WESTERN MEDICINE IS IT JUST ABOUT MONEY AND/OR HEALTH: OR IS IT JUST A DRUG SCAM?
By Fahim A. Knight-El
The United States as a western nation is one of the leading nations when comes to the overall consumption of the world's resources and products, which has made us one of the sickest industrialized nations on the planet. The American people in general, are very unhealthy because of our poor diets and lack of understanding about proper nutrition. The health of the American people have become expendable in lieu of greed and profit making—money making supersedes the health and welfare of the American people in which our health care and the level of care are often determined as a business decision and is not necessarily rooted in the overall genuine health care concerns for American patience—the sick and ill. This article is not intended to be an indictment of the American medical system, but it is meant to inform people that there are some alternatives and it is found in nature. All medical doctors before receiving a medical license have to take the Hippocratic Oath, which health care professional swear to practice medicine in the highest ethical manner. The Hippocratic Oath should be renamed the Oath of Imhotep. But let me first set the historical record straight, the Greek medicine man Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.E) was not the Father of Medicine, actually he stole many of his principles from a little known Nubian from Kemet (Egypt) named Imhotep (2650-2600 BC) the Greeks referred to him under the name of Asclepus and was practicing the art of medicine and healing long before Hippocrates. He lived during the Third Dynastic period under the ruler-ship of King Zoser—Imhotep was also a master architect and engineer and built the first step pyramid of Saqqara (he was of the first known world geniuses).
The ancient healers and ancient practitioners of medicine viewed the universe (meaning its laws and energy) as being inclusive (the Europeans approach to this science was exclusive) of themselves and therefore they looked to the earth and found everything they needed to sustain themselves by complimenting mind, body and spirit with the divinity found in nature (they had the same power we ascribe to a Supreme Being, the secret is that your are God)—healing was considered a High Science and the modern propaganda machines want us to believe that herbal science and natural medicine is rooted in quackery and pseudo science. This is done to keep us coming back to the doctors for synthetic medications (pills) and continues to make the pharmaceutical companies rich.
Queen Afua in her work titled, "Heal Thyself For Health and Longevity" stated: "Healing was very sacred work in ancient times. The healing arts were reserved for priests and priestesses, medicine men and women, 'bush' doctors and other people who were respected for their knowledge in the sacred mystery systems. Likewise, healing is also a very sacred work in this present time when this planet and its people are in serious need of healing--spiritually, mentally, physically, educationally, economically—in short, totally. When the three main aspects of the human body are aligned and in proper order, we feel at peace. We are then in a state of well being. We are able to function on a much higher octave mentally, physically and spiritually. However, when these three major aspects of the body are out of order or alignment, there is then a malfunctioning and the individual needs healing, realignment and rejuvenation. When any of these areas are out of order, they affect the other areas. Body areas are interrelated and have definite effect upon each other. Oftentimes when people go to the hospitals for treatment the doctors focus on their physical ailments and never look into the mental and spiritual discord which perhaps could be the root of the illness in the first place" (Reference: "Heal Thyself For Health and Longevity"; Queen Afua; p. 156).
But I believe on a small level people are starting to wake up and are taken ownership of their health and is honoring their sacred temple (the body) by choosing better quality of foods—organic fruits and vegetables and buying from local farmers and growers (many cities and towns have farmers markets) within a 50 mile radius—this can also be seen in the booming health food market and industry in last 15-20 years. Health food Markets like WholeFoods and other health food stores are popping up throughout the country and are providing the public with alternative ways of eating and possess a wide range of homeopathic herbal treatment products. Many people desire to trust their doctors and health care professionals and no doubt some are worthy of our trust and practice their profession with the highest level of honor and integrity, but when you intertwine capitalist interest (money making) with healthcare and medicine the concept of ethics goes out the window, whose interests takes priority and how are these interest reconciled to ensure the standard of healthcare providing remains the number one ethical priority? As opposed to looking at you as a patient (a human being and not as a commodity) in which the services they render should always remain as an extension of the Hippocratic Oath they took to uphold and not allow their rendering healthcare services to be dictated more by the financial interest on Wall Street (everyone has the right to make an earnest living). Do you trust your doctors? (Reference: Farmer Will Allen: Youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpTWQWx1MQ).
Maybe it is difficult for you to come to grasp with the fact that many medical hospitals and clinics are controlled by powerful pharmaceutical cartels and conglomerates (medical corporate monopolies that have circumvented United States anti-trust laws) they function outside the laws and rules of the U.S. they answer to no one but themselves (they too like international banks function at a high level of sovereignty) and their interest are protected by American lawmakers (the so-called voice of the American people). Thus, they have powerful political lobbies on Capitol Hill in which they make huge financial contributions to members of Congress (these gifts are often shrouded and shielded from the campaign rules and given to appear not as a conflict of interest) in order to influence legislation and public policy that is pro healthcare industry. Let me give it to you plain and simple, medicine and pharmaceuticals are big business—billions on top of billions of dollars are being generated and I am of the belief that our health, the American people’s health and the huge profit incentives have made us expendable and secondary in lieu of money making.
Kevin Trudeau in his book titled, “Natural Cures: They Don’t Want You to Know About” stated: “The pharmaceutical industry has figured ways to get the government behind them. The pharmaceutical industry uses the FDA and FTC to protect their profits and protect their monopolies. The FDA and the FTC are supposed to be protecting consumers from unscrupulous companies such as the pharmaceutical industry, but the pharmaceutical companies have figured out ways to put millions of dollars into the politicians pockets, thus ensuring that the drug companies profits are protected. When the pharmaceutical companies get politicians to require drug use or have the government buy drugs from the pharmaceutical companies as exorbitant prices, the pharmaceutical companies make billions of dollars in profit and their stock prices soar. What is the incentive for the politicians to do this? (Reference: “Natural Cures: They Don’t Want You to Know About”; Kevin Trudeau; p. 37).
The large pharmaceutical companies are also tied to the top Elitist medical schools such as John Hopkins University, Stanford University, Duke University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, University of California at San Francisco, Columbia University, University of Washington, etc., where they make large funding grants and provide other financial incentives to these teaching and research universities to substantiate their hidden agendas, thus providing them with unlimited resources to carry out medical studies and clinical trials designed to move a product through the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) process—this governmental oversight agency has been known to approve different medicines and food products (USDA) knowing beforehand that they were placing the public in danger and yet these products were allowed on the market. Who interest does the FDA works in?
