Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Malcolm 3:10



El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X) died on this day in 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in NYC. It was a Sunday afternoon in February. The time of death was 3:10 pm. His death really resonates with me this year because he was only a few months older than me when he was shot and killed on that Sunday afternoon. I've never been shot(thank God), but I can only imagine his thoughts as he was taking his final breath. He must of thought of his wife and children. He thought of his hopes and his dreams that he would no longer be able to pursue. Finally, he must of thought of rest and to never again have to await this impending doom.

19 comments:

Mrs A. said...

i wonder about that myself, about final thoughts when one is dying...maybe cuz i thought i was gonna die a few times, still its not the same....hmmmmmm, especially if you died the way he did, oh sensitive subject (for me)

Stephen A. Bess said...

Miss A-
Thanks for sharing. I hope that this post is not too depressing. Malcolm is one of my (our) heroes. I just wanted to honor him.

MJW said...

It was all the sadder that when Malcolm X was killed, he had denounced black separatism and embraced all races as his brothers and sisters. If only he had had time to really bring people together in that way!

Anonymous said...

Real sensitive subject indeed!!
God says, our flesh should die in order for our spirit to be made live. For those who fight for a cause, your flesh dies way before your actual death. Your spirit is in tune with what needs to be accomplished for the greater cause. Therefore, what transpires in the peripheri is of very little or no significance at all. Brother Stephen, when El Hajj died on that fateful Sunday; he was just fulfilling the flesh requirement for us!! His spirit had been taken a long time ago!! It was already, yes Malcom X's spirit is safe in the arms of Jesus.

Parable?? Life is a parable :)

Stephen A. Bess said...

MJ West-
Yes, he announced in his last speech that he was no longer handcuffed by Elijah Muhammad and the NOI's black separatist movement. He was ready to march with King and get more involved with the Civil Rights movement. It would've been interesting to see King and X in action together. Thanks Michael! Well said.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Well said Tryphina! Although, It's interesting that you said that 'Malcolm's spirit is safe in the arms of Jesus.' :) He would've disagreed with that statement because of his religious beliefs. However, I do hope that his spirit is safe with the creator. Thank you.

Stephen A. Bess said...

thanks dizyaboy.

Stephen A. Bess said...

SEJ-
You're on a roll with your poetry! :) That's cool.

Bougie Black Boy said...

hey. thats an old one that your amazing post reminded me of. Wishing you the best. i need to take a trip down there soon.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Yeah, let me know when you can make it down this way. Then again, I'll probably see your "Bougie" signal in the sky like Batman. :)

African girl, American world said...

Thank you Stephen! You would have thought more would be said on this day but I haven't heard a word.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Mwabi-
The American press/public don't know how to feel about Malcolm. They know that his beef was legitimate, but they didn't like the way that he presented it to the public and ultimately the world. He is someone to study and emulate for his dignity and self determination. I don't think that he wants to be remembered for some of his separatist rants. He was a man that embraced humanity and he just wanted black people in the Diaspora (not just America) to be treated as human beings.

Bougie Black Boy said...

I agree with you Stephen.

Mainstream america/press/public accept Martin quicker than Malcolm due to the aggressive, "take-no prisoner" approach of Malcolm.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Definitely! I really wish that I could take a quantum leap (remember that TV show?) back into time and save both of them from their deaths. They would've made a huge difference as a team.

NML/Natalie said...

Beautiful. That really moved me and thanks for remembering him.

Stephen A. Bess said...

nml-
Yes, he's one of my heroes. Thanks for stopping in.

Rose DesRochers said...

Stephen you should expand on your thoughts here and turn this into an essay. You express yourself well in your writing. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I hope you bookmarked me. LOL

Stephen A. Bess said...

Rose,
I appreciate your encouragement. Suggestions and feedback are always welcomed. Yes, you are bookmarked. :)

Stephen A. Bess said...

Hello Poi. Yes, I'm doing well. I hope that you're doing well too. Thanks for checking on me.

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