Malcolm X; Conservative Thinker?
Yesterday, I discussed how Malcolm X was the ‘yin’ to Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘yang.’ Today, as promised, we will continue that theme by discussing the conservative political philosophy of Malcolm X.
If Dr. King is the consummate liberal, and he was despite how often Republicans quote him out of context, (side bar: I tire greatly of the repeated use of King’s “content of character” quote from ‘Dream.’ He surely spins in his grave every time it is brought up as a prologue to someone’s diatribe against affirmative action programs.) Malcolm X was the consummate conservative.
X was a proponent of eventual separation of the races. Initially, this idea was, and still is, one of the tenants of the philosophy espoused by The Nation of Islam, his former religion. Elijah Muhammad taught that it was only through separation that the Black man could become liberated. After breaking with the NOI, Malcolm continued the philosophy, albeit in a much less dramatic fashion. Malcolm believed that the eventual goal of the Black man in America should be reintegration into African society.
However, while here in America, Malcolm believed that the Black man should not rely on anyone else for his development. A true ‘boot-strapper,’ he believed that government should not be trusted to provide for a man, and that a man must strive to provide for himself and his family.
Further, he had a disdain for liberalism unmatched by Sean Hannity or Michael Savage.
"The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is controlled only by God." Speech, Dec. 1, 1963, New York City.
www.cmgww.com-The Official Site of Malcolm X
He saw that education was the key to advancement:
"Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."
"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."
malcolm-x.org
And he advocated a moral, just society for all:
"If you are in a country that is progressive, the woman is progressive. If you're in a country that reflects the consciousness toward the importance of education, it's because the woman is aware of the importance of education. But in every backward country you'll find the women are backward, and in every country where education is not stressed it’s because the women don't have education."
"I believe in human rights for everyone, and none of us is qualified to judge each other and that none of us should therefore have that authority."
"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole."
"I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being - neither white, black, brown, or red; and when you are dealing with humanity as a family there's no question of integration or intermarriage. It's just one human being marrying another human being or one human being living around and with another human being."
malcolm-x.org
Now I know that he also said some negative things about capitalism, but to him, it was capitalism that was shackling not only the Black man in America, but millions of every race globally. And yes, like Dr. King he had his own flirtations with communism, but he could never be a communist because he was first and foremost a preacher. Malcolm X was a man of God. And though we don’t share the same savior, we do share a belief in the divinity of God.
In closing, I will submit that, just as he grew in- and outgrew- the NOI, he would have also outgrown his more leftist philosophies. After all, he often said that while he was ferocious in defense of his beliefs, he was man enough to admit when he was wrong. We saw it with his renunciation of racism, and his embrace of all of his brothers in the race of Man. Alas, he was killed before we would ever truly know.
Tomorrow we will reflect on his murder, his murders and his legacy.
2 unrelated updates...
1. I did see the Brittany Spears show. Have much to say. Just not now.
2. CBS is killing 60 Minutes Wednesday? Wow. Didn't see that coming. I guess Rather has become persona non grata for real.
If Dr. King is the consummate liberal, and he was despite how often Republicans quote him out of context, (side bar: I tire greatly of the repeated use of King’s “content of character” quote from ‘Dream.’ He surely spins in his grave every time it is brought up as a prologue to someone’s diatribe against affirmative action programs.) Malcolm X was the consummate conservative.
X was a proponent of eventual separation of the races. Initially, this idea was, and still is, one of the tenants of the philosophy espoused by The Nation of Islam, his former religion. Elijah Muhammad taught that it was only through separation that the Black man could become liberated. After breaking with the NOI, Malcolm continued the philosophy, albeit in a much less dramatic fashion. Malcolm believed that the eventual goal of the Black man in America should be reintegration into African society.
However, while here in America, Malcolm believed that the Black man should not rely on anyone else for his development. A true ‘boot-strapper,’ he believed that government should not be trusted to provide for a man, and that a man must strive to provide for himself and his family.
Further, he had a disdain for liberalism unmatched by Sean Hannity or Michael Savage.
"The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is controlled only by God." Speech, Dec. 1, 1963, New York City.
www.cmgww.com-The Official Site of Malcolm X
He saw that education was the key to advancement:
"Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."
"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."
malcolm-x.org
And he advocated a moral, just society for all:
"If you are in a country that is progressive, the woman is progressive. If you're in a country that reflects the consciousness toward the importance of education, it's because the woman is aware of the importance of education. But in every backward country you'll find the women are backward, and in every country where education is not stressed it’s because the women don't have education."
"I believe in human rights for everyone, and none of us is qualified to judge each other and that none of us should therefore have that authority."
"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole."
"I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being - neither white, black, brown, or red; and when you are dealing with humanity as a family there's no question of integration or intermarriage. It's just one human being marrying another human being or one human being living around and with another human being."
malcolm-x.org
Now I know that he also said some negative things about capitalism, but to him, it was capitalism that was shackling not only the Black man in America, but millions of every race globally. And yes, like Dr. King he had his own flirtations with communism, but he could never be a communist because he was first and foremost a preacher. Malcolm X was a man of God. And though we don’t share the same savior, we do share a belief in the divinity of God.
In closing, I will submit that, just as he grew in- and outgrew- the NOI, he would have also outgrown his more leftist philosophies. After all, he often said that while he was ferocious in defense of his beliefs, he was man enough to admit when he was wrong. We saw it with his renunciation of racism, and his embrace of all of his brothers in the race of Man. Alas, he was killed before we would ever truly know.
Tomorrow we will reflect on his murder, his murders and his legacy.
2 unrelated updates...
1. I did see the Brittany Spears show. Have much to say. Just not now.
2. CBS is killing 60 Minutes Wednesday? Wow. Didn't see that coming. I guess Rather has become persona non grata for real.
posted by Sonnyredd at 9:50 AM
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