• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Sunday, March 26, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Why is there no Malcolm X Day?

by Mel Reeves
May 22, 2014
356
SHARES
7.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Library of Congress (l-r) Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X

It’s unfortunate that Malcolm X doesn’t have a holiday. He clearly is deserving of a holiday. If anyone should have a holiday, it should be him.

I have been trying to think about why he hasn’t gotten one, though he has been honored with a stamp. It’s one of the reasons I was pleased that we put on the First Annual Minnesota Malcolm X Conference last week. It was long overdue.

There are several reasons that come to mind when I contemplate why Malcolm X doesn’t have a day of recognition, though as well known internationally as Martin Luther King, Jr. or even Muhammad Ali. It’s possible he has been shortchanged because of his earlier separatist views and his harsh views and attacks on Whites during his Nation of Islam days (pre-1964). But I don’t think that’s the reason.

Considering the recent climate, it’s likely that he may not be getting his due because of his religion — especially considering the enmity directed at Muslims these days by this government — but I don’t think that is the reason either. I think it has something to do with his uncompromising stand.

Ultimately, I think he has been left off the official pantheon because in the last year of his life he preached openly about what this country’s so-called forefathers preached about and are praised for revolution. Malcolm X spoke openly about the need for revolution in this country and what it takes. And he talked about violence.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

This country has a strange relationship with violence. The U.S. is nearly always involved in some kind of violent intervention or outright land grab, and neither the adjective “violent” nor is its noun form “violence” used. But when other folks start to defend themselves or take to the street in peaceful protest, too often the one-percent’s documenters out of nowhere begin to talk about the threat of violence.

Unlike King, who can smoothly be folded into an American narrative, if you cut and paste from his seemingly more innocuous statements and speeches, Malcolm X cannot be so easily pasteurized. While King practiced active nonviolence and preached about the beloved community and adhered to — promoted the idea—of Christian love for one’s enemies, Malcolm X preached a religious doctrine of justifiable self-defense. He said his God would have no problem with him defending himself.

“I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Anytime I have to accept a religion that won’t let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion. That’s why I am a Muslim because it’s a religion that teaches you an ‘eye for an eye’ and a ‘tooth for a tooth.’ It teaches you to respect everybody and treat everybody right. But it also teaches you if someone steps on your toe, chop off their foot. And I carry my religious ax with me all the time,” he said.

The birthday of the one who was eulogized at his funeral as our “shining Black prince” is still our prince. And we should pick up his teachings and learn from him. While everything has changed not much has changed.

Let’s continue to say with Malcolm: “We declare our right on this earth…to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Military’s ban on nappy hair

Next Post

Equity in light rail postponed again

Mel Reeves

Mel Reeves was the community editor at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder until he passed away on January 6, 2022. He had a long and storied history working at the MSR. Find more about Reeve’s life and legacy here: spokesman-recorder.com/category/remembering-mel-reeves.

You Might Also Like

Women’s History Month Salute: Twila Dang
Women's History Month

Women’s History Month Salute: Twila Dang

Women’s History Month Salute: Leslie Barlow
Women's History Month

Women’s History Month Salute: Leslie Barlow

Northern lights shine bright across the Twin Cities and beyond
Local

Northern lights shine bright across the Twin Cities and beyond

scales of justice
Opinion

End Minnesota’s felony murder law

Disability Services Day at Capitol aims to strengthen direct care workforce
Local

Disability Services Day at Capitol aims to strengthen direct care workforce

Employment

Senior Communications Associate, Writer at Fresh Energy

Next Post

Equity in light rail postponed again

Comments 1

  1. Nvasekie N. Konneh says:
    9 years ago

    Today is Malcolm X birthday.
    To the corporate media
    And those who have fallen victims
    To its brainwash education
    And calculated misinformation,
    It’s just another day.
    For millions of forward thinking
    Pan-African revolutionaries,
    Righteous Muslims
    And all those who believe
    In freedom and justice for all people,
    Malcolm X Birthday is no ordinary day.
    This is the day on which
    One of the greatest Pan African
    Revolutionary freedom fighters was born.
    So in solidarity with all oppressed
    And exploited people all over the world
    We shout and sing Happy Birthday
    El Hajj Malik Shabazz!!!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

Women’s History Month Salute: Twila Dang

Women’s History Month Salute: Twila Dang

Women’s History Month Salute: Leslie Barlow

Women’s History Month Salute: Leslie Barlow

Northern lights shine bright across the Twin Cities and beyond

Northern lights shine bright across the Twin Cities and beyond

scales of justice

End Minnesota’s felony murder law

Disability Services Day at Capitol aims to strengthen direct care workforce

Disability Services Day at Capitol aims to strengthen direct care workforce

Senior Communications Associate, Writer at Fresh Energy

Minneapolis
◉
28°
Clear
7:04 am7:32 pm CDT
MonTueWedThuFri
39/16°F
39/14°F
32/19°F
41/32°F
41/21°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Mar 23
March 23 @ 10:00 am-March 26 @ 5:00 pm

Twin Cities RV Super Sale at U.S. Bank Stadium returning March 23-26

Mar 26
7:00 pm-10:00 pm

The Joffrey Ballet

Mar 28
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

A Call to Climate Action: Book launch and talk with UMN climate scientist Dr. Heidi Roop

Mar 30
6:00 pm-7:30 pm

TESTIFY Storytelling Slam – TESTIFY: Americana from Slavery to Today

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...