I had the opportunity this weekend to meet a brother I’ve thought of as a friend for at least five years–Jelani Cobb. Jelani was in the area promoting his new book and I got a chance to kick it with him a bit.
We got to talking about nationalism and institutions–what we were just talking about in regards to the State of Black America 2007 event–when we got on the subject of Malcolm:
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Thanks to the generous folks at Open Culture. I am reminded a bit of Barack Obama and I’m wondering whether Obama is channeling this on purpose. What also stands out a bit is Malcolm’s youth–I say that now being 38 years old. When we were talking about Malcolm what we were tripping on was the fact that the day after Malcolm’s house was firebombed he was delivering a speech in Detroit. Now at 38 years of age, a wife, and five children, I don’t look at that behavior as courageous, but rather as something else entirely.
“And in my opinion the young generation of whites, blacks, browns, whatever else there is, you’re living at a time of extremism, a time of revolution, a time when there’s got to be change. People in power have misused it, and now there has to be a change and a better world has to be built, and the only way it’s going to be built is with extreme methods. I for one will join in with anyone, I don’t care what color you are, as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exist on this earth.â€
Too bad Spike Lee’s film didn’t capture this Malcolm.
R.I.P. Malcolm X (May 19, 1925-February 21, 1965)
Doc I’m reading Peniel E.Joseph as you know”Waiting till the midnight hour” Malcolm was constanly dealing with a full agenda,conversing with the Boggs,Cleague,Milton and Richard Henry all out of Detroit,Ruby Dee,Ossie Davis,Harold Cruise,John Clarke,Abbey Lincoln,Maya Angelo,out of New york Bro and sisters from Ghana and the Nation of Islam.Remenber you and your colleagues can go one better the computer,I personally have watch the growth of your blog your not in a 9 to 5 gig neither was Malcolmmand he took care of his health.go get it.
Yeah this Macolm video is incred. Come on doc, let us in on what you think of Brother Malcolm’s decision to speak in the D. On that matter, could you imagine any Black public intellectual going to the podium again, if their house was firebombed ever?
Messianic leadership by its very nature causes the messiah to believe that his work is both divinely inspired and necessary, and IMPOSSIBLE to continue without him.
When Gordon talks about process in my previous post, this is what he’s railing against.
If I were in a situation where my wife and children were placed at risk, in the short term i would find someone else to speak on my behalf. But not only is hindsight 20/20, I couldn’t be a messianic intellectual if you paid me.
Les, I thought you were the messiah?