Malcolm X: Think For Self, Do For Self
There were a number of articles written after Malcolm X's death that tried to piece together his life and accomplishments. Many of these earlier articles were written with haste and little understanding of the impact of Malcolm X's teachings, especially in regard to Islam.

Just when Malcolm X was beginning to bring together various elements (non Muslims) and Muslim worlds together; he was forced out of the Nation of Islam in 1964. A short time later, Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965.
In Karl Evanzz book, The Judas Factor, he talks about the depth and scope of the COINTELPRO program targeting of Black leaders and particularly Malcolm X by stating, "The Organization of Afro American Unity and Muslim Mosque Inc., were two groups founded by Malcolm X in 1964, had been infiltrated by the FBI and by the New York Police Department's Bureau of Special Services (BOSS).

At the same time the FBI (and CIA) were violating Black people's constitutional rights, there was already a sweeping change taking place in our communities and around the world. The Islamic nations of Algeria and Kenya were moving toward revolutionary change. Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, became the first independent country on the African continent. The front line States of Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Angola, and Azania (South Afrika) was fighting against U.S imperialism and for self determination.

In 1963, Malcolm x addressed, at the Northern Negro Grassroots Leadership Conference a group of students and local community activist. This speech would be known as “Message to the Grassroots.” Malcolm X analysis was so clear and thought provoking that he was interrupted so many times…the speech went well into the night. At one point in the speech Malcolm X stated,
“You don’t catch hell because you’re a Baptist, and you don’t catch hell because you’re Methodist. You don’t catch hell because you’re Methodist or Baptist, you don’t catch hell because you’re Democrat or Republican, you don’t catch hell because you’re a Mason or Elk, and you sure don’t catch hell because you’re an American; because if you were an American, you wouldn’t catch hell. You catch hell because you’re a black man.” (Malcolm X Speaks, p4).

Malcolm X’s “Message to the Grassroots” energized a community and electrified a nation. More importantly, those youth and students (SNCC) heard the message of Black Power, self determination, and self reliance; later that year SNCC organized the Freedom Ballot in Mississippi to organize black people to control their own communities. The symbol of the Black Panther was chosen by SNCC to register voters in Lowndes County Mississippi. Also in the audience were Richard and Milton Henry who organized GOAL (Group of Advanced Leadership). Afterwards, the brothers, along with others would form the Republic of New Africa (RNA).

Also, Malcolm X sensed this sweeping change in the Civil Rights movement and wide spread appeal to urban Black youth. In 1964, he gave a speech in Harlem and said, "Prior to one hundred years ago, they didn't need tricks because you were in chains. And they needed to chains because you and I hadn't yet been brainwashed thoroughly enough to submit to their brutal acts of violence submissively. Prior to a hundred years ago you had men like Nat Turner, that Brother Benjamin was talking about and others, Toussaint L'Ouventure. None of them would submit to slavery. They fight back by any means necessary." (By Any Means necessary, p80).


One myth has been perpetuated by the media and our enemies were that Malcolm X was integrationist as result of his trip to Mecca. These are lies and misinformation spread by the white supremacist. Malcolm X remained a Black nationalist in deeds and Muslim in faith.

In the pamphlet entitled "Two Myths of Malcolm X, speech by Reverend Albert Cleage, of the Inner City Organizing Committee, Detroit, Feb 24, 1967, he had this to say,
"Brother Malcolm knew history and he was guided by his interpretation of history. He interpreted the things that happen to him in terms of his knowledge and his understanding of the past. He would not have been taken in by what happen in Mecca. Brother Malcolm knew that the Arab Muslims have been the backbone of the slave trade. Those of you who have a sentimental attachment to the "Black Muslims" in America or the Muslims who happen to be black, might not like to remember that the slave trade with black Africans in Africa was fostered, encouraged, and carried on by Arab Muslims in Africa."

Malcolm X had become a local, national, and international leader; and an emerging force within the international revolutionary movement. It was during this time, that Malcolm X traveled extensively throughout Afrika, learning and observing these various movements. Upon his return, to the U.S. Malcolm began to challenge civil rights and local leaders to raise the struggle from civil rights to human rights.

This was even more reason to want him dead. In fact, Malcolm X had planned to bring the issue of human rights and reparations before the United Nations; culminating in the charges of genocide by the U.S. government against Native Americans and people of Afrikan decent. Again, Reverend Cleage, had this to say, "To take it before the World Court would have been interesting ...but certainly no solution. We are no more apt to get justice before the World Court than the Court downtown...the Crackers run them both."

Malcolm X was caught up in these winds of change and unable to maintain his balance between the turbulent forces who wanted him killed; and those who need his leadership in the emerging Black power movement . He no longer believed progressive whites could not join forces with progressive Muslims and fight for human rights. Malcolm X was correct when said, "The role of progressive whites is not in black organizations but in white organizations supporting the Black cause of self determination."



However, Malcolm X was firm in belief that "before we can unite with progressive whites, there must be Black unity and there could be no worker solidarity without racial solidarity." Everywhere Malcolm X went, he built Mosques and organized Black people. His travels to Afrika, and around the world, set in motion a permanent link to Afrika; fulfilling Marcus Garvey's vision of linking Afrikans in the U.S with our homeland.



In the opening statement of the Organization of Afro American Unity, Malcolm X states, "We must revamp our entire thinking and redirect our learning trends so that we can put forth a confident identity and wipe out the false images built up by an oppressive society."

Malcolm X realized the problem was larger than just personal or religious differences; he understood clearly that we have to use everything at our disposal to unite our people. This was the main reason behind the Muslim Mosque, Inc. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz was man in search of his past, his people, and his religion. How did Black youth receive the message of Malcolm X?
Reverend Cleage had this to say, "Stokely (Kwame Ture) hasn't said one word that was not explicit in everything Malcolm X taught. He is just a voice carrying on upon the basic foundation that Malcolm X put down. Integration is impossible and undesirable. We are going to control our communities."

White Supremacy thought if they assassinated the man, his ideas would wither and die. On the contrary, Malcolm X left us with a wealth of knowledge in the form of numerous speeches, video tapes and books to learn, study and work. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz came from the streets and directed a message to his people in the urban slums and that message was heard around the world...