I always had an admiration for Malcolm X for the simple fact that he courageously stood up for what he believed in & was willing to put his life on the line for it (name one leader who can do that today). His transformation is still one of the most fascinating stories of triumph in the face of social, cultural and structural adversity of our time. That Malcolm acknowledged the flawed philosophy he adopted when he first entered the Nation of Islam stands out for me as critical introspection is the very root of any type of self-transformation, Malcolm had the intellectual honesty and spiritual depth to change course after his trip to Mecca by replacing an angry, divisive racial rhetoric with a universal quest for justice. He truly believed that he could align with non-Muslims and white people in an effort to reconstruct an America and a world free from racial hatred and domination, a message he sought to spread by speaking on numerous college campuses, but was gunned down before he could get the chance.
Cowardice, opportunism and greed are the stuff of politics and leadership today. Very few are doing the necessary work to pick up where Malcolm left off. Cornel West, Tim Wise, Bell Hooks, Patricia Williams, Michelle Alexander & Immortal Technique are some of the rare individuals who continue to shed light in the darkness that continues to envelope us. Racism is one old, dirty puss-filled bastard that refuses to die. You read about it practically every day, especially most glaringly within police departments nationwide. The challenge is not so much following any of the aforementioned individuals, but in doing the critical work, finding your own voice and being a light unto yourself, just as Malcolm had done. Only then can we one day bury The Beast for good.
OneLove
:::MME:::
