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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMalcolm X Day
Im the man you think you are.
.If you want to know what Ill do, figure out what youll do. Ill do the same thing -- only more of it. -- Malcolm X
Malcolm X was born on this day, in 1925. His life had a significant impact on our country in the 1960s, and it should provide lessons for those of us who want America to live up to its promise and potential.
Hopefully, most DU members have read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Carl Sagan said that he believed it was the most important work of American literature. There are numerous other solid books on his life, and books of transcripts of his speeches. Spike Lee produced a powerful movie about Malcolms life, which is definitely worth watching.
I first learned of Malcolm some fifty years ago, in the days following Muhammad Alis winning the heavyweight championship in a huge upset, when he TKOed Sonny Liston. In 1965, my oldest brother left a TIME magazine open to the page reporting Malcolms death; somewhere, I still have that magazine, and the brief note my brother left with it.
I didnt think much about Malcolm over the next few years, until one day when a high school English teacher recommended that I read his autobiography. I was a homeless teen at the time, heading straight for the troubles that homeless teenaged males frequently find. Besides bringing some much appreciated bags of food to class for me, this wonderful teacher wanted to expand my mind.
A few years back, I posted an essay on this forum, using Joseph Campbells studies of the heros journey to describe Malcolms life. I believe that he was one of our nations most important prophets. I remember back in the late 1970s, when Americans were being held hostage in Iran, when Dick Gregory said that America couldnt understand Islam, because it had failed to understand Malcolm X.
Later today, Ill get out my collection of old records of some of Malcolms speeches. I have six albums of his speeches; while they make powerful reading, one gets a clearer picture of what a gifted communicator he was by listening to him speak.
Happy birthday, Malcolm X. And thank you for your contribution to the struggle for social justice.

1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Also posted to so that I can find the OP later. Thanks.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)to read in college. I think for a sociology class.
LoisB
(9,406 posts)Malcolm's speeches, John Henrik Clarke speaking about Malcolm's contributions and an absolutely fantastic cd of a discussion of the sit-ins by Malcolm, James Baldwin, and someone named Leverne McCummins.
Happy birthday, Malcolm.
H2O Man
(76,157 posts)bobthedrummer
(26,083 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)important book. I was 17, a freshman at a relatively conservative college, and had a black roommate. It was a very interesting and educational time for me.
Mc Mike
(9,178 posts)And a real threat to the reactionary power structure in the US.
Louis X WAS involved in assassinating him, and his grand son didn't kill Betty Shabazz.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)And then he became a genuine Civil Rights advocate just like MLK had always been. And then just a few months later, TPTB had him killed; because then, due to that one vital change he made, now he was a legitimate threat to them.
malaise
(280,741 posts)Happy Birthday Malcolm.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)