Curtis Cost in his work titled, "Vaccines Are Dangerous", "We all must eliminate two myths from our minds. To begin with, just because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves some chemical for sale, does not mean it is safe! The FDA is a joke! Its real function is to give corporations the government's seal of approval to sell their poison to the public. FDA approved products are routinely pulled from the market after the corporations have had time to make their profits, and then often only after there has been an outcry about the harm the product has caused. Most people do not realize that the FDA allows corporations to do their own testing of their products and to 'honestly' report to the FDA whether the product is safe. If a corporation stands to make a billion dollars off of some new drug, common sense tells you that it cannot be trusted to report the truth. It would be equivalent to expecting a gangster to tell the truth on his taxes" (Reference: "Vaccines Are Dangerous"; Curtis Cost; p.95)
Kathleen Sebelius Secretary of Health and Human Services and her boss President Barack Obama are only puppets and agents of the pharmaceutical companies; this is equalvent to an old axiom that we use in the black community, this is liken to putting the fox in charge of the hen house. What do you think is going to occur? Many of the research doctors are constantly looking for cutting edge methods of treatments that can gain them immediate notoriety in their particular medical disciplines. Some even publish flawed medical studies, which the data gives the appearance of being empirical (measured and counted) and is so-called rooted in objective science; these highly acclaimed medical studies are always asserting that their evidence is based on the rigor requirements established in the scientific method and is beyond reproach. But in some instances the research was being manipulated by powerful pharmaceutical companies and the insurance industry and although, the research may be published and appear in prestigious and prominent medical journals in which the public and academic community automatically buys into the research as having intellectual credibility, integrity and medical merit. Thus, often even the top research journals where these medical academic studies are published; the primary objective is to establish research credibility amongst their medical peers and to create a level of excitement amongst the general population as well. This will eventually lead to more profit making down the road.
For example, they are constantly and strategically telling us that they are moving closer to finding a cure for cancer when in fact they already have a cure for cancer. Western medicine is really not about cures, it is about creating and an atmosphere of panic and fear causing national and global epidemics and pandemics –if we can kill millions of people with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV-Aids, and other debilitating illnesses; these have become expendable deaths, which factors into how the pendulum will swing relative to supply and demand, in particular when it comes to the commercialization of supplying the medicine and treatment to the market. Above anything else, it is about money and not about providing cures. But some of this also factors into the depopulation schemes that are on the chessboard as well. Let them die and the public outcry will increase their stock value in monumental financial dividends. This is diabolical, but sadly to say, this is the present world that we live under. Most of the diseases causing deaths can be cut in half and even curtailed in which we could enjoy life and life more abundantly by consuming the proper foods. We are now reading about young high school athletes who are dying while participating in athletic events and only later to find out that they were afflicted with some aspect of heart disease at sixteen and seventeen years old. This was unheard of just 25 years ago.
Jethro Kloss who authored the monumental book titled, "Back to Eden" he stated: "Many who violates the laws of health are ignorant of the relation of the law of living (eating, drinking and working) to their health. Until they have some kind of sickness or illness, they do not realize that their condition is caused by violating the laws of nature and health. If then they would resort to simple means and follow the—the simple laws of health that they have been neglecting—proper diet, use of pure water, fresh air, sunshine, rest, and nature's remedies, herbs, etc., nature would restore the body to its original health. Had nature been supplied with them all the time, the body would always be in good condition. When a course such as outlined above is taken, patients will generally recover without being weakened. There is a wonderful science in nature, in trees, herbs, roots, and flowers, which man has never yet fathomed" (Reference:” Back to Eden"; Jethro Kloss; p. xxx).
My daughter and I was viewing a video tape of Minister Nuri Muhammad of the Nation of Islam talking about “How to Eat to Live” which originally was a two volume book published by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and I must say Minister Nuri Muhammad appears to be one of the up and coming and brightest Nation of Islam ministers under Minister Louis Farrakhan. He actually captivated the attention of my thirteen year old daughter which I was impressed that she attentively sat through the entire speech. I believe he is out of Indianapolis, Indiana and this young brother can teach (Reference: Minister Nuri Muhammad: Youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMWjlGHXpIQ).
But guess what there are some huge beneficiaries of our poor dieting—our health have been deduced to sustaining the medical profession food chain (our poor health has created massive jobs and employment opportunities for millions in the medical profession). The public poor health has ensured that the healthcare industry will remain as one of the most stable industries in America for generations to come. The Doctors and Pharmacies rather prescribe and sell you a synthetic pill that in short term may even treat the symptoms (with all types of side effects), but like any good dope pusher or drug seller the key is to keep you coming back for some more ‘legal’ dope (we wake up with a pill and go to bed with a pill). Yet, they are allowed to hide behind a medical license and operate so-called legal drug cartels while the street drug seller's enterprise is criminalized (in reality they are both drug dealers). Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Roche, Glaxo Kline Smith, Norvatis, Sanofi, Abbott Laboratories, Merck and Company, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, etc., these are some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world who prefer keeping the American people drugged out, as opposed to using their huge resources to promote making people healthy through food and proper diet (these companies have the power and resources to the change the United States health dilemma overnight).
The majority of all our illness can be traced back to our life styles—it is the food that is making people sick—we are eating processed food that's full of unbelievable sodium content causing high incidents of hypertension in adults and children. The beef, pork, and chicken (meat is some of the worst foods that human beings can consume and is unsafe for human consumption) are contaminated with poisonous hormones and enzymes that are having all types of affects on our internal organs which is contributing to some of the reasons children are now being plagued with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc., at very early ages.
Sister Benita Gamble of Beaufort, South Carolina owner and operator of New Body Products http://www.gullah-radio-network.com/newbodyherbs who specializes in herbal treatment and homeopathic medicine stated: “To overcome ailments in the physical body, begins with strengthening your immune system from naturally, organic, whole foods...these are nature's medicine... NUTRIENTS FROM THE EARTH! Also important to remember...Your body is made up of billions of cells. Like tiny building blocks, they work together to form every part of you. Cells make up your skin, bones, muscles, and organs. Your body uses nutrients to fix damaged cells, make new ones and allow the body to heal itself. Nutrients give cells what they need to work, grow, divide, and reverse disease symptoms from ill-health to wellness. There are multiple diet regimes and concepts that we adopt in regards to eating, however, the validity of these beliefs lies in the actual health of our individual body's. I have found that what the body wants has been given to us in nature, and the naturally, organic food sources works best!”
