Characterized This Era."

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Order now from Walnut Publishers 18 SOCIALIST ACTION NOVEMBER 1992 non-violent here," he said, "but they want you to be very violent in South Vietnam."

Malcolm X connected the struggle of Blacks in America to the struggles of the oppressed all over the world.

"We are living in an era of revolution," he told students at Columbia University, "and the revolt of the American Negro is part of the rebellion against the oppression and colonialism which has characterized this era. ...It is incorrect to classify the revolt of the Negro as simply a racial conflict of Black against white, or as a purely American problem. Rather, we are today seeing a global rebellion of the oppressed against the oppressor, the exploited against the exploiter."

The logic of Malcolm X's fight against U.S. racism and injustice led him to take anti-capitalist positions. "You can't have capitalism without racism," he said.

Asked what he thought was responsible for race prejudice in America, he responded: "Ignorance and greed. And a skillfully designed program of miseducation that goes right along with the American system of exploitation and oppression."

The Coming In the last analysis, it was Malcolm X's political evolution that was the reason for his assassination.

"By any means necessary"

Malcolm X believed that the fight for Black freedom should be won "by any means necessary." He became an implaccable opponent of the Democratic and Republican parties. "Any Negro who registers as a Democrat or a Republican," he said, "is a traitor to his own people."

"Our people need to get registered," he stated. "[They] need to pile up political power, but they need to hold it in abeyance and throw it in...when they know it will get results. Don't just throw it because you've got it."

When he was asked by the Freedom Now Party in Michigan (an independent Black party) to be their candidate in the 1964 elections, he gave it serious consideration. He declined only because he would have had to shorten his trip to Africa.

Jim Henle & Roland Sheppard.

With an introduction by Kwame M.A. Somburu $3.00 includes handling Order from: Walnut P San Francisco, CA Malcolm X had no illusions in the so-called differences between the Democrats and Republicans. "One is the wolf, the other is a fox. No matter what, they'll both eat you." In the 1964 presidential elections, when the candidates were Johnson (the "peace" candidate) vs. Goldwater (the "war" candidate), Malcolm X exposed the deceit of this phony distinction.

"The shrewd capitalists, the shrewd imperialists," he said, "knew that the only way people would run towards the fox (Johnson) would be if you showed them the wolf (Goldwater). So they created a ghastly alternative. ...And at that moment he (Johnson) had troops invading the Congo and South Vietnam."

Revolutionist of action

Malcolm X was much more than just a "shrewd" observer. He was a principled political leader in the fight for Black rights. Despite his tactical disagreements with the predominant "non-violent" wing of the civil rights movement, Malcolm X Black Liberation Nat Weinstein Kwame M.A. Somburt $2.00 includes handling ublishing C 94110. Call And although he did not consider himself a Marxist, he observed in favorable terms that most of the former colonial countries of Africa and Asia were opting for socialism.

The tragedy of Malcolm X's death was that he was cut down while he was still evolving; still searching for a method and program that would be the most effective tool for Black liberation. Only '39 years old when he died, he wasn't allowed to reach his full political stature. Consequently, the Black liberation movement was deprived of one of its best fighters and leaders.

Unfortunately, there are no national birthday celebrations for Malcolm X (he was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925). No boulevards or streets—and with the exception of some alternative schools in the Black community—virtually no buildings bear his name.

But his ideas and his example will inspire a new generation to correct this glaring omission—in action, like Malcolm X would have done. It will be called the American socialist revolution.

Even in death, Malcolm X is still a very "dangerous" man.

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The Coming lack Rebellion and the Legacy of Malcolm X

MALCOLM X: Fighter for

MALCOLM Fightre for Blac liberato