The Relevance of Malcolm X

Backstory

There are few figures in American history that spark more debate than Malcolm X.  I am convinced the reason for much of the debate is ignorance.  This discussion is an attempt to distill the philosophy of Malcolm X by examining the critical year of his life, from March 1964 to his death in February 1965.  This tumultuous year was the only period of Malcolm’s life where he exclusively spoke his own mind in his own words.  If you listen to speeches or interviews prior to his leaving the Nation of Islam (NOI)  in 1964, you will almost always hear the words, “The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches…” preceding whatever he said.  It was only after the split that really spoke his mind.  I am not suggesting that everything Malcolm said prior to the split should be ignored, but, clearly, his philosophy on the world profoundly changed in the last year of his life; and it is this transformation that makes Malcolm X the most fascinating Afro-American leader of the 20^th century.

Malcolm entered the public arena as the most articulate and intellectual figure of the Black Muslim movement in the US during the 1950-60’s.  That movement was led by Elijah Muhammad, but the apprentice clearly outshone the leader.  For most of his adult life, Malcolm revered Elijah Muhammad as a messenger of God, and therefore his words carried a certain amount of divine weight.  Some of Elijah Muhammad’s more incendiary ideas were on the necessity of absolute segregation of races and the idea that all white people are devils.  Malcolm would repeat these ideas with verve and passion.  But after it was revealed to Malcolm that Elijah Muhammad had fathered eight children out of wedlock with six of his teenage secretaries, Malcolm’s faith in his leader was shattered. 

I can only imagine the profound effect this revelation had on the psychology of Malcolm X.  Elijah Muhammad was the light that led him out of the darkness of mental (and physical) imprisonment, and it is clear that Malcolm was a true believer.  However, out of the ashes of this shattered faith arose a new understanding of the world, and therein lie the true relevance of Malcolm X.  During the last year of his life, Malcolm displayed true courage, strength, and thoughtfulness, by not only revisiting all concepts of racial interaction, but also by exposing the philosophy of his former leader as hypocrisy.

Rejection of Racism

The major catalyst in Malcolm’s philosophy was his trip (hajj) to Mecca in April 1964.  It was on that journey, that he began to see himself primarily as a human being living in a world inhabited by other human beings.  Under the teaching of Elijah Muhammad, and the philosophy that “white men are devils,” Malcolm would have thought it impossible to find white men in Mecca performing the same holy duty that he was.  However, that was precisely what he found.  He began to see that he was not a black man praying alongside white men, but he was simply a man praying with other men.  This understanding would elevate Malcolm’s arguments and struggle from the (manmade) civil rights struggle to the (god given) human rights struggle.

When Malcolm was invited to speak and debate at the Oxford Union in November 1964, he pushed his human rights platform, while addressing the charge that he was pro-Apartheid.  He stated that was not in favor of any type of segregation.  He took the further step of advocating non-recognition of race in general; choosing to approach the problem as a human being.  He also spoke in favor of interracial marriage on the Pierre Berton show in January 1965, but he took it one step further once again; choosing not to recognize it as interracial, since it was simply one human marrying another human.  This would be a controversial statement to make in 2008, but the fact the Malcolm X, who was a proponent of absolute segregation on 1963, made it in 1965 is absolutely amazing.  This is the relevance of Malcolm X; redemption.  He believed, prior to their split in 1964, that everything Elijah Muhammad said was divine, but once he realized the truth about the NOI, he started doing his own thinking.  The results were earth shattering.

 Human Rights

One of the lesser known transformations in Malcolm’s philosophy was his break with traditional civil rights advocates/tactics, and his entry into the idea of human rights.  This is an important distinction that is often lost on modern audiences.  The civil rights that we enjoy in the US comes from manmade law, primarily from the Constitution (Amendments 1-10, 13,14,15 ), but also from such laws as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  We don’t really think about it, but these rights, given by man, can be taken away.  The idea of human rights is more vague but more powerful.  It is the idea that all of us are born with certain rights, and that any violation of these rights is an affront to mankind in general and, thus, a violation of natural (god-given) law.  This idea is not generally accepted in the 21^st century and was less accepted in the 20^th, but this type of progressive thinking shows the depth of Malcolm’s maturation in the last year of his life.  It was Malcolm’s intention to bring this human rights argument before the United Nations.  Unfortunately, he never got that chance. 

Remarkably, Malcolm ceased to be solely a leader of Black Muslims, he was now leading the entire nation toward a deeper level of consciousness.  He still led a Muslim group called the Muslim Mosque Incorporated, but he also founded the non-religious Organization of Afro-American Unity where he stressed non-sectarianism as the foundation of a movement that would welcome anyone interested in getting results.    

The eloquent actor/activist Ossie Davis delivered the eulogy at Malcolm’s funeral in 1965.  During which, Davis called Malcolm a great Afro-American, stating that the term Negro was far too small for a man of Malcolm’s stature.  With all respect to Ossie Davis, I would argue that the term Afro-American was also too small for Malcolm.  He was simply a great man.  This is the relevance of Malcolm X. 

Confronting the Past

Malcolm was all too aware of the fact that his former mentor and spiritual leader was a fraud, and that the words he spoke in the past, upon the teachings of this fraud, would always haunt him.  Malcolm also realized the fact that the NOI was a potentially violent group that would not hesitate to silence anyone attacking the “Honorable” Elijah Muhammad, just as Malcolm would have done when he was still a member.  Despite the danger, and in furtherance of his redemption, he attacked both the NOI and its leader.  He knew this meant his death.  He did it anyway.  He spoke out against the perversions of Islam preached by the NOI, and he personally condemned Elijah Muhammad’s fathering children out of wedlock.