“When the body becomes sick or diseased, these moments are when the Universal energies are bringing to your attention, through your body, the need for you to take notice of, take control of and bring balance to YOUR body. I strongly recommend that you begin to incorporate grass fed, hormone & antibiotic free "red meat," free range, hormone & antibiotic free chicken eggs, juice or smoothie organic raw fruit & vegetable green drinks are your best vitamin source (not the store bottled drinks) and always include kale and a raw egg in your green drink a few times a week, coconut oil, palm oil, avocados, raw dairy/goat products for a little while. When the body's immune system becomes very weaken, organic red meats have serious Omega-3 (salmon alone is not always enough) and this meat has other nutrients the body needs to renew itself. Get on your computer and do your research...YOU MUST BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN BODY!”
It never ceases to amaze me that when you start talking to your doctor or health professional about alternative medicine, herbal science and homeopathic medicine they automatically becomes defensive (some even shutdown as though you have committed an unpardonable sin by injecting herbal treatments in the conversation) and is quick to throw out that most of the homeopathic treatments/medicines are not FDA approved (as though this is the standard for medicines on the market having credibility) and have not met the so-called stringent research test instruments to determine if it is safe for human consumption and/or will it pose a danger to public health (although herbal medicine has been proven to be a lot more safer than western medicine synthetic drugs, which millions die annually). Their denunciation of herbal medicine is rooted in their allegiance to the pharmaceutical corporate giants (and many of them are outright ignorant about homeopathic medicine because this was not part of their medical orientation and training) and a homeopathic/natural/herbal treatment are on the lower end of the profit making scale and is convenient to hide behind the FDA and bring into question that herbal products manufacturing and distribution are not regulated by government oversight. Herbal medicine is much cheaper and in some instances serve as a more effective medicinal treatments, as opposed to the total reliance on highly addictive chemical treatments (pills), which is often compounded by various side effects.
John Lust who authored the book titled, "The Herb Book" stated: "Historically, the most important uses of herbs were medicinal. For the most of his existence, man had various but limited resources for treating injuries and diseases. Separately and in combination he used any and all of the following: magic and sorcery, prayer, music, crude operations (amputations, bleeding, trepanning), psychotherapy, physical therapy (diet, rest, exercise, fresh air, water), and internal and external remedies prepared from plants, animals, and minerals. Of all these, plant remedies represent the most continuous and universal form of treatment: whatever else man may have done to themselves and to each other in the name of medicine at various times, plants were the basic source of therapeutic products for professional and folk medicine the earliest days until the twentieth century. In fact, folk medicine--the household use of simple herbal remedies--is based on word-of-mouth tradition that probably stretches in a unbroken line to prehistoric times" (Reference: "The Herb Book"; John Lust; pp. 3-4).
The western medical doctors have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars (actually many of them still owe these student loan debts) in schooling and training and oftentimes their fragile egos will not allow them to succumb to herbalist and homoeopathist who did not attend traditional medical schools, but have mastered what mother earth provides to us--the science of healing and curing is tied to our ability to tap into those natural herbal remedies that our ancient ancestors used over 5,000 years ago. This does not require a medical license. The American people have become a highly addicted people to the so-called legal drug industry and it has created a massive codependency society of functional junkies who are strung out on all manner of prescription medications and keep the Kingpins—pharmaceutical companies in business and showering them in money. But the United States Justice Department will never charge the pharmaceutical companies with violating the RICO Statutes and committing conspiracy.
At times I am a listener of the Tom Joyner Morning Show (just for mere entertainment and nothing else), which is an urban syndicated radio show with millions of listeners every day. Mr. Joyner has this radio initiative called "Take a Loving One to the doctor" in theory it sounds good, but someone needs to tell this idiot that his audience (which is mainly so-called African Americans) are afflicted with the highest statistics in unemployment, under employment, no access to health care, many live below the poverty line, etc., how should this class of people who have no health care insurance take their love ones to the doctor? In a capitalist society, it cost money to go to the doctor (this system is unforgiving to the poor and the Have nots). Perhaps Mr. Tom Joyner is that ignorant and/or may be he lives in a bubble and is unaware that anywhere from 60-80 million (this a conservative figure) Americans do not have health care insurance and the higher percentage lies with so-called African Americans, poor whites and Latinos. The poor is forced to use the emergency rooms across America as their primary care for medical treatment because they do not have health care insurance to access doctors and clinics. I have a solution, if we can change how people eat and teach them how to grow their own food—teach them how to tap into Mother Nature they could experience life more abundantly. Remember this: an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Fahim A. Knight-El Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of goodwill, of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolism and reinterpreted the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlightened world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight-EI can be reached at fahimknight@ yahoo.com.
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-El
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND MINISTER MALCOLM X AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Minister Malcolm X: Two Black leaders who used different Strategies and Tactics “
By Fahim A. Knight-El
Thesis Statement: King and Malcolm X were deeply committed to the same cause of social justice, but they chose different leadership techniques to accomplish their goals of liberating the African American race.
This article came about as a Black History report assignment for a humanities class that my daughter is taking in middle school she is an eighth grader. I have blogged on the subject of Minister Malcolm X and here is the link to that article titled, “Minister Malcolm X: Like it or Not” http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/minister-malcolm-x-like-it-or-not-1925.html and I have also blogged on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-stood-tall-and.html and wrote a second article on Dr. King http://www.dailygrail.com/blogs/fahim-knight/2008/1/Dr-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Revolutionary-Happy-Birthday-Giant. In addition, I have written a definitive article on the Nation of Islam http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2008/06/nation-of-islam-concise-history-true.html. I cited these links as proof and documentation that I am not a novice to these subjects and this article might appear quite shallow to some and yet informative to others, but those who desire more in depth knowledge then I refer you to the various links I cited above.
Let met state for the record that in my home we study and celebrate African history /black history 365 days of the year. It represents the oldest history ever recorded throughout the annals of time and I think to celebrate and commemorate the oldest human history in February which is the shortest month of the year is absurd and insidious to make any attempt to cram this marvelous history in 29 days. This month was chosen by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month in honor of the birthdays of Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln who were both born in February (Reference link: http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-history-month-is-it-still.html). My daughter was asked to do a position paper on contrasting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Minister Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik Shabazz) views. I was personally inspired by Minister Malcolm X, it was his autobiography, “Autobiography of Malcolm X” told to Alex Haley that changed my world perspective.
