So much of what he understood about the dynamics of political power (both within the Black community and that which encapsulated our communities at the national level) are valuable templates for the understanding of events today.
The following videos were posted on this web site.
They prove most valuable in understanding what is going on today, but more hyperbolicly than his time.
Malcolm X was accurate about the power dynamics in Washington DC. Despite the fact that the party that Black people favored had a super majority of 67 votes in the US Senate - the "favorable president" (Kennedy) was forced to show deference to the White Supremacists in his party.........both those who allow their true selves to show most blatantly and those who "smiled at the Negro", keeping close company with him, yet pointing to their more direct brothers in arms as the reason why the party could not do more for the Negro - all the while accepting his "Equal Black Ballots" for their continued power.
Fast Forward To Today - Malcolm X's Views Did Not Capture The "Use Case" Of The Negro Leaders Who Remain Silent Of The Present Establishment Power Because Dogged Pursuit Of "Return On Investments" Would Up-End Their Real Goal Of Continued Power For Their Party And Ideology
As you listen to the audio of Malcolm X it must be understood that at that time in the early 1960's the Black community did not have the legal protections from unmitigated terrorism that was available as an option to the White ruling class. His attacks on President Kennedy in which he demanded justice was in line with the evidence of rampant systematic discrimination and outright murder of Black people.
As we apply Malcolm X's template to today's situation - I suspect that Blacks of a more "Progressive" ideology will be inclined to say "Today we STILL don't have justice at hand". They will cherry pick the incidents that bear their case.
In truth - (WITH RESPECT TO THE ABILITY FOR A WHITE PERSON TO EXPRESS UNMITIGATED RACISM TODAY................) the framework of law enforcement and legal protections are provided for everyone. There are exceptional issues that require fine tuning of our present system so that more effective outcomes might be had (ie: drug prosecutions and the resulting racial impact). We do not have the "1946 Alabama Chain Gang" type of injustice in America today.
To apply Malcolm X's model to today one has to understand that what casts itself as a "Civil Rights Movement" is in truth a purely political and ideological movement. The specific ideological methodology about how the Black community is to receive a greater set of resources and access to jobs is less a case of "Systematic Racism" and more about public policy choices. The imposition of centralized "redistributionist policies" in the name of Social Justice - is NOT a fight against "Racism" as some would have it. I counter that the present foothold of power that this particular ideological movement has achieved at various state and city levels and yet failed to produce the desired results places them in the position where scrutiny is required by the Black rank & file regarding their effectiveness.
By using the shield of "Racism Fighters" they are able to gain cover for what is merely an ideological and political movement. Indeed if their enemies were to run a predominately Black school system and generate failing results the direct actions of the school board would be considered "racist". With "favorable people" in power today - those who define "racism" elect to indict the greater society for the failure that they are encumbered with despite their victories over these institutions.
In short Malcolm X's model is still applicable today. The players and the relationship between:
- The Black leadership
- The White progressive machine
- The White conservative machine
must be adjusted to capture the realities of today. The truth is that there is no "Black or White Progressive" movement there is ONLY a "Progressive Movement". The "Black leadership's " only job today is to do their part in the big scheme of things to keep the "Black Investors" in line.
I speak as a frequent purchaser of "mainstream progressive" magazines (The Nation, ISR, Z, etc). They speak openly about the "Black Vote" in the context of the larger Progressive coalition. They are far more honest in describing the functional agenda of "The Black Racial Services Machine" than are the Black leaders of today. The White progressive magazines do not cloak the benefits to Black people of this progressive alliance in terms of RACE (what Black people will specifically receive if we stay progressive). Instead they sell an integrationalist order - detailing how a checking of "conservative corporate establishment power" will have benefit to all. Black people are merely residual beneficiaries to the forward progressive struggle.
In my view the Black community is battered, bruised and used to the point in which a "Confidence Vote" must be taken. Lead by forces that are not of the present leadership - to prevent hijacking of the messages of what we must do going forward.
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So Many Black Progressive blog sites make reference to Malcolm X. So few realize how much they are in violation of his ethos.
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