The making of a martyr
"Welcome To Jamrock" - Damian Marley
Peace,
Yesterday (May 19) was Al-Hajj Malik Shabazz's birthday. If still physically alive, he would have turned 80 yesterday. First things first, I don't call him Malcolm X because that's not the name he went by at the time of his death, and to me it would be disrespect to call him other than what he went by after his conversion to orthodox Islam. Malik Shabazz looms as a special and distinctive figure all over the world because so many people take aspects of his life and then claim him as their own. For example, Black Nationalists use him as an example of self-determination, The Nation Of Islam uses him as an example of the life-changing teachings of Elijah Muhammad, Socialists use him as a mascot for the international socialist revolution, and Muslims see him as a representative of the power of Al-Islam.
One of the reasons that he represents so many things to so many people is that he underwent a number of changes throughout his life. Towards the end of his life, he developed a complex outlook that found him challenging many of his former perspectives and acknowledging that he still had a ways to go as far as defining the best way to obtain Freedom, Justice, and Equality for oppressed peoples across the world. One of the more interesting things was his retaining of the name Shabazz even though that name was a hallmark of the NOI. Like many others who were killed before their time (MLK, Allah, Fred Hampton), we will never know where they were headed as far as their perspectives and viewpoints. To me, the best way to preserve his legacy is to see him as a man who was brave enough to challenge his views in order to grow.
Peace,
Yesterday (May 19) was Al-Hajj Malik Shabazz's birthday. If still physically alive, he would have turned 80 yesterday. First things first, I don't call him Malcolm X because that's not the name he went by at the time of his death, and to me it would be disrespect to call him other than what he went by after his conversion to orthodox Islam. Malik Shabazz looms as a special and distinctive figure all over the world because so many people take aspects of his life and then claim him as their own. For example, Black Nationalists use him as an example of self-determination, The Nation Of Islam uses him as an example of the life-changing teachings of Elijah Muhammad, Socialists use him as a mascot for the international socialist revolution, and Muslims see him as a representative of the power of Al-Islam.
One of the reasons that he represents so many things to so many people is that he underwent a number of changes throughout his life. Towards the end of his life, he developed a complex outlook that found him challenging many of his former perspectives and acknowledging that he still had a ways to go as far as defining the best way to obtain Freedom, Justice, and Equality for oppressed peoples across the world. One of the more interesting things was his retaining of the name Shabazz even though that name was a hallmark of the NOI. Like many others who were killed before their time (MLK, Allah, Fred Hampton), we will never know where they were headed as far as their perspectives and viewpoints. To me, the best way to preserve his legacy is to see him as a man who was brave enough to challenge his views in order to grow.
posted by I Majestic at 2:44 PM
1 Comments:
Peace,
Do the Knowledge to the current article in Time or Newsweek regarding his grandson whom is currently serving time.
Peace
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