm X and his mindset. Malcolm X was once Detroit Red - a juvenile who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery. Detroit Red is reflected in your students - your students who have yet come into the knowledge of self. Your Detroit Red’s are your Malcolm X’s who are capable of raising the consciousness of themselves and others with the right education and intrinsic value system. There may be a “Detroit Red” in your classroom that displays the same “disruptive” fire, and how can you best support them in becoming their best selves?
Consider what ways you view “revolution,” and in what ways are you revolutionary in your daily life (i.e. having locs before or after the crown act was passed, advocating for internal policy changes, taking mental health days unapologetically, etc.) or in what ways can you revolutionize thought or advocate for your needs.
The revolution may exist as long as we live, but because of Malcolm X and others, we have a little more room to rest. Find space and remove yourself from the constant work of the limited ways we have viewed revolution, and remember that rest and care are revolutionary acts as well.
“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” - Malcolm X.