“The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity. But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around… This is the only way societies really change.” –James Baldwin, “The Negro Child – His Self-Image” (1963)
(This post was inspired quite simply by the 4 people who saw my phone this week and asked about the above image.)
Despite our obvious likenesses as of the last 4 or 5 years (which people so cleverly point out to me every day, as if they were the first to notice, and definitely the first to verbalize such a witty observation), Malcolm X’s image and life story have always served as a source of inspiration for me, whether in my academics or remaining as goal-oriented as I have to this point in my young, generally unsuccessful career. But, maybe not inspirational for reasons you may immediately think.
In my not-so-humble opinion, the image of Malcolm X has become bastardized in American popular culture, partially stemming from what I believe to be a reckless “misteaching” of American history and an overwhelming acceptance of force-fed narratives of America’s favorite historical figures (another issue for another post). Much like the screen-printed, cannabis oriented images of Bob Marley on t-shirts and dorm room posters have warped Marley's image into one strictly for stoners, rather than one of social activism, supreme musical giftedness, and a prophetically Pan-African desire to unify people of all nations under one common desire for good through Godliness, Malcolm X’s image has been cornered into one of irrational black militancy, fueled by his temporary ties with the Nation of Islam.
While, at some point in his life, he did indeed subscribe to an aggressive ideology regarding race relations and the civil rights struggle in America, this is not the image of X that inspires me daily as I look at the picture above on my phone screensaver, nor the image I believe he should be defaulted with as he is remembered in time. The aforementioned photograph literally captures Malcolm X shortly after leaving the Nation of Islam, in the Egyptian motherland on a personal enlightenment tour; but to me, I see a man that has openly acknowledged his overzealousness in subscription to one ideology, a singular way of thinking, and has begun – again – to seek truth on his own terms. The image reminds me that Malcolm X came from so little growing up, both socioeconomically and intellectually, an admittedly ignorant career convict, only to later sit alongside the great policymakers, politicians, and thinkers of our time to discuss the topic of bettering the global human condition. It reminds me that he got there by accepting nothing at face value, questioning and challenging dogma and perceived truths to form his own; he remained curious and inquisitive, while constantly developing his mind and sharpening his wits to ultimately fulfill a greater purpose. I admire the fact that a man could experience such vast intellectual maturity and metamorphosis in such a finite lifetime, from petty thief to vocal black militant leader to a champion of social justice worldwide.
In this picture, I see a man that saw the bigger picture; he saw that he was an inherently imperfect and unknowledgeable creature, just as we all are as human beings by default. I see a man that was able to admit he was wrong (twice!) and as a result, take his own thinking to higher heights, striving to be a better man in a better world for all. He understood that it was imperative for mankind to keep an open mind, and an insatiable desire to learn about the world surrounding them, the people in it, and the powers that affect them all.
