On a Sunday afternoon at 3:14 p.m. EST, 59 years in the past, Malcolm X–El Hajj Malik El Shabazz-–approached a podium on the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, New York2, within the presence of his spouse, Sister Betty who was swollen with the 2 lives inside her. Alongside her have been their 4 daughters, Qubilah Shabazz, Attallah Shabazz, Gamilah Lumumba Shabazz, Ilyasah Shabazz; and round her have been 400 members of Minister Malcolm’s newly based secular group, the Group of Afro-American Unity. Exterior the sky was shiny and no snow had fallen. The noon temperature on Feb. 21 was 50 levels, almost double what it had been simply 24 hours earlier than. It was stunning, no foreboding, aside from a intestine feeling Malcolm’s shut assistant, Brother Benjamin 2X, had. The place was even one of many uniformed NYPD officers who had in any other case at all times stuffed the room, imposing, unfriendly? Brother Benjamin 2X launched his chief with what he knew later was a horrible and correct prediction: “I now introduce to you a person that might give his life for his individuals.”
MORE: Malcolm X Assassination Witness Additional Implicates The NYPD: ‘An Try By Police To Help’
It was 3:15 p.m. now and Malcolm, from the rostrum, greeted those that had gathered within the custom of his faith, Islam: As Salaam Alaikum (peace be unto you). However earlier than the gang may reply within the custom, Wa Alaikum As-Salaam, there was a disturbance, a shout: “Ni**er! Get your hand outta my pocket!” After that, there was simply the sound of gunfire. Buckshot. Pictures from semi-automatics. By the point it ended, Minister Malcolm had been fired upon 21 instances. Ten of them hit. At 3:30 p.m. Malcolm X was declared lifeless.
Since that brutal day when our Black Shining Prince—the honorific bestowed upon the person mostly known as Malcolm X by the late, nice Ossie Davis who provided the eulogy–-was publicly executed, our love for him has solely grown throughout the USA and the world. Now not is he merely dismissed as a hate monger because the late, white “liberal” journalist Mike Wallace tried to do in 1959. A half-century later, numerous media platforms, from Netflix to the Washington Put up, must tread extra flippantly and keep in mind to incorporate some measure of fact.
And why? As a result of we demanded it.
We refused to cease saying his title. We held conferences on campuses to unpack his theories and opinions. We developed faculty programs devoted to him, wrote books, shared movies, pushed and proceed to push in order that the reality lastly got here out: We love Malcolm as a result of he cherished us, as Ossie Davis stated, nearly intuiting how uncommon it was, how uncommon it could be, that there as soon as was a person who walked amongst us who truly cherished us. Cherished us with no need us to development, be the flavour of the week. Cherished us in all our stunning damaged components. Cherished us sufficient to inform the reality. Cherished us sufficient to present his one begotten life for us. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, Malcolm X. The daddy of the Black energy motion. The daddy of six treasured ladies. The husband about whom his spouse would say a long time on after being requested if she’d ever marry once more, “Who may I ever marry after having been married to Malcolm?”
Her reply to the question posed was maybe much less a mocking of the questioner and extra a problem to us who listened to her throughout that interview. May we, any of us, be somebody worthy of carrying the torch Malcolm X lit? May any of us commit even to making an attempt?
Beneath are choose quick and uncommon clips of Minister Malcolm X talking. We hope they encourage you as they’ve impressed many people throughout the iOne Digital household and NewsOne.
Malcolm on the media’s position in driving police violence in opposition to Black individuals
Malcolm on the Hypocrisy of American Democracy
Malcolm X on Palestine
Malcolm X on Celebrities
SEE ALSO:
What Was Malcolm X Working On When He Was Assassinated?
Malcolm X’s Most Iconic Speeches
14 images
