Malcolm X's legacy: Inspiring that is, the struggle for Black freedom. message for Black youth today Bullet," that the problem of Blacks is a world problem,

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Malcolm elaborates on his world view later in that Islam's view (a view he once defended) that the source The following is an abridged and edited version of a same speech. What are some of his key points? speech given by Malik Miah to a Socialist Action First, he says, he believes in the "brotherhood of he said, on his trip to Middle East, where he met revoforum in San Francisco on Feb. 21. Miah is the editor man." That is, he seeks a world where people are judged lutionaries who were Brown and white. of the book, "The Assassination of Malcolm X," as human beings, not by the color of their skin. He Pathfinder Press.

It was exactly 27 years ago today-on Feb. 21, 1965-that one of the greatest American revolutionaries of the 20th century, Malcolms. Malcolm X, was assassinated in New York City. Malcolm X was only 39 years-old when he died, but he outlined a political perspective that is still relevant for African Americans and all working people today.

More Black youth identify with Malcolm X-the person and his ideas-than ever before. High unemployment, rotten education, lack of healthcare, and growing attacks on affirmative action and civil rights make Malcolm Xwho stood up to the status quo and who advocated Freedom Now by any means necessary a hero.

It's also why those seeking to influence Black youth have in the past and are now trying to pin Black Democrats like New York's Mayor David Dinkins, Black Republicans like the new Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and other former strong critics of Malcolm X.

The reverence of Black youth for Malcolm X, however, is genuine. That's why they buy the colorful "X' baseball caps or wear T-shirts with Malcolm's portrait. That's why the new rappers put his words in their songs. That's why last year a photo exhibition of his life in Detroit-scheduled to run for three weeks went for five months. That's why Spike Lee's three-hour movie on Malcolm X is widely anticipated and already being debated.

Because of his untarnished political legacy, it's not surprising that few people attack Malcolm X openly. But 1 expect this to change when Spike Lee's movie is released. If the movie gives even a glimpse of this great person's life, it will upset the powers that be. This includes not only the capitalist rulers, but the pretenders in the Black community who don't want to hear about racism and oppression-or about the need for independent political action, which Malcolm advocated.

Malcolm's final year

After Malcolm X's break with the Nation of Islam in early 1964, his political thinking developed and evolved. Of course, I should add, the seeds of his final views are evident in his earlier speeches made while he was a spokesperson for the Nation of Islam.

The speech "The Ballot or the Bullet," which we will hear more about later tonight, was one of his first speeches after breaking with the Nation. He gave it after he established the Muslim Afro-Amencan Unity (OAAU).

its meaning. as a world problem.

explains that while U.S. society claims it is for equality, that isn't true. And it won't be true until there is ing the fight of Blacks to the United Nations. Fourth, Malcolm categorically rejects the Nation of of Black oppression was the white race. He learned this, Reappraisal of Black nationalism Lastly, Malcolm does not define his or the OAAU's philosophy as Black nationalism. Did this mean he now rejected the aims of Black nationalism? No.

In an interview he gave in 1965 to the Young Socialist magazine [reprinted in "Malcolm X Talks to Young People," Pathfinder Press], he was asked this question and replied: "I used to define Black nationalism as the idea that the Black man should control the economy of his community, the politics of his community, and so forth.

"But when I was in Africa in May, in Ghana, 1 was speaking with the Algerian ambassador, who is extremely militant and is a revolutionary in the true sense of the word (and has his credentials as such for having carried on a successful revolution against oppression is his coun "When I told him that my political, social, and economic philosophy was Black nationalism, he asked me very frankly. well where did that leave him! Because he was white. He was an African, but he was Algerian, and to all appearances, he was a white man...

"So, I had to do a lot of thinking and reappraising of my definition of Black nationalism. Can we sum up the solution to the problems confronting our people as Black nationalism? And if you notice, I haven't been using the expression for several months..."

This is a very important point. There are many people critical of Spike Lee because they fear he will not make Malcolm nationalist enough. In truth, Malcolm's evolution from April 1964 to February 1965 is crystal clear. He was becoming more "worldly," as he put it-an intemationalist. He recognized that Black nationalism, simply put, was not enough of a program in a changing world in the battle between the oppressed and the oppressors.

His evolution was towards anticapitalist revolution to win true and full equality for Blacks. He was also becoming sympathetic to socialist views.

Those in the militant nationalist (and later internationalist) wing are tew today. But the seeds are being planted in the Black community by the objective conditions of poverty and inequality.

It is the Black working youth who identify with Malcolm X who are the future leaders of the Black nationality. They are more nationalist and radical then their parents. And they will An independent movement of Black people, in emment in the United States-a government which can