Malcolm X: Organize!
By: Mal' akiy 17 Allah
This Sunday, several local events will commemorate the legacy of human rights activist, Malcolm X, on his 99th bornday anniversary. As an advocate for African-Americans to 'do for self' he consistently urged his people to settle their differences, work together, and build up their communities.
Following his Feb. 21 1965 assassination, his sister Ella Collins headed his recently formed Organization of Afro-American Unity, for several years, until she handed the reins over to Prof. James Small, years later.
Following his Feb. 21 1965 assassination, his sister Ella Collins headed his recently formed Organization of Afro-American Unity, for several years, until she handed the reins over to Prof. James Small, years later.
College students Huey P. Newton and Bobby Sealed founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Oakland, CA. on Oct. 15, 1966, which continued his political ideologies.
"The fact that Malcolm X had been murdered drove Huey and I to the point where we were gonna start an organization reflective of what he was talking about," noted Mr. Seale. "Malcolm emphasized that we should have a political organization that dealt most immediately with housing, clothing and food for the people."
Hip-Hop progenitors, The Last Poets, were founded at Harlem's Mt. Morris Park May 19, 1968. Motivated by Malcolm X's progressive messages, they put it in song formats.
"We were saying the same thing Malcolm X was saying, just poetically," explains Last Poets' founding member, Abiodun Oyewole. "We became known as the poetical disciples of Malcolm X."
Malcolm X once called Harlem home, and over half a century later his efforts are still remembered. The 59th annual pilgrimage to Ferncliff Cemetery, where Malcolm X's & his wife Betty Shabazz's bodies are interested, leaves from 125th St. & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. at 10am. Patrons gather at 9am. The 34th annual Shut'em Down Black Power March forcing all businesses to close, commenced from 14 pm.