I viewed Minister Malcolm X as one who was uncompromising with the system of oppression and his ideas were tailored made for me. I was not interested in going along with the status quo and living a life of not creating any waves—my environment dictated that there were many reasons I should be fighting for social justice and for the liberation of black people. Our communities were/are deteriorating because of economic, political and social disparity—gang violence, dilapidated schools, teenage pregnancy, high unemployment, the working poor, lack of industry, sellout ‘Negro’ leadership, homelessness and other ethnic groups controlling the economic markets (mom and pop business) in the black community—Arabs (Koreans, Vietnamese, Latinos, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Italians, Iranians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc.) from war torn Palestine have replaced the Jews as the merchants of death in the black community, they now represent the bloodsuckers of the poor. They claim Islam and profess to be Muslims, yet they sell our people pork, alcohol, tobacco and bad processed foods. These damnable hypocrites build Mosques and Masjids in the black community and strut as though they are sanctimonious, but I know that in many of these Muslim hypocrites’ native countries they would be killed under Sharia Law for the above type of behavior, which would be deemed un-Islamic conduct. Minister Malcolm X sided with the black oppressed and openly challenged the white establishment to respect their ex-slave master’s children. My inner being told me that Minister Malcolm X was correct because he articulated our present and historical pain he made it difficult for us to overlook 310 years of slavery and dehumanization. He was perhaps one of the best students that Honorable Elijah Muhammad ever trained—his level of activism pricked the conscious of America and I personally admired his defiance. Minister Malcolm X will always be one of my heroes because he stood up in a time in history when it was not popular.
In my early intellectual development I viewed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as an Uncle Tom and traitor who was co-opted by the white establishment in which his bourgeoisie upbringing had placed him out of touch with black suffering (boy was I wrong). Dr. King was constantly evolving and those of us who have seriously studied King know that the Dr. King in 1963 was not the same King in 1967 and 1968. King had grown to understand that class was/is an antagonistic contradiction and it was this realization that placed him outside of the civil rights movement philosophy and ultimately made him a dangerous man. Dr. King’s inner circle did not support King as he turned his attention to the Vietnam War and he began to question U.S. imperialism, as well as connect our struggle to the international struggle. Many of King’s top confidants would betray him. King stated: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Once I read King’s book titled, “The Trumpet of Conscience: Why I Opposed the Vietnam War”, I was convinced that Dr. King and Minister Malcolm X were on similar paths and their philosophy in particular in King’s latter years did not differ as much as the scholars would want us to believe.
This led me to reassess and reevaluate my early position on Dr. King and drew the conclusion that I was wrong. I have grown to respect Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. legacy and mission which I and 30-40 million blacks stand as the beneficiaries of the Civil Rights Movement. There are not many who would unconditionally give their lives to a cause greater than themselves, thus Dr. King was such a man. Both Minister Malcolm X and Dr. King became targets of the United States Government and both fell victims to former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover Cointelpro (U.S. Counter Intelligence) program of the 1950s -1970s that was aimed at destroying black leadership. Their assassinations were staged by U.S. Government agent provocateurs. My daughter by taking on this subject received some valuable lessons in critical thinking and at age thirteen I believe she could grow to have a much better understanding and appreciation of both of these leaders due to this exercise in critical thinking than I had at the same age. The art of critical thinking in the United States is a dying art in the scheme intellectualism.
Perhaps there have not been two most controversial and misunderstood black leaders in American history within the Twentieth Century than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Minister Malcolm X. Both leaders were deeply committed to the cause of social justice for African Americans, but what separated these two men were the strategies and the tactics they chose to achieve ultimate freedom, justice and equality for black people.
Dr. King was born in the south in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 during the Great Depression in which the south was deeply segregated and racially divided. I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a product of his environment because he lived through an era of Jim Crow (1896-1954), which was solidified with the infamous United States Supreme Court decision Plessy versus Ferguson (1896) in which the high court declared “separate but equal” as being constitutional. Thus, this legal decision allowed the white establishment to discriminate and openly practice racism against black people. Plessy versus Ferguson was overturned by the landmark decision of Brown versus Board of Education Topeka, Kansas 1954 in which the United States Supreme Court reversed the Plessy versus Ferguson decision and declared “separate but equal’ as being unconstitutional. It would be this legal decision and others that led to the dismantling of racial segregation in the United States. It also would give Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights advocates the basis to challenge racist and discriminatory public accommodation laws that prohibited blacks from having equal access to public and private establishments in the United States. King’s greatest and lasting accomplishment was his ability to effect public policy and influence legislation—for example, King’s agitation forced President Lyndon Baines Johnson (he was part of the CIA and FBI plot that led to the murder of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 in which the United States Government conveniently pinned the murder on Harvey Lee Oswald) and the United States Congress to passing the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 and the Voting Rights Bill of 1965. The passing of these two pieces of legislation were monumental in the history of African American people; yet at the same time it led to the demise of separate and independent black institutions. What was the ultimate price of integration and desegregation on the political, economic and social systems of black people? Some have argued that integration and desegregation led to the demise of black independence and sovereignty (it destroyed the concept of black nationhood).
Moreover, when blacks could not enter white establishments, it forced them to build black institutions for themselves. Blacks built schools, colleges, supermarkets, movie theaters, beauty schools, barbershops, beauty salons, banks, insurance companies, owned farm land, etc., providing the black community with every service and product they needed to sustain themselves. The black dollar had no choice, but to circulate and it was economically empowering to the black community. Business enterprises and entrepreneurship were huge throughout segregated black America, thriftiness and doing-for-self was a measure of empowerment. The quest for integration became more of a business arrangement on the white establishment part—they woke up and saw that blacks represented and economic market that was more than ripe for exploitation. Their decision to desegregate America was not about the love of humanity and/or siding on the side of social justice, it was done out of sheer economic interest. Black dollars were being invited into the white economy.
Dr. King lived during an era where black lynching was occurring on a daily basis. I think what really helped to shape Dr. King’s worldview was his upbringing in the Christian church where his father the Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. served as pastor over legendary Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and he learned certain Christian principles and values relative to forgiving your enemy and turning the other cheek. He accepted and believed in the parable that stated ‘forgive them God they know not what they do’. He understood that most of the biblical prophets had suffered and was rejected by the governments of their day, but King best understood that their struggles were redemptive.
