A proliferation of global tributes took place yesterday, celebrating the life and legacy of Malcolm X on the centennial of his birth.
In Cape Coast, Ghana, which Malcolm visited during his international travels, the Malcolm X Liberation Institute hosted a two-day celebration, featuring lectures, cultural performances and community activities honoring Malcolm.
At SOAS University in London, author Kevin Ovenden launched a new edition of his book, “Malcolm X: Socialism and Black Nationalism,” which delves into Malcolm’s revolutionary politics and its relevance to contemporary struggles.
The commemoration events in the U.S. are far too many to detail, and, of course, we have a major one here in New York City at the Shabazz Center, which we covered.
Yes, there were a number of remembrances and reflections on the life of the revolutionary freedom fighter, but hardly enough to truly capture the essence of his brief stay among us. Thankfully, not a month passes that his name and memory isn’t evoked, whether on lawsuits by his advocates and family members; the release of more government documents — and still a horde of them still unavailable — to say nothing of the ongoing organizations and institutions through their events, books, and activities cite his relevance to their aims and purposes.
Too often Malcolm’s name is invoked to shore up some nefarious acts of violence, which is about as far fetched as you can get about his politics and legacy. Indeed, on more than one occasion he mentioned to resist “by any means necessary,” it was usually just a rhetorical promise. Many of his followers would have preferred he fight fire with fire, retaliating with a defense to dissuade his attackers.
As it stands, there is no diminution of Malcolm’s iconic wattage, and the countless celebrations of life and legacy during the centennial of his birth is a clear indication of how significant he is for the current generation of activists, artists, and political leaders around the globe.
His name is irrevocably connected to a courageous stand against the enemies of human decency, those who would trample on our manhood or sisterhood via racist epithets or vicious attacks.
It is so wonderful to see and to hear how important his memory is for so many beyond our shores, which should push and inspire us to do even more to assure that continues.