Remembering Malcom X on his 97th birthday

Malcom X was born on 19 May 1925 and died on 21 February 1965 aged 39.

“I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their colour.”

Thursday 19 May marks the day that historic civil rights figure Malcom X would have turned 97 years old.

el-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz was one of the most vocal and powerful characters in America's civil rights movement which flared in the mid 1900's, and is still remembered for his fiery passion that persuaded more African Americans to stand up for freedom.

His words reached far and wide, with vibrations even felt in Australia where his speeches inspired the creation of the Victorian Aboriginal Advancements League.

In America he became the National Minister for The Nation of Islam, doing speeches across America, which promoted uplift for black people with a focus on black Muslims.

"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."

Historical figure Martin Luther King Jr advocated for a non-violent method in the fight for civil rights but over time and especially into the mid 1960's it looked as if the movement was weakening.

Malcom X ignited the movement though with his phrase 'Black Power', and whilst this encouraged and provoked black supremacy and separatism, it was the fuel arguably needed to fight against the discrimination faced.

It was these uncompromising beliefs that made Malcom X stand out above the rest and has allowed his name to flourish into the history books of America's civil rights movement.

“If, if a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that’s brotherhood. But if you – if you hold a gun on him and make him embrace me and pretend to be friendly or brotherly toward me, then that’s not brotherhood, that’s hypocrisy.”

His words, quotes and speeches live on with education, connotation and interpretation today in 2022.

We live in a society that is more inclusive than history would have imagined, but was the end goals of Malcom X or Martin Luther King Jr's movement ever completely fulfilled?

Perhaps not, but the journey is still meandering and evolving as educational systems begin integrating more curriculums on racism, civil rights and equality and the framework of our society becomes more harsh in the face of such discrimination.

“Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.”