Dr. King also understood the power of love and he became committed to transforming a society that represented the epitome of hate. King’s mission was to conquer hate with the power of love. It was the power of love that caused him to take on some of the most vicious segregationist and racist of all times—Governor George Wallace and Bull Connors in order to protest racial injustice. Blacks and Whites had separate water faucets, black and white bathrooms and blacks could not sit and eat in white restaurants—they often had to get their food at the back door. Dr. King was a witness of these social rules and was deeply disturbed about the affect they were having on black people. He would lead boycotts, sit-in, picket-lines, freedom rides and other demonstrations to protest racial injustices.
Dr. King entered Morehouse College in Atlanta under the guidance of its President Dr. Benjamin Mays who authored the book titled, “Born to Rebel” and Professor Howard Thurman who authored the book titled, “Jesus the Disinherited”. It was Dr. Mays and Thurman who became one of the greatest influences and mentors of Dr. King. King would attend graduate school at a Quaker school named Crozer College in Pennsylvania. The white Quakers were considered a very liberal group and did not judge and discriminate against blacks based on skin color. King would later go on and receive a Ph.D in theology from Boston University.
King studied the history of India and the effect British imperialism and colonialism had on Indian society, but what struck Dr. King the most was the discipline and passion the non-violent protest movement led by Mahatma Gandhi had on altering change and the power dynamics of the British class or caste system, which was rooted in race and economic injustice. There was an old saying that stated that the sun never set on the British Empire; this was an indication of how vast and powerful the British Empire was.
But Gandhi did not seek to alter the political, economic and social system of India through violence and radical militancy; he was committed to passive resistance—no guns and no preaching of retaliation. Gandhi advocated civil disobedience and it was this strategy that proved to be revolutionary and overturned centuries of British domination over the sub-continent of India. Dr. King saw similarities in what was taking place with the oppression of blacks in the United States and what had taking place in India and he was moved by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. King would adopt Gandhi’s civil disobedience tactic as the primary strategy to confront American racism.
Dr. King understood that to violently confront the United States Government would have been suicidal and yet he was not willing to sit back and not challenge the injustices confronting African American people. Mahatma Gandhi presented him with a model and social blueprint that had more power than arm resistance.
Dr. King was called to preach at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. The black citizens of Montgomery who were part of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) chose Dr. King as their leader and spokesperson and not the other way around. But what sparked the fight to desegregate Montgomery and the south was a little black woman in 1955 named Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger and refuse to move toward the back of the bus. This event forced King and what became the modern civil rights movement into action.
Minister Malcolm X also was born during the Great Depression in 1925 in the mid-west town of Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm X’s father Earl Little was follower of the Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1915. Garvey arrived to the United States from Jamaica and began teaching a back to Africa philosophy for blacks, he stated, “Africa for the Africans at home and abroad” and he promoted the concept, “One God, One Aim, One Destiny”.
Malcolm X’s father embraced the teachings and philosophy of Marcus Garvey and I believe via DNA or at an early age by attending UNIA meetings Malcolm X was impacted by Garvey’s Nationalism. Minister Malcolm X unlike Dr. King grew up poor and oppressed in which he and his family had to struggle for their existences. Malcolm X at a very young age would witness the Ku Klux Klan (the white Knights) burn his home down because his father was not afraid and often stood up against racial injustice in Omaha and Lansing, Michigan.
It is believed that Ku Klux Klan in 1931 murdered Malcolm X father by tying him to a railroad track where a train decapitated his head from his body. These thoughts of white injustices never left young Malcolm X and most of all he witness at the death of his father the demise of his family. His mother was a proud West Indian from Grenada and she was forced to try to work in order to keep the family together; but she was eventually forced to welfare and based on the pressure to keep the family together, it eventually led her to the insane asylum. These and other events deeply scarred young Malcolm X and I have no doubt that it would be these experiences that would eventually shape the man, mission and his legacy.
Malcolm X family was eventually divided between family and foster care—Malcolm X recalled in his autobiography, the “Autobiography of Malcolm X” that during his eighth grade school year he expressed to his eighth grade white teacher that he wanted to be a lawyer and his teacher told him that a lawyer was not a profession suited for a ‘Negro’ and suggested that Malcolm X pursue becoming a carpenter because his race was better suited to do things with their hands and the law profession was better suited for whites. This incident destroyed young Malcolm X’s self-esteem and confidence in the educational system and from that point forward he saw no benefit in going to school.
Malcolm X after moving to Detroit (Lansing, Michigan) and Boston and working on the railroad and traveling back and forth to New York; he became involved in all sorts of petty crimes—selling drugs, pimping, burglary, running numbers and ultimately a street hustler. Malcolm X in 1946 was sentenced to prison for ten years for burglary in the Michigan State Prison system. Thus, like Dr. King (King came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi), Malcolm X met a man named Elijah Muhammad by way of coming in contact with his teachings and philosophy of the Nation of Islam and the Black Muslim Movement in prison.
The Nation of Islam taught a radical and militant theology, which was based on separation and referred to the white man as the devil who were inheritably evil (the life giving teachings appealed to the spirit of Minister Malcolm X). The teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad were based in discipline and Islamic principles, but unlike Dr. King, Malcolm X as a member in the Nation of Islam was taught to defend himself. Mr. Muhammad did not teach his followers to be the aggressor, but each Muslim had a God given right to fight with those who fought with them. They did not teach turn the other cheek and if attacked felt they had every right to defend themselves. Minister Malcolm X did not believe in violence, but he taught the right to self-defense.
Malcolm X witness the racist beatings, blacks being water hosed down and being bitten by vicious dogs on the evening news and unlike Dr. King was not willing to accept this type of abuse lying down. Malcolm X became a the new voice and image for a generation who refused to accept the racist brutality being bestowed on the black civil rights workers in particular and black folk in general. Malcolm X message seemed confrontational and radical—but the Muslims were taught not to even carry a penknife. The white media demonized Minister Malcolm X and the Black Muslims as being a violent and a subversive group who was looking to overthrow the United States Government.
