Happy Birthday, Brother Malcolm

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 – Feb 21, 1965)

This post is to honor the memory of Mr. El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X) for his birthday, May 19, 1925. You know, we sometimes forget that our leaders of the past and present were once little boys and girls who loved to laugh and play. They played games like 21, hop scotch, and hide-and-go-get-it. They became excited when they heard the ice cream truck; they loved bubble gum, cookies, and all types of sweets. They had a crush on the pretty girl or cute boy in their class.

Back then, the young Malcolm Little did not know that he would grow, fall, and rise like the Phoenix. He did not know that he would grow to be internationally known and respected. He did not know that he would carry the weight of the world on his shoulder. Malcolm Little did not know that he would die just trying to make things right -- right for everyone. God bless your soul, brother Malcolm. Happy Birthday. Peace~

Tired of Men: The Blogging Truth

Malcolm X once called the media “the most powerful entity on earth.” He continued that “they have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power.” Yesterday, I received an email from my friend in the UK, NML. She shared with me how the publication, The Daily Mail Newspaper, ran an article about her blog. Now, this sounds great on the surface doesn’t it? I mean, this brings attention to your writing and hard work as a blogger, right?

Well, in this case the newspaper printed negative things about her blog and what NML described as all out lies. On her blog, Tired of Men…, NML talks about the everyday life of a black woman living and dating in the UK. Well, The Daily Mail printed an article titled, “Don’t get mad, get E-venge!” describing her as a bitter woman seeking revenge or “e-venge” on an ex-fiancé. She was listed along with a few other lady bloggers as basically being vindictive vixens of the blogging community. To make matters worse, they didn’t even mention the names (urls) of the blogs so that readers can decide for themselves who is bitter.

I’m writing this post in support of NML because she’s has never come across as bitter in the two years or so that I’ve been reading her blog. I’m usually laughing because of her great sense of humor when I visit. Besides, in the past she talked about different encounters on her blog, and not just one person. These days, it’s all about her family and precious little one. So, in the words of Charles Wright, NML “express yourself…and whatever you do, do it good.” If you want to read more about the article, check it out on her website. Enjoy your weekend. Peace~

Malcolm X Memoriam

El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, or Malcolm X

1925-1965

Blog Post: Malcolm 3:10

Video: Malcolm X speaks (video time: 1:37)

Happy Birthday Malcolm Little

(99.9% of this is from a previous post dated: Thursday, May 19, 2005. I had only been on blogger for a month. There were no comments. *smile*)

Quote:
"Look at yourselves. Some of you teenagers, students. How do you think I feel and I belong to a generation ahead of you - how do you think I feel to have to tell you, 'We, my generation, sat around like a knot on a wall while the whole world was fighting for its human rights - and you've got to be born into a society where you still have that same fight.' What did we do, who preceded you ? I'll tell you what we did. Nothing. And don't you make the same mistake we made...." (Malcolm X 1925-1965)

I wanted to dedicate my blog today to one of the greatest figures in American history. I was not always an admirer of Malcolm X. I was in elementary school when I first learned of him and the Nation Of Islam. I didn't like them. They seemed to be filled with hate and my young mind could not understand why? living in an all black and thouroughly colonized neighborhood (Southeast Washington, D.C.) I had not yet learned or experienced the cruelty of racism that my forefathers and foremothers knew so well. "Why did Malcolm hate so much," I would ask myself? Unfortunately, I don't remember any teachers who were willing or able to clarify his position in simple terms. My education about Malcolm X began to develop after I left the Navy in 1988. I passed by my hometown of Washington, DC headed up to New Haven, Connecticut. I didn't realize at the time that there was a new awakening concerning the legacy of Malcolm X and the smoke screen that the media had created was beginning to dissipate.
I first learned of my black heritage or my third eye was opened through a store clerk at a shop called, Third World in New Haven. The shop sold literature, buttons, incense and everything under the black Sun related to the African Diaspora. He told me things about black history and black people that I had never heard. His words would change my life forever. I purchased some things and left that shop a newborn. The music changed too. The youth were now chanting "Fight The Power" to the beat of Public Enemy while I proudly wore my new Black Medallion that I picked up from the shop in New Haven. This new serge of Black pride was, of course, offset by the rise of Crack cocaine.
Crack would eventually win the battle. Drug dealers became rich during those years (1989-present). This was especially true in the early 90's. The times were bitter sweet for me.I became a freshman in 1989 at an HBCU (Savannah State College), and the knowledge of my history began to sore! This instilled in me a great pride and I really felt on top of the world with this "new" found information. I also read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It was then that I found out the truth about who Malcolm really was. It inspired me. I was even more thrilled when Denzel Washington brought Malcolm to life on the big screen. Malcolm X was released in 1992 by Spike Lee. It prompted an entire generation (appropriately called the "X Generation") to learn more about the man we called Malcolm X. So, on his 81st birthday I would like to give honor to one of the human races most valiant soldiers.

In the words of Ossie Davis let us remember him for what he is, ".......a prince-our own black shining prince!-who didn't hesitate to die, because he loved us so. " Have a great weekend! Peace~

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.

Brother Malcolm

"Look at yourselves. Some of you teenagers, students. How do you think I feel and I belong to a generation ahead of you - how do you think I feel to have to tell you, 'We, my generation, sat around like a knot on a wall while the whole world was fighting for its human rights - and you've got to be born into a society where you still have that same fight.' What did we do, who preceded you ? I'll tell you what we did. Nothing. And don't you make the same mistake we made...." (Malcolm X 1925-1965)

I wanted to dedicate my blog today to one of the greatest figures in American history. I was not always an admirer of Malcolm. I was in elementary school when I first learned of him and the Nation Of Islam. I didn't like them; they seemed to be filled with hate and my young mind could not understand why? I had not yet learned or experienced the cruelty of racism my ancestors knew so well. "Why did he hate so much," I would ask myself? Unfortunately, I don't remember any teachers who were willing or knew how to clarify his position in simple terms.

My education about Malcolm X came after I left the Navy in 1988. I passed by my hometown of Washington, DC headed up to New Haven, Conecticut. I didn't realize at the time that there was a new awakening concerning the legacy of Malcolm X and the smoke screen that the media had created was beginning to disappear. I first learned of my black heritage through a store clerk at a shop called The Third World in New Haven. He sold literature, buttons, incense and everthing under the Black Sun related to the African diaspora. He told me things about Black history and Black people that would change my life forever. I purchased some things and left that shop a newborn. The music changed too. The youth were now chanting "Fight The Power" to the beat of Public Enemy while I prouldly wore my new Black Medallion that I picked up from the shop in New Haven. This new serge of Black pride was, of course, offset by the rise of Crack cocaine. Crack would eventually win the battle. Drug dealers became rich during those years (1989-present). This was especially true in the early 90's. The times were bitter sweet for me.

I became a freshman in 1989 at an HBCU (Savannah State College), and the knowledge of my history began to soar! This instilled in me a great pride and I really felt on top of the world with this "new" found information. I also read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It was then that I found out the truth about who Malcolm was; It inspired me. I was even more thrilled when Denzel Washington brought Malcolm to life on the big screen. Malcolm X was released in 1992 by Spike Lee. It prompted an entire generation (appropriately called the "X Generation") to learn more about the man we called Malcolm X. So, on his 80th birthday I would like to give honor to one of the human races most valiant soldiers. In the words of Ossie Davis let us remember him for what he is, ".......a prince—our own black shining prince!—who didn’t hesitate to die, because he loved us so. " Peace~