This article delves into the powerful speeches of Malcolm X delivered in Africa, focusing on his analysis of racism, revolution, and the shared struggles of black people across the globe. It draws on his speeches to young people in Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States in the last months of his life.
The Reality of Racism
Malcolm X emphasized the pervasive nature of racism in Western societies. He argued:
“It is only being a Muslim which keeps me from seeing people by the color of their skin. This religion teaches brotherhood, but I have to be a realist - I live in America, a society which does not believe in brotherhood in any sense of the term. Brute force is used by white racists to suppress nonwhites. It is a racist society ruled by segregationists.”
He highlighted how the press is manipulated to create a negative image of black communities. They use the press skillfully to feed statistics to the public to make it appear that the rate of crime in the Black community, or community of nonwhite people, is at such a high level. It gives the impression or the image that everyone in that community is criminal. And as soon as the public accepts the fact that the dark-skinned community consists largely of criminals or people who are dirty, then it makes it possible for the power structure to set up a police-state system.
According to Malcolm X, the press is used to make the white public accept whatever they do to the dark-skinned public. They do that here in London right now with the constant reference to the West Indian population and the Asian population having a high rate of crime or having a tendency toward dirtiness.
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Malcolm X pointed out the economic exploitation within black communities, stating:
“In America the Black community in which we live is not owned by us. The landlord is white. The merchant is white. In fact, the entire economy of the Black community in the States is controlled by someone who doesn’t even live there. The property that we live in is owned by someone else. The store that we trade with is operated by someone else. And these are the people who suck the economic blood of our community.”
He noted that this economic control extends to media and civic organizations, effectively controlling the minds and actions of the black community.
International Examples: Congo and Vietnam
Malcolm X used examples like the situation in the Congo to illustrate how Western powers manipulate the press to justify their actions.
“Here we have an example of planes dropping bombs on defenseless African villages...There is no outcry. There is no concern. There is no sympathy. There is no urge on the part of even the so-called progressive element to try and bring a halt to this mass murder. Why? Because all the press had to do was use that shrewd propaganda word that these villages were in “rebel-held” territory.”
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He criticized the Western media for portraying the Congolese people as “rebels,” thus justifying the violence against them. They refer to the pilots that are dropping the bombs on these babies as “American-trained, anti-Castro Cuban pilots.” As long as they are American-trained, this is supposed to put the stamp of approval on it, because America is your ally. As long as they are anti-Castro Cubans, since Castro is supposed to be a monster and these pilots are against Castro, anybody else they are against is also all right.
Similarly, he drew parallels between the Congo and Vietnam, warning of the dangers of Western intervention. And you can’t win in the Congo. If you can’t win in South Vietnam, you know you can’t win in the Congo. The French were deeply entrenched in Vietnam for a hundred years or so. They had the best weapons of warfare, a highly mechanized army, everything that you would need. And the guerrillas come out of the rice paddies with nothing but sneakers on and a rifle and a bowl of rice, nothing but gym shoes - tennis shoes - and a rifle and a bowl of rice. And you know what they did in Dien Bien Phu. They ran the French out of there.
Malcolm X argued that the Western powers were fighting so hard and are trying to cloud the issue in the Congo is that it’s not a humanitarian project. It’s not a feeling or sense of humanity that makes them want to go in and save some hostages, but there are bigger stakes.
He stated that the Congo is so situated strategically, geographically, that if it falls into the hands of a genuine African government that has the hopes and aspirations of the African people at heart, then it will be possible for the Africans to put their own soldiers right on the border of Angola and wipe the Portuguese out of there overnight.
Black Revolution vs. Negro Revolution
Malcolm X distinguished between a "black revolution" and a "Negro revolution." A revolutionary wants land so he can set up his own nation, an independent nation. These Negroes aren't asking for no nation. When you want a nation, that's called nationalism.
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He defined revolution as being based on land and often involving bloodshed. The French Revolution -- what was it based on? The land-less against the landlord. What was it for? Land. How did they get it? Bloodshed. Was no love lost; was no compromise; was no negotiation.
By contrast, he characterized the "Negro revolution" as nonviolent and focused on integration, which he saw as insufficient.
“The only revolution based on loving your enemy is the Negro revolution. The only revolution in which the goal is a desegregated lunch counter, a desegregated theater, a desegregated park, and a desegregated public toilet; you can sit down next to white folks on the toilet. That's no revolution.”
The Black Revolution- Malcolm X
He advocated for black nationalism, emphasizing the need for black people to control their own communities and destinies. A revolutionary is a black nationalist. He wants a nation. If you're afraid of black nationalism, you're afraid of revolution.
He referred to the historical distinction between "house Negroes" and "field Negroes" to illustrate different attitudes toward oppression. The house Negroes - they lived in the house with master, they dressed pretty good, they ate good 'cause they ate his food -- what he left. They lived in the attic or the basement, but still they lived near the master; and they loved their master more than the master loved himself.
He criticized those who were content with the status quo and unwilling to fight for true liberation.
The Importance of African Unity
Malcolm X stressed the importance of unity among black people worldwide. At Bandung all the nations came together. Their were dark nations from Africa and Asia. Some of them were Buddhists. Some of them were Muslim. Some of them were Christians. Some of them were Confucianists; some were atheists. Despite their religious differences, they came together.
He pointed to the Bandung Conference of 1955 as an example of how dark-skinned people could come together despite their differences to address common problems. And it was the spirit of Bandung that fed the flames of nationalism and freedom not only in Asia, but especially on the African continent.
He emphasized that the colonial powers had created a negative image of Africa to divide and control black people. They made us think that Africa was a land of jungles, a land of animals, a land of cannibals and savages. And because they were so successful in projecting this negative image of Africa, those of us here in the West of African ancestry, the Afro-American, we looked upon Africa as a hateful place.
Malcolm X urged African nations to support the struggle of African-Americans for human rights, framing it as a global issue. We beseech independent African states to help us bring our problem before the United Nations, on the grounds that the United States Government is morally incapable of protecting the lives and the property of 22 million African-Americans.
He warned against American “dollarism,” fearing it could replace European colonialism as a form of oppression. We pray that our African brothers have not freed themselves of European colonialism only to be overcome and held in check now by American dollarism.
Table: Key Differences Between Colonialism and Dollarism
| Feature | Colonialism | Dollarism |
|---|---|---|
| Agent | European powers | United States |
| Method | Direct political control | Economic influence |
| Goal | Exploitation of resources and labor | Economic dominance and control |
Through his speeches in Africa, Malcolm X articulated a powerful message of black nationalism, self-determination, and resistance against all forms of oppression. His words continue to resonate today, inspiring movements for social justice and equality.
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