Minister Malcolm X did say, “Freedom by any means necessary” and in one sense the white establishment was more willing to deal with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. call for non-violence as opposed to the radical and militant teachings of Minister Malcolm X. But let me clarify, I think Minister Malcolm X had been historically misunderstood because many believe that he taught hate and reverse racism. However, like I stated above both men King and Malcolm had the same objective which was to bring about freedom, justice and equality for the African American race—they just had different strategies and tactics relative to achieving this goal. Minister Malcolm X’s teachings balanced the entire civil rights movement and without Minister Malcolm X, I do not think that King would have had the type of success he had if it were not for Minster Malcolm X presenting his theoretical polarity.
Minister Malcolm would inspire young revolutionaries like Stokley Carmichael (Kwame Ture) who was a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who coined the phrase “Black Power” which also gave rise to Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Dr. King was constantly confronted with a growing unsettlement coming from young blacks who were becoming radicalized by the militant teachings of Minister Malcolm X and Dr. King was beginning to have problems keeping young blacks under control. Thus, groups like the Deacons for Defense and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was becoming increasingly radicalized based on the teachings of Minister Malcolm X. Young leaders such as H. Rap Brown (Jamil El-Amin Abdullah) and Stokley Carmichael (Kwame Ture) typified what Malcolm X message meant in the civil rights movement.
In conclusion, some have tried to isolate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the 1963 March on Washington and ‘I have a Dream' Speech and there is no doubt that this speech challenged the ethical and moral fiber of what the United States claimed she represented King stated, “But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.”
King in his latter years (1966-1968), perhaps had more in common with Minister Malcolm X in particular with his international position against the Vietnam War. King's message was becoming increasingly radicalized and many believe like Minister Malcolm X that King was beginning to pose a danger to the United States establishment and it was further believed that J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (under a government initiative called Cointelpro) was part of the assassination of King and Minister Malcolm X. Some scholars and historians have questioned that King’s so-called murderer James Earl Ray was only a pasty and not the real assassin (the real assassin was the FBI). Dr. King and Minister Malcolm X chose different leadership tactics and strategies as their methods of social protest, but they had one objective, which was the liberation of black people—King is always symbolized as the preacher of love and Minister Malcolm X is symbolized as the preacher of hate. I think both men approach to solving the political, economic and social problems of black people was steeped in love and not hate. It was more of their leadership temperaments that the media wanted us to believe that one taught love and the other taught hate. My research has led me to believe they had more similarities than differences.
Fahim A. Knight-El Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of goodwill, of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolism and reinterpreted the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlightened world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight-EI can be reached at fahimknight@ yahoo.com.
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-El
By Fahim A. Knight-El
Thesis Statement: King and Malcolm X were deeply committed to the same cause of social justice, but they chose different leadership techniques to accomplish their goals of liberating the African American race.
This article came about as a Black History report assignment for a humanities class that my daughter is taking in middle school she is an eighth grader. I have blogged on the subject of Minister Malcolm X and here is the link to that article titled, “Minister Malcolm X: Like it or Not” http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/minister-malcolm-x-like-it-or-not-1925.html and I have also blogged on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-stood-tall-and.html and wrote a second article on Dr. King http://www.dailygrail.com/blogs/fahim-knight/2008/1/Dr-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Revolutionary-Happy-Birthday-Giant. In addition, I have written a definitive article on the Nation of Islam http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2008/06/nation-of-islam-concise-history-true.html. I cited these links as proof and documentation that I am not a novice to these subjects and this article might appear quite shallow to some and yet informative to others, but those who desire more in depth knowledge then I refer you to the various links I cited above.
Let met state for the record that in my home we study and celebrate African history /black history 365 days of the year. It represents the oldest history ever recorded throughout the annals of time and I think to celebrate and commemorate the oldest human history in February which is the shortest month of the year is absurd and insidious to make any attempt to cram this marvelous history in 29 days. This month was chosen by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month in honor of the birthdays of Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln who were both born in February (Reference link: http://fahimknightsworld.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-history-month-is-it-still.html). My daughter was asked to do a position paper on contrasting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Minister Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik Shabazz) views. I was personally inspired by Minister Malcolm X, it was his autobiography, “Autobiography of Malcolm X” told to Alex Haley that changed my world perspective.
I viewed Minister Malcolm X as one who was uncompromising with the system of oppression and his ideas were tailored made for me. I was not interested in going along with the status quo and living a life of not creating any waves—my environment dictated that there were many reasons I should be fighting for social justice and for the liberation of black people. Our communities were/are deteriorating because of economic, political and social disparity—gang violence, dilapidated schools, teenage pregnancy, high unemployment, the working poor, lack of industry, sellout ‘Negro’ leadership, homelessness and other ethnic groups controlling the economic markets (mom and pop business) in the black community—Arabs (Koreans, Vietnamese, Latinos, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Italians, Iranians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc.) from war torn Palestine have replaced the Jews as the merchants of death in the black community, they now represent the bloodsuckers of the poor. They claim Islam and profess to be Muslims, yet they sell our people pork, alcohol, tobacco and bad processed foods. These damnable hypocrites build Mosques and Masjids in the black community and strut as though they are sanctimonious, but I know that in many of these Muslim hypocrites’ native countries they would be killed under Sharia Law for the above type of behavior, which would be deemed un-Islamic conduct. Minister Malcolm X sided with the black oppressed and openly challenged the white establishment to respect their ex-slave master’s children. My inner being told me that Minister Malcolm X was correct because he articulated our present and historical pain he made it difficult for us to overlook 310 years of slavery and dehumanization. He was perhaps one of the best students that Honorable Elijah Muhammad ever trained—his level of activism pricked the conscious of America and I personally admired his defiance. Minister Malcolm X will always be one of my heroes because he stood up in a time in history when it was not popular.
In my early intellectual development I viewed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as an Uncle Tom and traitor who was co-opted by the white establishment in which his bourgeoisie upbringing had placed him out of touch with black suffering (boy was I wrong). Dr. King was constantly evolving and those of us who have seriously studied King know that the Dr. King in 1963 was not the same King in 1967 and 1968. King had grown to understand that class was/is an antagonistic contradiction and it was this realization that placed him outside of the civil rights movement philosophy and ultimately made him a dangerous man. Dr. King’s inner circle did not support King as he turned his attention to the Vietnam War and he began to question U.S. imperialism, as well as connect our struggle to the international struggle. Many of King’s top confidants would betray him. King stated: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Once I read King’s book titled, “The Trumpet of Conscience: Why I Opposed the Vietnam War”, I was convinced that Dr. King and Minister Malcolm X were on similar paths and their philosophy in particular in King’s latter years did not differ as much as the scholars would want us to believe.
