Why is Malcolm X respected?

[Great Britain]

I don't live in America so I was never taught about Black History or Malcolm X in school. I was just reading the wikipedia article on Malcolm X because I was bored and then some of his speeches on his official site and I don't understand why so many people see him as a 'hero' or respect him.

He preached violence, was an extremely vicious racist referring to the entire white race as "devils" claiming Black's were superior and he also came off a little insane claiming that an evil scientist named Yakub was responsible for creating the white race 8,400 years ago...

He also thought that the founder of the Nation of Islam was Allah which I am pretty sure is an extreme sin in Islam.

He may have done great things for black people but Hitler did great things for Germany. Why do people look up to him? Maybe I am missing something here?

[Oggie]

You have to be black to understand.

[mongo]

chris loves the cock.

[Great Britain]

I don't get it. MLK makes sense as a role model, but I don't see anything but violence, hatred and insanity in X's speeches.

[29a]

I read his autobiography...
Succinctly, he had a rough upbringing (which makes him real I guess) and he constantly attacked whites in his speeches and black people ate it all up.

[Great Britain]

I take great offense to this man's wordings. There were many families in Canada (where I live) who helped US slaves escape and helped them here.

To call EVERYONE who is white a devil? How is that not the same as what Nazi's called Jews?

[Oggie]

We didn't post on GMF, GMF posted on us!

[mongo]

go back to stormfront, ******-lover.

[Pox]

Some people like Magneto better than professor X. I would say Malcom X's mastery over metallic objects makes him a hero.

[Great Britain]

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON

[Stax]

Some people like Magneto better than professor X. I would say Malcom X's mastery over metallic objects makes him a hero.

I am confused

[Great Britain]

Is this wiki article I'm reading hacked?

[Great Britain]

Then again, people respect the shit out of Thomas Jefferson -- who was also a huge racist.

[Pox]

Your anus is about to be hacked if you don't get me some Juicy juice

[Great Britain]

I read his autobiography...
Succinctly, he had a rough upbringing (which makes him real I guess) and he constantly attacked whites in his speeches and black people ate it all up.

Thanks for an actually decent answer. Still don't get why he is seen as THE black hero.

[Genius]

Who called him a hero? I saw Denzel Washington portray him in a somewhat sympathetic light. Other than that, I've never heard anyone else call him a hero besides black militants, and well, he was a hero to them because he was king of all black militants.

[shdaow]

He has a fucking X in his name, whats isn't heroic about that?

[Genius]

But now that he can walk, Professor X would dominate Malcolm X in a fight. Unless Emma Frost got involved, then all bets are off. 'Cause she be the white woman telepathic temptress.

[WET HOT MESS]

Because he's a man who has risen from the lowest ranks into some prominent figure for the community. That man didn't get past the 8th grade, but managed to educate himself in jail and I think he got an honorary degree or something. For a black man to rise up, and especially that time where there wasn't a real big figure for the blacks, he went and filled that role. I picture him to be a violent black JFK. Malcolm had the smooth mouth, the presence, the determination, and that charisma that made people feel like this man will make their lives better. No doubt he was also crazy, but he did bring people together and used the anger in the community at the unfair treatment and propelled them into aggressive action against those who they saw were constant underminers. For the people who didn't believe in the passiveness in MLK's teaching, this was the way for them.

[29a]

That's true. The man did have a silver tongue.

[Blue]

That's true. The man did have a silver tongue.

How did we get to Jebidiah Springfield?

[freegood]

That's true. The man did have a silver tongue.

And a golden grill.

X got all the bling and all the bitches.

No wait. He didn't. Who knows what he fought for anymore.

Time to watch some shakin booties on late night BET.

[Ace Rockola]

Terminator X >>>> Malcolm X

[taters]

A bit of a baitish random question to ask out of no where.

Why is anyone respected in history? He was an advocate for people who had no voice in politics and society, and a sort of near-revolutionary.

He preached violence, but hell, so did George Washington, Charles DuGalle, the ANC, Che Guevara, Simon Bolivar, Bernardo O Higgins, etc etc etc. He preached racism as a response to racism being enforced upon his people (Pre Civil Rights, Lynchings, Jim Crow etc).

Also, he didnt think the 'founder' was allah, in fact, he opposed the NOI later in life. Its one of the reasons they killed him.

I really recommend you read up a bit more about the man before questioning his motives or why he is celebrated.

I would quote TiM, but that would only encourage him further, so Ill refer you to his post in reference.

[mongo]

the post so nice, you posted it twice!

