May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965
I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X when i was 16 years old. It was the first book I ever read that truly made me think about myself, my people and the country in which we live. It was the first true spark that would become a fire and blaze my path into knowledge of self. While most folks would praise the revolutionary pre-Mecca fire Malcolm X, especially in the early 90’s, I always identified with El Hajj Malik El Shabazz. I could acknowledge and respect the totality of his life. If he were still in physical form today, he would be addressed as El Hajj Malik El Shabazz. We may have shortened it to Malik Shabazz and I think he would have been okay with that, but none would dare call him Malcolm X, no more than we would call Malcolm X…Malcolm Little or Muhammad Ali…Cassius Clay. Brother X found his name.
His life is a representation of what it means to grow and develop into a full human being. From a mind state of ignorance and self hate, into a mind state of awareness and self love. A self love that is the prime motivating force in the fight for freedom, justice and equality. A self love that understands that self is just as much collective as it is individual. A self love that refuses to bow down in the face of injustice and unrighteousness, in whatever direction or form it appears in. A self love that is not afraid to admit his own fault, misdirection and flawed applications. A self love that is that is meditative, contemplative and self examining, thus is in a process of constant refinement. A self love that knows, if individuals can traverse the rocky road to attain right knowledge, wisdom and understanding, of mind, body and spirit, the channels through which love flows will be opened. Self individual and self collective will be elevated by this love.
May we all aspire to be the evolutionary human being that you were brother Shabazz.
For more speeches and info: http://malcolmxfiles.blogspot.com/