This led me to reassess and reevaluate my early position on Dr. King and drew the conclusion that I was wrong. I have grown to respect Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. legacy and mission which I and 30-40 million blacks stand as the beneficiaries of the Civil Rights Movement. There are not many who would unconditionally give their lives to a cause greater than themselves, thus Dr. King was such a man. Both Minister Malcolm X and Dr. King became targets of the United States Government and both fell victims to former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover Cointelpro (U.S. Counter Intelligence) program of the 1950s -1970s that was aimed at destroying black leadership. Their assassinations were staged by U.S. Government agent provocateurs. My daughter by taking on this subject received some valuable lessons in critical thinking and at age thirteen I believe she could grow to have a much better understanding and appreciation of both of these leaders due to this exercise in critical thinking than I had at the same age. The art of critical thinking in the United States is a dying art in the scheme intellectualism.
Perhaps there have not been two most controversial and misunderstood black leaders in American history within the Twentieth Century than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Minister Malcolm X. Both leaders were deeply committed to the cause of social justice for African Americans, but what separated these two men were the strategies and the tactics they chose to achieve ultimate freedom, justice and equality for black people.
Dr. King was born in the south in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 during the Great Depression in which the south was deeply segregated and racially divided. I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a product of his environment because he lived through an era of Jim Crow (1896-1954), which was solidified with the infamous United States Supreme Court decision Plessy versus Ferguson (1896) in which the high court declared “separate but equal” as being constitutional. Thus, this legal decision allowed the white establishment to discriminate and openly practice racism against black people. Plessy versus Ferguson was overturned by the landmark decision of Brown versus Board of Education Topeka, Kansas 1954 in which the United States Supreme Court reversed the Plessy versus Ferguson decision and declared “separate but equal’ as being unconstitutional. It would be this legal decision and others that led to the dismantling of racial segregation in the United States. It also would give Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights advocates the basis to challenge racist and discriminatory public accommodation laws that prohibited blacks from having equal access to public and private establishments in the United States. King’s greatest and lasting accomplishment was his ability to effect public policy and influence legislation—for example, King’s agitation forced President Lyndon Baines Johnson (he was part of the CIA and FBI plot that led to the murder of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 in which the United States Government conveniently pinned the murder on Harvey Lee Oswald) and the United States Congress to passing the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 and the Voting Rights Bill of 1965. The passing of these two pieces of legislation were monumental in the history of African American people; yet at the same time it led to the demise of separate and independent black institutions. What was the ultimate price of integration and desegregation on the political, economic and social systems of black people? Some have argued that integration and desegregation led to the demise of black independence and sovereignty (it destroyed the concept of black nationhood).
Moreover, when blacks could not enter white establishments, it forced them to build black institutions for themselves. Blacks built schools, colleges, supermarkets, movie theaters, beauty schools, barbershops, beauty salons, banks, insurance companies, owned farm land, etc., providing the black community with every service and product they needed to sustain themselves. The black dollar had no choice, but to circulate and it was economically empowering to the black community. Business enterprises and entrepreneurship were huge throughout segregated black America, thriftiness and doing-for-self was a measure of empowerment. The quest for integration became more of a business arrangement on the white establishment part—they woke up and saw that blacks represented and economic market that was more than ripe for exploitation. Their decision to desegregate America was not about the love of humanity and/or siding on the side of social justice, it was done out of sheer economic interest. Black dollars were being invited into the white economy.
Dr. King lived during an era where black lynching was occurring on a daily basis. I think what really helped to shape Dr. King’s worldview was his upbringing in the Christian church where his father the Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. served as pastor over legendary Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and he learned certain Christian principles and values relative to forgiving your enemy and turning the other cheek. He accepted and believed in the parable that stated ‘forgive them God they know not what they do’. He understood that most of the biblical prophets had suffered and was rejected by the governments of their day, but King best understood that their struggles were redemptive.
Dr. King also understood the power of love and he became committed to transforming a society that represented the epitome of hate. King’s mission was to conquer hate with the power of love. It was the power of love that caused him to take on some of the most vicious segregationist and racist of all times—Governor George Wallace and Bull Connors in order to protest racial injustice. Blacks and Whites had separate water faucets, black and white bathrooms and blacks could not sit and eat in white restaurants—they often had to get their food at the back door. Dr. King was a witness of these social rules and was deeply disturbed about the affect they were having on black people. He would lead boycotts, sit-in, picket-lines, freedom rides and other demonstrations to protest racial injustices.
Dr. King entered Morehouse College in Atlanta under the guidance of its President Dr. Benjamin Mays who authored the book titled, “Born to Rebel” and Professor Howard Thurman who authored the book titled, “Jesus the Disinherited”. It was Dr. Mays and Thurman who became one of the greatest influences and mentors of Dr. King. King would attend graduate school at a Quaker school named Crozer College in Pennsylvania. The white Quakers were considered a very liberal group and did not judge and discriminate against blacks based on skin color. King would later go on and receive a Ph.D in theology from Boston University.
King studied the history of India and the effect British imperialism and colonialism had on Indian society, but what struck Dr. King the most was the discipline and passion the non-violent protest movement led by Mahatma Gandhi had on altering change and the power dynamics of the British class or caste system, which was rooted in race and economic injustice. There was an old saying that stated that the sun never set on the British Empire; this was an indication of how vast and powerful the British Empire was.
But Gandhi did not seek to alter the political, economic and social system of India through violence and radical militancy; he was committed to passive resistance—no guns and no preaching of retaliation. Gandhi advocated civil disobedience and it was this strategy that proved to be revolutionary and overturned centuries of British domination over the sub-continent of India. Dr. King saw similarities in what was taking place with the oppression of blacks in the United States and what had taking place in India and he was moved by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. King would adopt Gandhi’s civil disobedience tactic as the primary strategy to confront American racism.
Dr. King understood that to violently confront the United States Government would have been suicidal and yet he was not willing to sit back and not challenge the injustices confronting African American people. Mahatma Gandhi presented him with a model and social blueprint that had more power than arm resistance.
