Malcolm X was an African American minister and human rights activist popular during the civil rights movement. He was an avid supporter of Black excellence and widely celebrated in the African-Muslim and African American communities for his pursuit of racial justice. He urged his fellow Black Americans to protect themselves against the White aggression they experienced “by any means necessary,” a stance that often put him at odds with the non-violent teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. Despite his assassination in 1965, Malcolm X is still a widely celebrated figure for his passionate fight for racial equity. Here’s a few things we can learn from one of the most influential figures who ever lived;
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR SELF IMPROVEMENT
With the right opportunities, a person can turn his or her life around. Malcolm enters adulthood with everything stacked against him; he is Black, comes from a large, dysfunctional family, is illiterate, and feels he has little choice but to turn to a life of crime. However, while in prison, he uses his access to books and the many hours of captivity before him to teach himself to read. He does this by copying the dictionary, and he movingly describes – “reading opens up worlds for him within his prison cell”. He also listens receptively to the Nation of Islam inmates he meets and then devotes himself to spiritual growth. This use of his prison time is life changing for him.
BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE
It is easy to get caught up with the glitz and glam of life when we succeed; and many people lose touch with where they came from and all the people and circumstances that helped them get to the top. One of the many things to admire about Malcolm, is that he never forgot who he was when he rose to the top. “I knew that the ‘ghetto’ people knew that I never left the ‘ghetto’ in spirit, and I never left physically any more than I had to. I had a ‘ghetto’ instinct”. That was what made Malcolm different from a lot of other civil rights leaders of his time. He had been at the bottom and moved to the top, but he still connected the most with the people at the bottom. He could easily go from speaking at Harvard University to preaching in the streets of Harlem.
IGNORE THE NOISE
How simple would life be if we all encouraged each other to be the best versions of ourselves instead of tearing each other down? In many instances some people are intimidated by the greatness they see in others and instead of encouraging and supporting them, they discourage them from achieving their full potential. Early on in the book, Malcolm recalls a conversation with his seventh-grade English teacher, who told him that aspiring to be a lawyer was “no realistic goal for *you*” It shows with brutal clarity how even casual comments can have far-reaching consequences. Not everyone is going to cheer for you and support your dreams, but it is important that you stay focused and continue to work towards achieving your goals. It’s just as important you don’t discourage other people from pursuing goals, especially for the sake of “realism”. Remember, success is not a limited resource – anyone and everyone can make it.
There are only a handful of books you can read in your lifetime that leave a tangible impact on you and this is definitely one of them. The voice of Malcolm X was powerful, unbridled and simply heroic. With that, I leave you with one of his most powerful quotes:
“I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda. 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.”
Malcolm X
Mshimba Michelle
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