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was killed by three men, all members of the NOI.  Whether there was some greater conspiracy involved is not relevant to this discussion.  One week prior to his death, Malcolm’s house was firebombed while he and his pregnant wife and daughters lay asleep.  They narrowly escaped, but Malcolm knew his days were numbered.  He stated that he was not afraid of anyone or anything and would continue to speak his mind.  That is unshakable courage.  That is the relevance of Malcolm X.

“If you’re not ready to die for it, put the word freedom out of your vocabulary.” If

 

 you’re not ready to

Israel: Why Should I Care?

This discussion is about the United States’ relationship with the nation of Israel.  The reason Israel is on my mind these days has nothing to do with anything it did but, rather, something our new messiah has done.  Specifically, the selection of Rahm Emmanuel as Chief of Staff.  Now, to be honest, I had never really paid any attention to Emmanuel before last week, and it is quite possible that I had never even heard his name.   I honestly thought that the guy might be a Muslim.  It was only after a quick glance at his biography did I realize that not only was he not a Muslim, he was, ironically enough, a Jew.  His biography revealed that not only was he a Jew, but his father and grandfather were Zionist patriots who fought both Arab and Brit alike to help establish the state of Israel in 1948.  It also revealed that Rahm served in the IDF during the Gulf War.  This selection by Obama came a day after his historic campaign won a great victory for “change” in America.  Rahm’s selection indicated that one thing that will not change is America’s unflinching and uncompromising support for Israel.  Thus, I ask the question: Israel: Why should I care?

The answer is simple: I don’t.  I do not care about Israel.  I give Israel no more or less respect than I give any other nation.  I simply judge it based on its actions.  Therefore, when I say I don’t care about Israel, I really mean to say that Israel is not special.  This must be a profound statement for an American to make because every politician, including McCain and Obama, I hear tell me that Israel and the United States share a common destiny.  As one goes, so goes the other.  This is utter nonsense.  It is an obvious fiction.  Does the state of Israel deserve more of my concern than a potential Palestinian state?  Cleary not. Why then does everyone seem to agree on this hypocrisy?  Conspiracy theorists and anti-Semites will say it the heavy influence of the Jewish American lobby that makes our alliance inevitable.  We also have a hardcore group of Christians who want Israel to exist so that it may be destroyed.  But Obama seems so rational; surely he is above all this.  Well the appointment of Rahm suggested to me that might not be the case, or at least it gave the impression that he is not above it.  The reality for all Americans, or at least the 295 million of us who are not Jewish, is that Israel has nothing to do with us.  Now that 1.5% of our population should be heard, but their voice should not be loud enough to dominate our hearing. 

Now, with all that said, there is one reason I, and all Americans, should be concerned about Israel.  That reason is the entire Muslim world, over 1 billion people, is not very happy with Israel.  In turn, many Muslims are angry at the US for our unconditional support of Israel.  In fact, this is the first thing Osama bin Laden rants about whenever he attempts to win over new recruits.  The mastermind of the 9-11 plot, KSM, told his American interrogators that his hatred for America stems not from America itself, but from our support of Israel.  These words should not be dismissed as the lunacy of fanatics.  They are opportunities to delve into the minds of our adversaries in al Qaeda, and to attack their base the support inside the greater Muslim world.  I was under the impression that Obama got this.  But I am beginning to wonder whether he has any greater understanding of al Qaeda than our last poor weak-minded ruler. 

Obama’s apparent lack of understanding stems from his dogmatic approach to Bush’s two wars.  He sees Afghanistan/Pakistan as the central front; poor Bush sees Iraq.  They are both wrong.  The central front is the battlefield inside the minds of young Muslim, and more specifically Arab, men.  Therefore, ironically, Bush’s response is closer to reality.  The problem with Bush is that he chose the riskiest method to transform the Middle East, but that is what needs to be done.  However, the primary weapon in this war cannot be bombs, but must be ideas.  We must convince the dispossessed masses of young pissed off Muslims that we are not their enemy.  The first step to achieve this transformation will not cost us a dime, but will actually save us money.  We need to cut off all monetary assistance to Israel.  This need not be a permanent cut off.  The money can begin to flow again if Israel acts responsibly.  In reality, Israel no longer needs our money.  The 7 million Palestinians living in squalor do need it.  All I am asking for is a fresh look.  What’s done is done.  This is absolutely essential to winning the war against al Qaeda and all Muslim extremists.

I am not suggesting that the appointment of Rahm Emmanuel condemns the Obama administration to repeat the failed Mideast policies of the past.  But consider the appointment from the perspective of a Muslim.  Emmanuel’s father told the Jerusalem press that Israel clearly has a friend in the White House.  This does not bolster America’s standing in the Arab world.  We seem unwilling to accept the fact that our nation’s policies have consequences, and that sometimes those consequences will be bloody.  We seem to think that the world should accept our positions and policies as righteous simply because of our mighty weapons.  The selection of Emmanuel is an affirmation in the minds of the Arab world that the status quo will remain in the Holy Land.  The status quo is acceptable to Israel; it is unacceptable to Palestinians.  Also, consider the statements that Obama made to Aipac this past summer.  He all but assured the world that US will stand with Israel, no matter what.  This sentiment was echoed by both Hillary Clinton and John McCain, both of whom attended and spoke at the conference.  Where is the debate? 

Obama used his opposition to the Iraq War during his presidential campaign as a monument to courage in the face of immoral and incorrect action by his government.  However, he seems unwilling to apply that same level of scrutiny to the actions of Israel.  This suggests either ignorance or weakness.  I hope it is ignorance.  That can be cured with knowledge.  The cure for weakness is far more complicated.

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