Dr. King was called to preach at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. The black citizens of Montgomery who were part of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) chose Dr. King as their leader and spokesperson and not the other way around. But what sparked the fight to desegregate Montgomery and the south was a little black woman in 1955 named Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger and refuse to move toward the back of the bus. This event forced King and what became the modern civil rights movement into action.
Minister Malcolm X also was born during the Great Depression in 1925 in the mid-west town of Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm X’s father Earl Little was follower of the Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1915. Garvey arrived to the United States from Jamaica and began teaching a back to Africa philosophy for blacks, he stated, “Africa for the Africans at home and abroad” and he promoted the concept, “One God, One Aim, One Destiny”.
Malcolm X’s father embraced the teachings and philosophy of Marcus Garvey and I believe via DNA or at an early age by attending UNIA meetings Malcolm X was impacted by Garvey’s Nationalism. Minister Malcolm X unlike Dr. King grew up poor and oppressed in which he and his family had to struggle for their existences. Malcolm X at a very young age would witness the Ku Klux Klan (the white Knights) burn his home down because his father was not afraid and often stood up against racial injustice in Omaha and Lansing, Michigan.
It is believed that Ku Klux Klan in 1931 murdered Malcolm X father by tying him to a railroad track where a train decapitated his head from his body. These thoughts of white injustices never left young Malcolm X and most of all he witness at the death of his father the demise of his family. His mother was a proud West Indian from Grenada and she was forced to try to work in order to keep the family together; but she was eventually forced to welfare and based on the pressure to keep the family together, it eventually led her to the insane asylum. These and other events deeply scarred young Malcolm X and I have no doubt that it would be these experiences that would eventually shape the man, mission and his legacy.
Malcolm X family was eventually divided between family and foster care—Malcolm X recalled in his autobiography, the “Autobiography of Malcolm X” that during his eighth grade school year he expressed to his eighth grade white teacher that he wanted to be a lawyer and his teacher told him that a lawyer was not a profession suited for a ‘Negro’ and suggested that Malcolm X pursue becoming a carpenter because his race was better suited to do things with their hands and the law profession was better suited for whites. This incident destroyed young Malcolm X’s self-esteem and confidence in the educational system and from that point forward he saw no benefit in going to school.
Malcolm X after moving to Detroit (Lansing, Michigan) and Boston and working on the railroad and traveling back and forth to New York; he became involved in all sorts of petty crimes—selling drugs, pimping, burglary, running numbers and ultimately a street hustler. Malcolm X in 1946 was sentenced to prison for ten years for burglary in the Michigan State Prison system. Thus, like Dr. King (King came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi), Malcolm X met a man named Elijah Muhammad by way of coming in contact with his teachings and philosophy of the Nation of Islam and the Black Muslim Movement in prison.
The Nation of Islam taught a radical and militant theology, which was based on separation and referred to the white man as the devil who were inheritably evil (the life giving teachings appealed to the spirit of Minister Malcolm X). The teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad were based in discipline and Islamic principles, but unlike Dr. King, Malcolm X as a member in the Nation of Islam was taught to defend himself. Mr. Muhammad did not teach his followers to be the aggressor, but each Muslim had a God given right to fight with those who fought with them. They did not teach turn the other cheek and if attacked felt they had every right to defend themselves. Minister Malcolm X did not believe in violence, but he taught the right to self-defense.
Malcolm X witness the racist beatings, blacks being water hosed down and being bitten by vicious dogs on the evening news and unlike Dr. King was not willing to accept this type of abuse lying down. Malcolm X became a the new voice and image for a generation who refused to accept the racist brutality being bestowed on the black civil rights workers in particular and black folk in general. Malcolm X message seemed confrontational and radical—but the Muslims were taught not to even carry a penknife. The white media demonized Minister Malcolm X and the Black Muslims as being a violent and a subversive group who was looking to overthrow the United States Government.
Minister Malcolm X did say, “Freedom by any means necessary” and in one sense the white establishment was more willing to deal with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. call for non-violence as opposed to the radical and militant teachings of Minister Malcolm X. But let me clarify, I think Minister Malcolm X had been historically misunderstood because many believe that he taught hate and reverse racism. However, like I stated above both men King and Malcolm had the same objective which was to bring about freedom, justice and equality for the African American race—they just had different strategies and tactics relative to achieving this goal. Minister Malcolm X’s teachings balanced the entire civil rights movement and without Minister Malcolm X, I do not think that King would have had the type of success he had if it were not for Minster Malcolm X presenting his theoretical polarity.
Minister Malcolm would inspire young revolutionaries like Stokley Carmichael (Kwame Ture) who was a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who coined the phrase “Black Power” which also gave rise to Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Dr. King was constantly confronted with a growing unsettlement coming from young blacks who were becoming radicalized by the militant teachings of Minister Malcolm X and Dr. King was beginning to have problems keeping young blacks under control. Thus, groups like the Deacons for Defense and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was becoming increasingly radicalized based on the teachings of Minister Malcolm X. Young leaders such as H. Rap Brown (Jamil El-Amin Abdullah) and Stokley Carmichael (Kwame Ture) typified what Malcolm X message meant in the civil rights movement.
In conclusion, some have tried to isolate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the 1963 March on Washington and ‘I have a Dream' Speech and there is no doubt that this speech challenged the ethical and moral fiber of what the United States claimed she represented King stated, “But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.”
King in his latter years (1966-1968), perhaps had more in common with Minister Malcolm X in particular with his international position against the Vietnam War. King's message was becoming increasingly radicalized and many believe like Minister Malcolm X that King was beginning to pose a danger to the United States establishment and it was further believed that J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (under a government initiative called Cointelpro) was part of the assassination of King and Minister Malcolm X. Some scholars and historians have questioned that King’s so-called murderer James Earl Ray was only a pasty and not the real assassin (the real assassin was the FBI). Dr. King and Minister Malcolm X chose different leadership tactics and strategies as their methods of social protest, but they had one objective, which was the liberation of black people—King is always symbolized as the preacher of love and Minister Malcolm X is symbolized as the preacher of hate. I think both men approach to solving the political, economic and social problems of black people was steeped in love and not hate. It was more of their leadership temperaments that the media wanted us to believe that one taught love and the other taught hate. My research has led me to believe they had more similarities than differences.
Fahim A. Knight-El Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of goodwill, of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolism and reinterpreted the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlightened world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight-EI can be reached at fahimknight@ yahoo.com.
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-El
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