JoyB: What Malcolm X Means to ME

We share this piece to commemorate the revolutionary leader Malcolm X who was assassinated 60 years ago on Feb. 21, 1965. 

Malcolm X to me represents the “good” in adversity.
The “loud” in alarm. Mr. X …The scholar – the
Minister & man of great tragedy. To me X was
Unafraid – always ready to battle – not necessarily
with a gun but always with the mind.

Born in Nebraska in 1925 – my dedication to this
giant will never die. Fiery, eloquent and spokesman
for an entire nation of MEN & women too.
X was leader – Black Nationalist too – if alive he
would tell you all yes it’s true. X was a force – who
challenged Dr. King. Intellectual – Influencer &
Intuitive too.

Malcolm X was my hero – then and still is now.
With Flavor Orange in the White House – X would
say how? Mentored by Elijah & sanctioned to
Prison – Likely X would say things happening now
would require immediate revision.

Malcolm X changed the racial climate back in the
day. For me – Malcolm’s legacy will always remain
constant and true to the game. I love his stance on
Education – which he always maintained.
Complex – who could figure Malcolm out? The
Minister – The Man all clothed in power. To me &
many more X is such a tower.

Let’s talk more about Malcolm X – we could talk all
day. Imagine being void of education – X would have
an issue with that. Malcolm! Malcolm! I wish you
could speak! That’s nothing but FACT.

X was gallant – to me – tall as a Tree. Taking great
pride in his culture – all he wanted was for Black people
to live free. Malcolm the Warrior – Hustler and
King … alleged Con Man & Little with a DREAM!
Malcolm X counted & courted defeat. Always on
the move – forever in the streets.

He spoke of heartbreak in the fondest of terms. His
was a mixture of both LIFE’s twists and turns. The
truth about “X” is that he was a King … Like Martin
Luther, he too had a dream. Malcolm X represents
the word Bravery to me – how else did he live in a
Foster Home & never tried to flee? I’d love to see
Malcolm X alive and well – oh what stories he would
sit and tell. Malcolm X would likely say we need to
prepare for tomorrow and that would be true – he
would insist that we snatch the future “he’d say – it’s
there waiting on you.”

What does Malcolm X mean to me – X means hope
and pride. An entire people representing an individual
man – to me X typifies advancement & truth for all
races. Again if he were alive – he’d take us through
the paces. X wasn’t afraid to speak truth to
power – I love that – he wasn’t one to cower.

Troubled & Tried … Malcolm X stayed for the ride.
What’s the name of the movie … “Get on Bus” … I
wish he could have taken all of us.

With X – civil rights became human rights. There are
so many things about Malcolm – again we could talk
all day. We could talk about his many achievements
& by “any means necessary” mantra.

Every “L” was a small seed of its own (in the words
of the Great Malcolm X) losses & lessons to be
used as Courses in Improvement.
Malcolm great in stature – well versed in the ways of
Islam. I pay both honor and homage to this man
because he was bold enough to admit that Black people
needed to come to together against the
“Common Enemy.”

Malcolm X was accused of dealing in hate. I loudly
proclaim this is a falsehood. This man spoke about
oppression & exploitation. He forced us to take an
intricate look at our own hatred – self-hatred – hatred
of our own kind.

This question by Malcolm took me all the way in – at
what we would eventually refer to as “rallies” – X put
forth “Nooooooo – before you come asking Mr.
Mohammed does he teach hate – you should ask
yourself who taught you to hate being what GOD
gave you.”

Finally, I deem Malcolm X an icon – that was then
and this is now!

JoyB is a community organizer with the Baltimore Peoples Power Assembly and Struggle for Socialism. She helped found the Prisoners Solidarity Committee.