[Ghostrider]

I don't think he is respected really, just revered by uneducated young black males who feel the world is out to get them and they deserve everything for nothing. They are also usually teh perpetual victims in anything that happens in life.

[taters]

^ Uneducated? Really? As an educated black male, let me tell you I dont know any other educated black males or females who do not either admire or respect him. You wont find a black studies course in america that doesnt have a chapter or portion of the course on him.

It may just be a geographic thing, but (and I am not taking a shot at you at all Ghost), how many educated black people would you say you know, Ghostrider? Enough to make that assumption? DO you know their politics, and would you assume them to represent mose black americans? Are they victims (keep in mind your talking to an educated black person who makes just over the average american household income himself, with more than 2 degrees).

[Nature's Folly]

We didn't post on GMF, GMF posted on us!

GMF posted all over my face.

[vasili denisov]

He articulated much of what most black americans had felt having to live a life of forced subservience and humiliation. He demonstrated the possibility of pride, eloquence, strength, and independence to those who had been through that struggle, even when you were born into poverty and indignity.

In the autobiography, he does not consider all white people as devils. He has a nuanced and complicated relationship to many that he comes across. For him, given what he and his family have been through, which he believes is largely the result of racism (such as having his father killed by the Klan), he finds it difficult given that past to have a relationship with those in larger white society that he has with black men and women.

The "yakub" belief and some of the others you cited aren't his own, but those of the black muslim community. He broke with that community and embraced an Islam which is as fraternal as christianity, a break which ultimately cost him hist life.

To compare him to Hitler, a man who committed the genocide of millions, demonstrates that you're either unserious about Hitler's crimes or Malcolm's achievements.
I don't think he is respected really, just revered by uneducated young black males who feel the world is out to get them and they deserve everything for nothing. They are also usually teh perpetual victims in anything that happens in life.
You clearly know nothing about his writing or the man, because he was a fierce advocate of self-help and independence, as well as adamanntly against drug and alcohol abuse.

[Morfin]

I agree with taters on this. Malcolm X is a historic figure because he stood up and was able to articulate to blacks that something radical needed to be done in order to achieve equality. My view has been (and I admit, I am not well-versed in the issue) that he wanted the same as MLK, but the two differed on how it could be achieved. MLK tried to work within the system and with civil disobedience; Malcolm X believed that the only way to win equality was to take it, to force it upon white society and government.

To the extent that he was brave enough to stand up for these beliefs, and intelligent enough (including charismatic enough) to be able to mobilize and empower people, he is an important figure. Hell, the mere issue of taking X as his name was symbolically significant to show black people that they needed to have pride in their ancestory and that everything had to be examined and changed, including shedding the names imposed on them by slave owners.

[gillkonam]

I don't know. Americans like an underdog? I think many people like him---myself included--- because he taps into the transformational ideal that we Americans love so very much. Whereas MLK has become something of a sainted figure---not unlike I guess Ghandi in many eyes--- Malcolm X has become something more toward a redeemed hero... and one that was very honest. I think its a real testament that people read the speeches of Martin Luther King, but they read the Autobiography of Malcolm X. I guess another corrolary could be drawn between the Augustine/Paul dichotomy. One man redeemed a society, while the other showed a society how they can come closer to redeeming themselves.

[Fuh Q]

I dont know much about him, but he was a member of the Black Muslims or something, but they wernt actual muslims they were just racist black people. Then he went to Mecca and saw people of all different races coming together and praying together and converted from the racist black muslims (think they call themselves Nation of Islam or something), to true Islam. He went back on all he said before, denounced the NOI as evil, preached tolerance, and then was mysteriously killed. Do I respect him? based on what I know, yes. So many ignorant people enjoy being ignorant and ignoring the truth. This guy said "hold on, something isnt right here" and changed his ways

[Limp]

Fuck naggers!


Black people are cool though.

[taters]

This thread is like a zombie.

[Archetype]

My view has been (and I admit, I am not well-versed in the issue) that he wanted the same as MLK, but the two differed on how it could be achieved.
Kinda suspect. How you try to achieve something directly relates to what you're trying to achieve. MLK was a Utopian idealist, and it was reflected in his protests and speeches. I can't speak on Malcolm X with any certainty, anything I "know" is second hand, but I can't imagine someone who would found something like the Organization of Afro-American Unity would quite be looking for equality.

[gillkonam]

Equality, no; an end to racial conflict and a rebirth of individual racial sovereignty with a willingness to reach out to each other race in all matters without the fear of prosecution or exploitation, yes. I'd say Malcolm was much more of an Existentialist by the end of his days.